– Breaking the 1 billion mark proves that STMicroelectronics is the market leader in ranging solutions
– Continue to develop micro ToF modules to enable innovation of use cases
– Adhering to superior delivery standards and product quality while serving the most demanding customers in important markets
China, November 27, 2019 – STMicroelectronics (ST; NYSE: STM), a leading global supplier of semiconductors across multiple Electronic applications, announced its Time of Flight (ToF) on the 26th Module shipments reached 1 billion.
ST’s ToF sensor uses its single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor technology and is fabricated at ST’s 300mm front-end fab in Crolles, France. The final module integrates a SPAD sensor and a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL), as well as the necessary optics to enhance the product’s performance, packaged and tested in ST’s advanced in-house back-end manufacturing facility.
Eric Aussedat, general manager of ST’s Imaging Business Unit, said: “ST was one of the first to develop time-of-flight technology and has now completed the translation of scientific research into a market-leading series of products that are fully mass-producible. Adopted by more than 150 smartphones, with shipments just breaking the 1 billion mark. In continuing to invest in this technology, ST’s FlightSense™ time-of-flight product development roadmap expands from high-performance 1D single-point ranging devices to to multi-area ranging devices, and the recent addition of high-resolution 3D depth sensors, enabling innovative applications using advanced proximity detection sensors, human presence detection, and laser autofocus.”
The VL6180, VL53L0 and VL53L1 families and others are now in volume production targeting the consumer electronics, personal computer and industrial markets. STMicroelectronics uses its unique vertically integrated manufacturing model to produce time-of-flight sensors to provide customers with best-in-class service levels, product quality, customer support and product performance.
Technical Notes, for editorial reference:
ST’s high-performance time-of-flight technology has been developed and introduced to bring clear performance advantages to customer products. By optimizing the module’s size, power consumption, and ranging capabilities, and providing longer measurement distances than competing products, FlightSense ToF sensors enable a variety of use cases, such as controlling wake and sleep modes of laptops, monitors, or other devices. User Presence Detection; User Proximity Detection; Laser Autofocus (LAF) in Hybrid Focus Algorithms for Smartphone Cameras.
Take the camera subsystem as an example, the camera subsystem is the main factor that keeps smartphones differentiated. The LAF function improves the camera’s focusing performance in harsh photographic conditions, such as low-light conditions or low-contrast subjects that are difficult to cope with with conventional autofocus systems. Laser autofocus is widely used by major smartphone manufacturers, most of which use STMicroelectronics’ ToF technology. In fact, a widely recognized camera review benchmark has named the “Top 10 Cameras” for smartphones, many of which feature ST’s Time-of-Flight technology.
There are also many mass-market products featuring ST’s time-of-flight products. These products include robot vacuum cleaners, laptops, children’s tablets (eye protection), automatic faucets, home drones, robots, projectors, and more.
Local ST’s application and customer support team has completed hundreds of process design adoption awards and has expertise in sensor integration into OEM products, reference software for platform integration, selection of touchscreen cover materials, and algorithm customization . Customers can take advantage of this high-value support to accelerate new products to market.
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