CASE - Initiatives in the "Autonomous" Area
![[Autonomous] Main visual](../img/autonomous_hero.webp)
![[Autonomous] Icon](../img/ico_autonomous.svg)
CASE in the Automotive Industry
What is Autonomous?
In the automotive industry, the "Autonomous" area is the field that realizes a new mobility society through autonomous driving technology. Artificial intelligence (AI), cameras, millimeter-wave sensors, LiDAR, and other advanced sensor technologies are used to enable the vehicle to recognize the situation in its surroundings by itself and perform safe and efficient operation. There are great expectations for autonomous driving technology as a way to lower the risk of accidents and ease the burden on drivers, and also as a technology that will lead to the optimization of transportation systems, such as by supporting travel by the elderly and the disabled, easing traffic congestion, and improving the efficiency of logistics.
Our Vision
Use autonomous driving technology to realize sustainable transportation systems
In order to realize a safe and comfortable transportation society, we are making use of the technologies and knowledge Kyocera has accumulated so far to manufacture components and build systems that will support autonomous driving technology.
We support the control of vehicles with peripheral recognition enabled by high-precision sensing technology, and also with high-speed information processing. We also enhance the stability and durability of automotive systems overall with electronic components that have high reliability.
While repeating demonstrating testing for new technologies, Kyocera will contribute to the realization of autonomous driving technology with technologies and high-quality products that are already supporting mobility.
Solutions in the Autonomous Area
Autonomous
Components
Compact Differential Output Oscillators for ADAS
These are oscillators developed for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), which require high-speed and large-capacity communication. They support high-performance functions such as radar, camera, and 5G communication, and realize high-speed data transmission with serial differential signals. When used for a clock, which is the reference for high-speed transmission and synchronization control, the oscillator offers stable communications as it can provide a differential output that achieves high frequency and low noise. The compact design enables low-voltage operation and a reduction of the rise and fall times. This prevents signal delays and communication errors and contributes to the stability of in-vehicle communications and the reliability of data transmission.
Optical Components (Lenses and Optical Units for Various Cameras and Lenses)
This is a group of products that includes the camera modules and various lenses that support viewing and sensing. Kyocera supplies optical components suitable for a wide range of cameras such as driver monitoring cameras, front and rear view cameras, and surround view cameras. Our integrated in-house system for everything from design to manufacturing can support the customization of fine details such as the horizontal angle of view, number of pixels and outer diameter. This contributes to the realization of high-precision visual functions adapted to each application, such as aspherical lenses made of plastic or glass.
Automotive Connectors (General Automotive Electronic Components & Connectors)
These are solutions for the internal connections for in-vehicle devices. Kyocera’s board-to-board connectors have a floating structure that absorbs board misalignment and vibration and ensures a secure fit. The FPC/FFC connectors are highly reliable and feature heat resistance up to 125°C, which enables their installation near the engine compartment. They also support the V-by-One® HS high-speed transmission standard and have a space-saving design. Both the board-to-board connectors and FPC/FFC connectors are available in a wide range of variations to help with diverse customer needs.
Packages for Automotive LiDAR
These are packages for autonomous vehicles that realize the miniaturization, heat resistance and heat dissipation required for LiDAR systems. Kyocera uses multilayer wiring technology in laminated ceramics and suppresses the temperature rise on laser diodes with efficient heat dissipation performance. In addition, the formation of unique shapes and double-sided mounting enables the 2D or 3D mounting of laser diodes, driver ICs, monitor PDs, capacitors, and others. This realizes a low height and compact size, and low inductance, and contributes to the construction of low-cost, high-performance LiDAR systems.
FC-BGA High-Density Organic Package Substrates for Semiconductors for Integrated ECUs
These are high-density organic package substrates that support state-of-the-art design rules. Fine wiring technology is used to realize a wiring width and gap of 9 μm/12 μm and more than 9,000 I/O pins can be supported. The build-up structure provides high quality and high performance and use is possible in a variety of applications such as automotive SoCs and high-end server MPUs. We meet stringent quality and reliability requirements and the design can be fully customized to suit the specifications of the customer. They also have environmentally-friendly specifications such as lead-free, to contribute to environmental protection while supporting ADAS with high reliability.
MCMs for Integrated ECUs
These are electronic components that have multiple ICs with various functions mounted on a single module board. In autonomous driving, an MCM (Multi chip module) is installed in the ECU, which is the unit that controls the vehicle based on the map data obtained through communication and the data obtained from sensors on the vehicle and in the infrastructure. A filled via structure and high-density wiring (L/S: 85 μm/85 μm) are also supported. They can also respond to future technological advances and increases in the volume of information and will contribute to safe and reliable vehicle control technology for autonomous driving.
Flare-Reducing Glass Lids
These are high-performance glass lids that contribute to improved safety in ADAS and autonomous driving (AD). Printing technology is used to minimize light transmission and reflection, to reduce the noise and realize a clear field of view. Furthermore, the suppression of outgassing secures long-term reliability and the integration of the light-shielding film with the glass makes it possible to create compact, low-profile designs. In addition, compared to a normal UV transmission rate of 20%, Kyocera's custom AR coating can transmit 50% of the UV light, which contributes to higher productivity in the UV seal process. We respond flexibly to the needs of the customer, from the selection of the most appropriate glass lid material for the surface it will be attached to, up to the shipping form that will be used.
Mobility Products
Kyocera supplies ceramic packages for the various sensors that are essential for autonomous driving, including for LiDAR, SAW, barometric pressure sensors, and gas sensors. These packages are equipped with high heat resistance, corrosion resistance, rigidity and electrical insulation, and realize high processing capacity and load reduction during autonomous driving. In addition, we supply the optimal packages by performing customization to suit the different needs for each component. We utilize our extensive technology and experience to support safe autonomous driving with highly reliable packages that meet the diverse needs of our customers.
Autonomous
Modules
Camera-LiDAR Fusion Sensors
This is a camera and LiDAR integrated into a high-precision sensor for use in autonomous driving. The optical design developed by Kyocera eliminates parallax by aligning the optical axis of the LiDAR, which measures distance, with that of the camera, which recognizes the shape and color of objects. This has realized advanced object recognition in real time with no delay. In addition, durability has been improved by using MEMS mirrors that utilize advanced ceramic technology. The sensor has the high resistance to shaking and vibration that is required for automotive applications and it supports safe and precise autonomous driving.
Automotive Camera Modules
These are high-performance camera modules that support a safe automotive society. We fully utilize optical, circuit, software and mechanical technologies for lens units and electronic circuits that provide precision and stable quality. In addition, we secure the quality needed for automotive applications by utilizing high-density fine wiring technology, thermal and stress analysis, and noise countermeasures. In addition, we will contribute to the improvement of safety and convenience by conducting research and development for pedestrian and vehicle recognition functions in addition to use to display video.
LCDs for Electronic Mirrors
This is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for rearview mirrors with display performance that remains clear even in strong light. Kyocera's curved glass cutting technology achieves excellent functionality without compromising the design of the rearview mirror. With the trend toward rearview mirrors using display images from rear-facing cameras for safety, we are also developing technology to reduce the burden on the driver of adjusting their line of sight when looking at the mirror while facing forward. With high reliability based on years of experience in the automotive market, our LCDs contribute to safer driving.
LCDs for Head-Up Displays
The head-up display projects a virtual image onto a vehicle's windshield, contributing to safer and more comfortable driving by allowing the driver to check information without looking away from the road ahead. The head-up display's key component is the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which requires excellent display quality and high durability. Kyocera's LCDs, which have been supplied to the automotive industry for many years, boast high performance and contribute to suppressing the brightness of head-up display units and improving the efficiency of thermal countermeasures. We are also promoting larger LCDs to accommodate the trend toward larger and AR-enabled head-up displays, contributing to a safe and comfortable driving environment.
Millimeter-Wave Sensing Systems (Telecommunication Equipment)
This system performs the highly accurate monitoring of changes in the biological information from the driver and passengers by utilizing original Kyocera technology for the non-contact detection of minute vibrations such as mechanical vibrations and heart beats. The system senses the drowsiness and fatigue of the driver based on that biological information and notifies the driver to prevent traffic accidents and support safe driving. In addition, sensing the heart rate, breathing, and motion of passengers can be used to prevent accidents where passengers are mistakenly left behind in a vehicle. Kyocera contributes to the realization of a safer automotive society through the use of this sensing system to prevent accidents.
Autonomous
Systems
Autonomous Bus "trota" (Demonstration Experiment)
Kyocera developed the autonomous bus "trota" as a solution to the problems of the aging of drivers and the decline in public transportation. We have conducted demonstration testing on public roads in Tochigi Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture and the accident-free travel results have been highly evaluated. The bus is equipped with a stereo camera, periphery detection cameras, signal detection camera and millimeter-wave radars developed by Kyocera, and also an ECU system jointly developed with Advanced Smart Mobility. It is also equipped with various sensors such as LiDAR and IMU and detects obstacles and pedestrians to realize safe autonomous driving.
Night Vision
This is a system that enables object recognition at night and in bad weather. It photographs objects and people by using a headlight that emits white light and near-infrared light on the same optical axis in combination with an RGB-IR sensor. The proprietary fusion recognition AI technology developed by Kyocera enables high-precision object recognition, even if the visibility is poor, and gives rapid notification of the hazards. In addition, technology to automatically generate near-infrared learning images from visible light learning images makes it possible to achieve both low costs and high performance. With this technology, we will contribute to the realization of a safe and secure transportation society by improving the deterioration in recognition accuracy that is caused by difficult environments.
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