ams Introduces World’s First AEC-Q102 and ISO 26262 Compliant VCSEL Flood Illuminator

ams announced the pre-release of the new TARA2000-AUT family of VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) flood illuminators for automotive applications. According to the company, the TARA2000-AUT flood illuminators are the industry’s first to be qualified to the AEC-Q102 automotive quality standard and the ISO 26262 functional safety standard.

The TARA2000-AUT products are ideal for new optical in-cabin sensing (ICS) systems based on 2D NIR imaging or 3D time-of-flight sensing which support the next generation of assisted and autonomous driving technologies in vehicles.

In Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) high optical power distributed over the whole field of illumination (FOI) means that a single TARA2000-AUT illuminator can replace multiple lower-power emitters. This offers automotive OEMs savings in space, component count, and cost. With peak optical output centered at 940nm and a narrow spectrum, the TARA2000-AUT also makes it ideal for automotive OEMs to achieve high immunity to interference by sunlight.

Features

• >4W optical output power in a pulsed mode
• 4 product configurations fitting different in-cabin sensing applications
• High power conversion efficiency
• AECQ-102 and ISO26262 ASIL A compliant
• 2D barcode for unit level traceability

The TARA2000-AUT is also available with an ultra-wide FOI to give responsiveness in gesture-sensing applications for use by both the driver and passengers. The wide-FOI version is also suitable for interior monitoring systems.

Automotive manufacturers can take assurance from ams’ vertically integrated manufacturing model for VCSEL illuminators, which enables ams to make high-volume production commitments without depending on third parties for key elements of its product. The TARA2000-AUT is a combination of a VCSEL emitter designed and manufactured in-house by ams, and an optical diffusor made with proprietary ams micro-lens array technology, all integrated into a single module.

Matching the micro-optics to suit the characteristics of the VCSEL emitter, the illuminator produces a uniform beam with edge-to-edge high-power illumination over a rectangular field. This tightly controlled illumination profile and FOI match the field of view of the IR image sensors used in 2D and 3D systems, so increasing the strength and integrity of the reflected optical signal.

The TARA2000-AUT family of illuminators offers two wavelength options:

• 850nm for systems requiring maximum sensitivity at the CMOS image sensors
• 940nm to avoid visible red glow and interference from sunlight

Depending on the wavelength of choice, TARA2000-AUT is available with an ultra-narrow, narrow, or ultra-wide FOI.

For more information, visit: https://ams.com/TARA2000-AUT

Please follow and like us: