Renesas Solution For Automotive Cameras Enables High-Definition Video Using Low-Cost Cables and Connectors

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced
semiconductor solutions, today introduced its new Automotive HD Link (AHL)
technology that enables automotive manufacturers to deliver high-definition
video over low-cost cables and connectors that currently support
standard-definition video. HD video is increasingly important in car safety
systems for object recognition functionality. Renesas is a leader in the
Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) market, and AHL can be paired with
other Renesas products, such as the R-Car Automotive SoCs, RH850 MCUs,
automotive PMICs, and analog components to cost-effectively implement
numerous safety features in virtually any vehicle.

The new RAA279971 AHL encoder and RAA279972 decoder use a modulated analog
signal to transmit the video, enabling transmission rates 10 times less than
required to transmit HD signals digitally. The lower transmission rate means
that traditional twisted pair cables and standard connectors can be used, as
can existing analog video cables and connectors. On the other hand, digital
links such as SerDes require heavily shielded cables and high-end connectors
that cost significantly more than those for AHL, may require replacement
after 5-7 years and are difficult to route due to bending radius
limitations.

AHL is robust against noise and has a bi-directional control channel that
operates independent of the video data and can initialize, program, and
monitor the camera module. A key AHL performance and cost reducing feature
is the ability to control the camera simultaneously over the same pair of
wires (UTP) during video transmission. Another safety benefit of AHL is its
performance in comparison to a digital link. In a rear view camera
application, a digital link will degrade due to a failure in the cable
harness or connector assembly, as weak signals can cause macroblocks to
appear, hiding large portions of the viewing area. Using the same cable
under the same conditions for comparison, the AHL link will present a slight
change in video color or contrast, but all pixels will appear on the screen,
and the image will precisely identify an object or person behind the
vehicle.

“Advanced safety systems are no longer only available in luxury vehicles,”
said Niall Lyne, Vice President of the Automotive Analog Power and Video
Business Division at Renesas. “The AHL system enables our automotive
customers to now deliver these features in all new vehicles, including
economy models.”

Key Features of AHL

Supports resolutions from VGA up to 720p/60 or 1080p/30 for flexibility to
implement non-standard vertical resolutions (not just the TV video standard
16:9 resolutions)
MIPI-CSI2, BT656, & DVP inputs and outputs provide flexible interface to
support old and new image sensors
Requires only 27MHz crystal clock, with internal PLLs able to generate the
necessary clock frequencies for higher resolutions
Availability

The new RAA279971 AHL encoder and RAA279972 decoder are available today.
Renesas also offers the RTKA279971DA2000BU AHL Encoder and the
RTKA279972DA1000BU AHL Decoder evaluation boards. More information about AHL
is available at www.renesas.com/AHL.

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design
innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of
connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A
global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC products, Renesas
provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive,
industrial, Infrastructure, and IoT applications that help shape a limitless
future. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter,
and YouTube.