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On the Road to the SCORE Baja 1000 Race, Micron Showcases Automotive Imaging Technology at Convergence in Detroit

DETROIT--From the rugged terrain of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race in Mexico to the busy streets of Detroit, Micron Technology, Inc. is changing the driving experience with its high-performance imaging technology. This week at the Convergence 2006 automotive electronics conference and exhibition in Detroit, Micron will showcase its portfolio of DigitalClarity™ image sensors for automotive applications.

The underlying theme for Convergence 2006 is the reinvention of the automobile and Micron is helping drive this change with its automotive imaging innovations. Micron has a portfolio of dedicated automotive image sensors that were designed specifically to meet the stringent performance requirements for today’s evolving “smart car.”

“We estimate that by the year 2015, there will be anywhere between 5 to 10 cameras on a car,” said Bob Gove, vice president of Micron’s imaging group. “And we have had tremendous success with our automotive imaging technology, working to design in our products into the world’s most popular vehicle makes and models.”

Micron classifies its automotive imaging technology into two application groups – scene viewing and scene understanding. Scene viewing applications are designed for a person to make decisions about their surroundings, such as backup cameras and driver assistance. Micron’s MT9MV125 image sensor, now in mass production, supports scene viewing applications. Scene understanding applications capture information about a scene and then send it to a vehicle data system to provide input for potential actions, such as smart airbag deployment, lane tracking and departure warning. Micron’s MT9V022 image sensor supports scene understanding applications.

At Convergence, Micron will showcase (booth #953) the key performance parameters of its automotive imaging technology, including:

  • Global Shutter – One of the most difficult challenges of any imaging system is accurately capturing objects in motion. Micron’s TrueSNAP™ global shutter technology enables automotive systems to capture fast-moving images without image blurring.
  • High Dynamic Range – High dynamic range is an increasingly important feature for the automotive industry’s forward-looking applications like lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, and adaptive cruise control. Micron’s image sensors are designed to operate in extreme lighting conditions, clearly capturing a single image that contains areas of relative darkness (down to less than 2 lux) as well as objects in direct sunlight.
  • Extended Temperature – Automotive systems are dependent upon electronics that operate in harsh environments — from scalding engine compartments to frostbitten side-view mirrors. Micron’s comprehensive line of extended temperature image sensors provide outstanding performance and proven reliability for systems operating in the automotive temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and -40°C to +105°C.
  • Low-light Sensitivity – Low-light sensitivity is important for image sensors that capture scenes outside of the car. To be effective in display applications such as back-up cameras, they need to produce accurate and clear images, even in low-lux and sub-lux lighting.

Also in its booth, Micron will showcase its broad line of extended temperature (ET) DRAM products that provide superior performance at temperatures extending from -40°C to +85°C. Every part undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its reliability under the most demanding conditions. Available in a range of densities, configurations, and packages, Micron’s ET single data rate (SDR), double data rate (DDR), and DDR2 static dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) devices offer the ultimate flexibility for automotive designs.

Testing the Durability of Imaging and NAND Technology in the SCORE Baja 1000

For Micron, Convergence is a pit stop on the road to the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race, to be held November 15 through 18 along Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Micron will test the limits of its imaging and NAND technology in the Wide Open Challenge class race of the Baja 1000 where the company will have four teams of executives commanding off-road vehicles specially outfitted with Micron image sensors and Lexar Professional CompactFlash™ memory cards. Lexar is a Micron subsidiary.

The four vehicles will be equipped with two specially designed automotive imaging solutions to capture video of the more than 1,000 mile race. One imaging chip will record images that the drivers and passengers will view through the front of the vehicles, while the other will record the drivers and passengers themselves in action behind the wheel. Meeting the key performance parameters of the automotive industry, Micron’s image sensors are the ideal solution for a broad range of environmental and lighting conditions.

Micron’s NAND flash memory recorders installed in the vehicles will contain a series of 8 gigabyte (GB) Lexar Professional CompactFlash memory cards, storing the video captured from Micron’s image sensors. Trusted by professional photographers, the memory cards provide a high-speed, high-capacity removable storage solution that brings out the ultimate performance in digital still and video recording equipment.

Micron will display one of its Baja vehicles at Convergence (booth #825), depicting the race’s harsh environments and highlighting how and where Micron’s imaging and memory technology will operate during the race. For more information on Micron’s participation in the SCORE Baja 1000 race, visit http://baja.micron.com. And for more information on Micron’s automotive portfolio, visit http://www.micron.com/applications/automotive/.

Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets DRAMs, NAND flash memory, CMOS image sensors, other semiconductor components, and memory modules for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.

Micron, Micron orbit logo, and DigitalClarity are trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.