The focus of the next decade is automotive sensors

 Ams semiconductor (ams) is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of advanced sensor solutions, and its sensing technology helps the world's leading manufacturers to achieve advanced system design. Ams Semiconductor achieved rapid development in 2017, with a performance increase of 97%, almost doubled; in 2018, Ams Semiconductor’s results are still outstanding, with an annual growth of 34%.

 

Ams has a wealth of sensor solutions

Recently, at the Munich Shanghai Electronics Show, ams conducted in-depth exchanges with more than 20 media reporters including semiconductor industry observations, demonstrating ams' strong strength in the sensor field, and also revealed The development direction of ams semiconductor in the next ten years.

 

In the past few years, ams has maintained high double-digit growth, and its customers have grown from more than 5,000 to more than 8,000 manufacturers. Whether it is technology, technology or integration, ams has always focused on sensors, with three main product lines, including the most vigorously developing light sensor devices, image sensor devices and acoustic sensor devices in the entire industry. Its product applications are mainly focused on the six most important markets, including communications, consumer electronics, computing, automotive, and industrial and medical.

 

Smart phones have always been an important business area of ​​ams. Its new product TCS3701 can perform sensor operations under the OLED display to measure the front ambient light and proximity sensor of the smart phone to maximize the display size. "Ams uses the latest technology to help customers complete the entire mobile phone module. At present, the area of ​​the viewing screen is continuously expanding. The latest trend is to place the sensor behind the main control without affecting the appearance of the front. In this case, we The products can also achieve very accurate calculations in terms of sensitivity and chroma." said Daniel Lee, Marketing Director of Ams Semiconductor Greater China and Regional Manager of Taiwan.

 

In the medical field, ams semiconductor products have been fully integrated into people's daily lives, for example, CT and digital X-ray commonly used in health checks, both use ams semiconductor sensor technology.

 

In the field of acoustic sensors, Daniel Lee said: “The ANCs currently known on the market are basically products made by ams semiconductors. Adapt to a variety of different application scenarios, always follow the evolution of people's five senses, and do some auxiliary functions."

 

At present, we see more and more smart phones adopting 3D sensing technology. Whether it is the popular face recognition or the future AR and VR technologies, the value of 3D sensors will gradually be tapped. Ams’ 2W Merano-PD is suitable for the latest 3D sensing technologies, including time-of-flight and structured light. Face recognition, augmented reality, 3D object scanning, 3D image presentation, and other industrial and automotive applications will all benefit from the use of Merano-PD. CK Chua, marketing director of 3D solutions and device product line of ams in Greater China, pointed out: "Our 3D sensing technology is involved in structured light, binocular/stereoscopic vision and flight time, whether it is a VCSEL (vertical transmitter). ), or the WLO of the optical part, or the square point projector and IR, we have the corresponding technology. The cutting-edge technology owned by ams semiconductor, especially the optics and system design, can make the company's products in Optics , VCSEL or system design, algorithm, and packaging, face security and other aspects to achieve a balance."

 

Image sensors are also the main products of ams semiconductor, which have important applications in the fields of industrial machine vision, image capture, medical endoscopes, traffic monitoring, and scientific research.

 

The focus of the next decade is cars

At this media meeting, Anmin Jin, Director of Market Application and Business Development of the Automotive Division of Ams Semiconductor Greater China, said that in the next ten years, ams will focus on the automotive field.

 

"Ams Semiconductor has very high expectations in the automotive sector, and hopes to expand its applications to industries and automobiles from the existing mobile phone applications. This year ams has invested a lot of resources in the automotive field, including Personnel, technology and experimental resources, etc."

 

Automotive sensors are the core components of the perception layer, which are spread all over the vehicle. The number of sensors in a car directly determines its level of intelligence. According to statistics from Haitong Securities, a mid-to-high-end gasoline vehicle currently has more than 90 sensors, and the value of a single vehicle exceeds 2,000 yuan. This data will continue to rise. This is a major opportunity for all sensor manufacturers. "The car is more like a large electronic device. More and more sensors are used in the car. The annual growth of sensors in the automotive field far exceeds that of other devices." Anmin Jin said.

 

Ams' sensors can be used in 3D monitoring, 3D detection, and driver interaction and perception. In addition, there is also LiDAR, which is essential for intelligent driving. Lidar is a system that integrates laser, GPS global positioning and inertial measurement devices. It is used to obtain data and generate accurate digital models. It is equivalent to the "eyes" of automobiles and is a key part of achieving high-level autonomous driving.

 

Anmin Jin finally stated, “Ams has developed VCSELs on mobile phones to further develop addressable VCSEL arrays and drive technology for vehicles. We believe that the underlying technology can help the development of solid-state lidar. In order to meet automotive-level applications, VCSEL achieves the following important technical indications. First, high energy to achieve long distance; second, smaller light speed angle to achieve long-distance monitoring; third, to achieve as many VCSEL points per unit area as possible , In order to achieve better accuracy; fourth, row and column addressable. By using addressable VCSEL array, lidar can achieve substantial cost reduction while ensuring high reliability."