Himax, MediaTek, and Megvii Come with Active Stereo Camera 3D Reference Design for Android Smartphones

Globenewswire: Himax announces a collaboration with MediaTek and Megvii, the Chinese developer of the world’s biggest open platform of face recognition known as Face++, to offer what it says the industry’s first Active Stereo Camera (ASC) 3D sensing reference design targeting facial recognition and secure online payment for Android smartphone.

The ASC 3D sensing solution combines MediaTek’s stereo matching depth engine, Megvii’s Face++ AI-based computer vision algorithm with Himax’s projector, sensor and laser driver. The critical technologies provided by Himax include DOE and collimator utilizing its world leading WLO technology in the projector, a high efficiency laser driver IC, high precision active alignment for the projector assembly, and two high sensitivity near-infrared CMOS image sensors in the receiver. Compared with the structured light technology, the ASC is said to be a lower cost 3D sensing solution for mass market smartphones for facial recognition, secure online payment and AI-based photo enhancement.

The key features of the ASC 3D sensing solution include:

• Customized infrared projector with patterned DOE and collimator: Between 7,000 - 10,000 invisible dots to build sophisticated 3D depth map
• High QE sensor at 940nm band
• Superior sensing capability in both indoor/outdoor environments
• Glass broken detection: Patented glass broken detection mechanism enabled by tailor made laser driver in the projector whereby laser is shut down instantaneously in the event of broken glass in the projector
• Eye safety: Certified for IEC 60825 Class 1, the international standard governing laser product safety under all conditions of normal use with naked eyes
• Compact form factor and power-efficient

“We are pleased to partner with MediaTek and Megvii. This strong alliance ensures that 3D sensing is affordable for Android mass market and can be easily adopted by smartphone makers to create exciting user experience. I believe ASC will facilitate a broader adoption of 3D sensing on Android smartphone during 2019,” said Jordan Wu, President and CEO of Himax.