Sony Unveils High-Resolution SPAD Depth Sensor for Automotive LiDAR

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation has announced the release of the IMX479 SPAD depth sensor for automotive LiDAR, offering high-resolution and high-speed performance.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation has announced the upcoming release of the IMX479 stacked, direct Time of Flight (dToF) SPAD depth sensor for automotive LiDAR systems, announced in a press release. This new sensor is designed to deliver high-resolution and high-speed performance, crucial for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD).

The IMX479 sensor employs a dToF pixel unit composed of 3×3 SPAD pixels to enhance measurement accuracy using a line scan methodology. It achieves a frame rate of up to 20 fps, the fastest for a high-resolution SPAD depth sensor with 520 dToF pixels. This performance is made possible by integrating newly developed distance measurement circuits and dToF pixels on a single chip.

The sensor's design includes a back-side illuminated, stacked structure with Cu-Cu connections, enabling a small pixel size of 10 μm square. This allows for excellent distance resolution of 5 cm intervals and a high photon detection efficiency of 37%, enabling detection of objects up to 300 meters away even in bright light conditions.

Sample shipments of the IMX479 are planned for Autumn 2025, with a sample price of ¥35,000, including tax.

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