English
Omnivision has released the OX01N1B image sensor to make in-cabin automotive monitoring systems more cost-effective and energy efficient while improving performance. The OX01N1B is part of the larger Omnivision Nyxel Near Infrared (NIR) automotive sensor family.
OX01N1B is the latest introduction to the NIR sensor family.
Omnivision says the OX01N1B will capture higher-quality images for applications such as driver-awareness monitoring and night vision. The company designed Nyxel NIR to reduce the need for additional lighting when capturing high-quality images, reducing overall power consumption.
Compact Image Sensor for In-Cabin Monitoring Systems
The OX01N1B is a 1.5 megapixel backside illumination (BSI) global shutter image sensor with a pixel size of 2.2 microns. Moving the wiring layer behind the light-sensitive region reduces signal loss and boosts sensitivity, especially in low-light conditions. This design has become standard in compact imaging systems where space is tight but performance can't be compromised.
A global shutter is a type of mechanical or electronic shutter that controls exposure uniformly across a monochrome image sensor. Unlike rolling shutters that expose the sensor line by line, a global shutter captures the entire frame at once, preventing motion artifacts and distortion.
Rolling shutter versus global shutter.
The OX01N1B uses Omnivision’s OmniPixel 3-GS (global shutter) technology to achieve this. This makes it useful for high-speed imaging and machine vision applications where accuracy and timing are critical. The image sensor includes NIR quantum efficiency at 36%, a high modulation transfer function (MTF), and different output formats such as RAW and YUV.
It also has integrated ASIL-B for functional safety and cybersecurity features. The image sensor supports a maximum image transfer rate of 1440 x 1080 at 90 FPS and outputs data in up to four-lane MIPI D-PHY or DVP format.
Driver monitoring systems rely on image sensors that perform well in low-light, high-contrast, and rapidly changing conditions. The OX01N1B operates under near-infrared (NIR) lighting and handles both day and night conditions without a separate sensor, enabling real-time eye tracking and face detection while reducing system complexity and power consumption.
Other Image Sensor Options for Driver Monitoring Systems
Designers considering image sensors for driver monitoring systems have several options to choose from. Onsemi’s AR0144AT remains a popular choice for these applications, offering a 1-MP global shutter with 3.0 µm pixels and reliable NIR sensitivity. These specifications make it suitable for accurate eye and head tracking. Sony’s IMX224 , though not originally built for automotive, has found use in some in-cabin systems thanks to its strong low-light performance and mature ecosystem. SmartSens is gaining traction, particularly with Chinese OEMs, by offering low-cost global shutter sensors with growing NIR capabilities.
The OX01N1B stands out for its "industry-leading NIR quantum efficiency" for low-light performance and its high modulation transfer function for image quality and resolution. It maintains this high performance level while consuming little power and operating in a compact optical format for small camera modules.
