More Eyes on the Road

Driving assistance systems have become commonplace on many newer models of cars. However, most of these systems are limited to alerting the driver of an impending collision or unintended lane change. Now a new microcamera is in development that can also detect traffic signs and signals, providing an added level of safety.

For example, the camera can automatically detect and process a change in speed limit that could easily be overlooked by the driver. Similarly, it can advise the operator of stop signs, one-way streets and no passing zones. The image processing algorithm can be customized for a variety of scenarios and adapted to the traffic signs that are typical for a given country. It can detect objects, people animals and their position and be coupled to the braking system to avoid an accident; or it may be mounted on the dashboard and trigger an alarm if the driver appears drowsy.

The optics and processing circuitry – consisting of 72 passive and 13 active components – are all integrated directly into the circuit board using glass fibers and epoxy resin. By embedding the electronics in this manner, the system is impervious to vibrations, even on uneven roadways. Its small size (16 x 16 x 12 millimeters, including optics) will make it easy to integrate into a variety of vehicles.