OmniVision and Seeing Machines collaborate to launch DMS processor with integrated ISP and NPU

OmniVision has partnered with computer vision technology company Seeing Machines to launch the automotive industry’s first dedicated driver monitoring system (DMS) and occupant monitoring system (OMS) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which combines an image signal processor (ISP) and Seeing Machines’ Occula neural processing unit (NPU).

OmniVision announced the world's first dedicated DMS ASIC (OOX8000) integrating AI NPU, ISP and DDR3 memory in January 2021. The new OAX4600 integrates the Occula NPU. It has a higher level of processing and performance, meets ASIL B automotive safety standards, and is based on deeper cooperation with ecosystem suppliers. It includes a HW RGB-IR ISP, network security and the highest energy efficiency solution.

“OmniVision has been collaborating with Seeing Machines for over five years and was the first to license silicon for the Occula NPU in 2021. Today, we are announcing a unique ASIC implementation – the OAX4600 – with an integrated ISP and NPU capable of higher resolution processing, up to 5 megapixels (MP),” said Andy Hanvey, director of automotive marketing at OmniVision. “With the demand for automotive-grade RGB-IR processing solutions, OmniVision is combining its knowledge in ISP processing with a highly optimized VAX4600 implementation that minimizes DDR bandwidth requirements. The combined solution, which we will release in the second half of this year, is ideal for space-constrained automotive integration, such as in rearview mirrors, providing automotive OEMs with increased efficiency and lowest power.”

“Rearview mirrors are a key integration point for automotive OEMs to add occupant monitoring to meet Euro NCAP requirements for driver state monitoring,” said Colin Barnden, principal analyst at Semicast Research. “However, mirrors are space and power constrained, requiring a highly optimized imaging signal chain to meet the conflicting requirements of high-performance vision processing and low power. Together, the OX05B1S sensor and VAX4600 processor combine 5-megapixel resolution with best-in-class image processing and low power consumption. In terms of performance per watt, this solution looks set to be widely adopted in automotive OEM DMS systems this year and next.”

“We are excited to be working with OmniVision to bring this optimized DMS/OMS solution to the market. With the introduction of the Ox4600 device, OmniVision now occupies a unique position in the silicon space as the only company that can deliver from pixel to processing,” added Nick DiFiore, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Automotive at Seeing Machines. “Combining Seeing Machines’ Occula NPU and expertise in the associated algorithms and optical space with OmniVision’s market-leading imaging solutions, the OAX4600 delivers the first truly optimized DMS/OMS standalone SoC processing solution.”