Sony revolutionizes LiDAR technology in automotive

Sony Semiconductor Solutions has announced a new sensor that promises to become a benchmark for the future of autonomous driving . It's called the SPAD Stacked IMX479 and is designed for automotive LiDAR applications. Its key strength? A combination of high resolution, long-range measurements, and acquisition speed that aims to revolutionize ADAS systems and Level 3 autonomous driving and beyond.

Thanks to dToF (Direct Time-of-Flight) technology and a 3x3 SPAD pixel architecture, the sensor is able to measure the distance of objects with extreme precision. This represents a significant step forward for intelligent vehicles, which require increasingly detailed environmental recognition to make real-time decisions. The result is a system capable of distinguishing even very small objects at great distances, thus promoting greater road safety and a faster response to potential hazards.

A stacked structure for top performance

The technological heart of the SPAD IMX479 sensor is a stacked structure , with backlit pixels and direct copper connections between the layers. This type of architecture allows the pixel chip to be stacked on top of the logic chip, connecting them with extreme precision and minimizing the footprint. Thanks to this advanced solution, the sensor is able to offer a frame rate of up to 20 fps, a value considered a record for devices with a resolution of 520 pixels dToF.

It's not just a question of speed, but also of accuracy: the achieved angular resolution is 0.05 degrees, an improvement of almost threefold compared to previous solutions. All this translates into extremely clear three-dimensional detection , even for objects as small as a tire, at distances exceeding 250 meters.

Long-distance detection and precision in details

One of the most impressive aspects of the new Sony sensor is its ability to operate over long distances while maintaining high precision, and thanks to custom-designed internal circuitry, the sensor is able to calculate the distance detected by each individual SPAD pixel, achieving depth resolution with intervals as low as 5 centimeters.

This level of precision is particularly useful for autonomous vehicles, which must be able to correctly interpret the position of obstacles in real time, even in complex contexts such as urban traffic or highways. Furthermore, the pixel configuration allows for wide vertical coverage, capable of detecting very low elements, such as an object just 25 centimeters high, from significant distances.

To achieve good results in LiDAR detection, computing power alone is not enough: excellent optical efficiency is also required, and the Sony sensor stands out in this area thanks to a surface structure that uses diffraction to deflect incident light and increase photon absorption.

With a wavelength of 940 nanometers, the sensor achieves an absorption efficiency of 37%, a value that allows it to detect objects up to 300 meters away, even in broad daylight and intense sunlight. This feature is essential for ensuring the reliability of automatic driving systems even in complex environmental conditions, where light can become a critical factor.

Compactness and power on a single chip

The IMX479 sensor integrates both the distance measurement pixels and the processing logic on a single chip, reducing footprint and improving integration into LiDAR systems. Each pixel is just 10 microns square, while the entire sensor measures just 12.2 mm by 20 mm. Despite its small size, the sensor offers image quality and sensing capabilities that make it ideal for the most demanding automotive applications . The sensor is fully compatible with 940 nm laser sources and uses the MIPI CSI-2 interface, now standard in on-board electronics. These features make it suitable for both high-end ADAS systems and future autonomous vehicles requiring advanced 360-degree sensing.

Sony has also created a mechanical scanning LiDAR unit based on the new sensor, designed to help partners test its capabilities in real-world scenarios. This platform is intended as a starting point for developers and manufacturers to verify the sensor's performance in complex situations.

Mechanical scanning is one of the most established solutions in the LiDAR field. It is used to broaden the laser beam horizon through the use of a rotating mirror and is a suitable technology for initial device evaluation before moving to solid-state or hybrid solutions. Thus, Sony offers a complete package not only in terms of hardware , but also of integration and validation tools.

The role of sensors in tomorrow's mobility

The IMX479 sensor was developed with the needs of emerging technologies in mind and supports continuous sensing at 300 meters with an accuracy of at least 5 centimeters, even in bright environments, and the response time is approximately 6 nanoseconds, making it extremely fast in data management.

Thanks to the four-lane MIPI CSI-2 serial interface, it can be easily integrated into existing systems, and the power supply is flexible and can be modulated on multiple levels to optimize power consumption and adapt to the requirements of on-board electronics. These features make the Sony sensor a component already ready for the evolution towards Level 4 autonomous vehicles, where full autonomy will require an even higher level of precision.

In a rapidly changing industry like the automotive industry, having precise, compact, and efficient tools can make the difference between a system that reacts in time and one that fails at the critical moment. The new SPAD Stacked IMX479 fits precisely into this context, offering performance that meets the most advanced demands of those designing the mobility of the future . Whether it's a self-driving car on the highway or a robotaxi in the city center, the quality of LiDAR detection is crucial, and with this new sensor, Sony takes another step towards a smarter and safer driving ecosystem.