LG Innotek said Wednesday that it has successfully created new types of high-performance hybrid lenses for autonomous driving with decreased size and thickness while boosting price competitiveness compared to existing market items.
According to the firm, camera lenses are an important component of autonomous driving solutions since they assist identify the driver’s motions.
LG Innotek has unveiled two new hybrid lenses, one for use in the Driver Monitoring System (DMS) and the other in the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
According to the electronics components manufacturer, the former is ready for introduction, while the latter will be accessible in the worldwide market by 2023.
Unlike traditional lenses, which are composed entirely of glass, LG Innotek’s newly created lenses are constructed entirely of glass and plastic. Plastic is prone to abnormalities induced by high temperatures or external forces, thus manufacturers were hesitant to utilize it in lens manufacturing.
LG Innotek, on the other hand, stated that it has devised a system to ensure that the partly plastic lens does not distort or lose quality when subjected to heat or external pressures. According to the manufacturer, the decision to utilize plastic reduced the size and cost.
“As the level of autonomous driving increases, more sensors are required, meaning parts need to be smaller,”
said a LG Innotek official
Furthermore, because camera modules are being placed toward the roof of the car rather than on the dashboard, carmakers are requiring lenses that can be readily hidden from view, according to a company official.
We expect LG Innotek’s high-performance hybrid lens, which has overcome the limitations of plastic with innovation, to create a huge wave in the market
said LG Innotek Vice President Kang Min-seok.