TEXAS INSTRUMENTS: INDUSTRY'S FIRST ULTRASONIC LENS CLEANING CHIPSET ENABLES SELF-CLEANING CAMERAS AND SENSORS

Texas Instruments (TI) introduced the first purpose-built semiconductors with ultrasonic lens cleaning (ULC) technology, enabling camera systems to quickly detect and remove dirt, ice and water using microscopic vibrations.

TI’s new ULC chipset, including the ULC1001 digital signal processor (DSP) and companion DRV2901 piezo transducer driver, features a proprietary technology that allows cameras to rapidly self-clear contaminants using precisely controlled vibrations to rapidly eliminate debris, which improves system accuracy and reduces maintenance requirements. The chipset offers designers a compact and affordable way to use ULC in a wide range of applications and camera sizes.

The ULC1001 controller includes proprietary algorithms for automatic sensing, cleaning, and temperature and fault detection without any image processing, making ULC technology highly adaptable to various camera lens designs. The chipset’s small form factor makes it possible to improve machine vision and sensing in a variety of applications.

TI’s ULC chipset eliminates the need for complex mechanical parts and human intervention in lens cleaning systems. The ULC1001 ultrasonic cleaning DSP with proprietary algorithms integrates a pulse-width modulator, current- and voltage-sense amplifiers and an analog-to-digital converter. Used together with the DRV2901 piezo transducer driver as a companion amplifier, TI’s chipset enables ULC in a compact footprint with a printed circuit board size less than 25 mm by 15 mm, reducing the bill of materials while providing more functionality than a discrete implementation.

The ULC1001 DSP is in volume production and available for purchase on TI.com and authorized distributors in a 4.5-mm-by-5-mm, 32-pin HotRod™ quad flat no-lead (QFN) package, with pricing at US$6.43 in 1,000-unit quantities. The DRV2901 piezo transducer driver is available for purchase for US$5.35 in 1,000-unit quantities. The evaluation module, ULC1001-DRV290XEVM, can be requested on TI.com for US$249.

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