LG Innotek announced on the 17th that it has developed a 'high-performance in-cabin camera module for vehicles' equipped with a 5-megapixel RGB-infrared (IR) sensor.
This product can be mounted in various locations within the vehicle, such as the rearview mirror and the top of the passenger seat, and it can monitor the driver's condition, such as detecting drowsy driving and ensuring the driver is paying attention. It can also check the seatbelt usage of passengers in the front and second rows in real time.
The in-cabin camera modules previously available in the market were mainly limited to specific functions, such as Driver Monitoring System (DMS) and Occupant Monitoring System (OMS). Additionally, multiple cameras needed to be installed to implement various functions.
However, the in-cabin camera module developed by LG Innotek is characterized by its ability to perform multiple functions with a single camera. It can detect not only visible light in red, green, and blue but also infrared wavelengths with its high-resolution RGB-IR sensor. Additionally, it provides clear images at about five times higher resolution than before, boasting 5 megapixels.
Furthermore, it supports a horizontal viewing angle expanded to 143 degrees, more than twice that of existing technologies through its proprietary optical lens technology, increasing the monitoring range. It can capture images not only of the front seats but also of the second-row seats throughout the vehicle. To minimize the product size, the 'wedge bonding' method is applied, reducing the size by 15% compared to previous products and enhancing design flexibility. Wedge bonding uses ultrasonic output to bond the chip and substrate.
LG Innotek is strengthening its product lineup of vehicle sensing solutions, covering both the exterior and interior of vehicles, by introducing high-performance heating camera modules and high-performance lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) along with the high-performance in-cabin camera module this year.
With this, it plans to actively promote to customers in North America and Europe and accelerate its efforts to secure a competitive position in the vehicle sensing solution market.
Moon Hyuk-soo, CEO of LG Innotek, noted, 'The business for camera modules and lidar, among other vehicle sensing solutions, is a core axis of LG Innotek's autonomous driving components business, alongside vehicle communication and lighting,' adding, 'We plan to grow the vehicle sensing solution business to over 2 trillion won by 2030.'
According to market research firm S&P Global, the global vehicle camera module market size is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 7%, increasing from approximately $6.923 billion (around 10 trillion won) last year to approximately $10.769 billion (around 15.4858 trillion won) by 2030.
Meanwhile, LG Innotek plans to unveil its latest innovative products, including the RGB-IR in-cabin camera module, at the world's largest information technology (IT) and consumer electronics exhibition, CES 2025, held in early January next year in Las Vegas.