Rear-view cameras operate in conditions that can change within seconds. Direct sunlight may fall on one part of the scene. At the same time, another remains shaded, and the camera may still need to keep approaching vehicles, pedestrians, or loading docks visible during reversing and docking.
Therefore, a rear-view camera has to keep the area behind the vehicle visible even when light levels fall. Its exposed mounting position also places greater demands on the enclosure. Once the camera becomes part of a larger vision system, cable length, image timing, and processor choice influence the integration.
In this blog, you’ll better understand the obstacles that stand in the way of effective rear-view imaging – and how e-con Systems’ STURDeCAM12, a new 1.3MP 120dB HDR rear-view camera, helps overcome them.
Unpredictable Lighting Can Hide Important Rear-View Details
Rear-view scenes may include direct sunlight, shaded areas, and harsh reflections within the same image. When exposure can’t handle these light variations, critical elements behind the vehicle may lose visibility during safe reversing or automated docking.
STURDeCAM12 enables a maximum dynamic range of up to 120dB. Its HDR capability captures balanced images within challenging illumination and retains heightened detail when bright and dark regions appear together.
The camera uses OMNIVISION’s OX01G10 color image sensor with PureCel® Plus technology and an on-chip ISP. This imaging configuration helps STURDeCAM12 deliver clear visuals in bright daylight while preserving the scene information required in lower-light portions of the image.
A Limited Field of View Can Leave Blind Spots Uncovered
Rear visibility demands broad coverage because hazards and moving objects may appear at wide angles rather than directly behind the vehicle. An unsuitable lens can leave sections of the required viewing area outside the frame, reducing spatial awareness during reversing, docking, and blind spot detection.
STURDeCAM12 uses a fixed-focus lens with an M12 S-mount holder. It also comes with a wider HFOV (Horizontal Field of View) of 130 degrees. Flexible lens options make it easy to select the field of view required for the camera position and rear viewing area.
e-con Systems can also change the lens to meet project-specific FOV and optical requirements. This gives developers greater control over the region captured by the camera instead of restricting every rear-view design to one lens configuration.
Minimal Illumination Can Reduce Rear-View Clarity
Rear-view imaging may be required in locations where the available light is low. Under these conditions, image noise and reduced visibility can make nearby objects harder to identify. STURDeCAM12 combines high sensitivity with the OX01G10 sensor’s PureCel® Plus technology and on-chip ISP.
These characteristics help this rear-view camera collect more light with less noise and deliver clear rear visuals under low-light conditions. The same camera can therefore address the illumination changes encountered between bright daylight and darker operating areas.
Rear-Mounted Cameras Face Water, Dust, Mud, and Washdowns
The rear mounting position can expose a camera to water, dust, mud, pressure washing, shock, vibration, heat, cold, and humidity. A housing designed for protected installations may be unsuitable for these operating conditions.
STURDeCAM12 comes in an automotive-grade IP69K-rated enclosure. The rugged housing is intended for exposed camera placement in vehicles and robotics, including situations where the unit may encounter high-pressure cleaning or outdoor contaminants.
This rear-view camera operates from -40°C to 85°C. Its environmental coverage includes ISO 16750-3 for shocks, drops, and vibration, along with ISO 16750-4 for heat, cold, and humidity.
Connection reliability also matters when the camera and processing hardware are located several meters apart. STURDeCAM12 uses a FAKRA connector to support a reliable physical connection for power and image-data transmission over GMSL2 cable lengths of up to 15m.
The standard camera configuration includes a 3m cable, with a 15m option also available.
e-con Systems can modify the coaxial cable length when the vehicle layout calls for a different measurement.
Multi-Camera Systems Need Aligned Capture Timing
A rear-view camera may operate alongside other cameras used for blind spot detection or 360° surround-view imaging. When several cameras capture the scene together, timing differences between image streams can affect synchronized operation.
STURDeCAM12 includes external trigger functionality for multi-camera synchronization. The trigger aligns image capture between cameras used within the same configuration.
This ability makes STURDeCAM12 suitable for a dedicated rear-view setup as well as synchronized arrangements that include rear, side, or surround-view camera positions.
Processor Requirements Can Vary Between Rear-View Designs
The processor platform selected for a vehicle or mobility system influences camera integration. Rear-view projects may use NVIDIA Jetson, Qualcomm, Renesas, or some other application processor based on their computing requirements.
STURDeCAM12 is compatible with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX/Nano, Qualcomm, and Renesas platforms. It can also be evaluated with e-con’s AI Compute Box Darsi™ Pro. e-con Systems also provides camera driver development, customization, and porting services based on the required platform.
e-con Systems’ STURDeCAM12 is a High-Performance Rear-view Camera
Since 2003, e-con Systems has been designing, developing, and manufacturing OEM and ODM solutions. STURDeCAM12 is e-con Systems’ latest compact 1.3MP automotive-grade camera developed for rear-view, surround-view, and mobility systems. This camera delivers high-quality images in bright and low-light conditions, while its rugged enclosure, long-distance GMSL2 connection, multi-camera synchronization, flexible optics, and processor compatibility make it suited to vehicle and robotic deployments.
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Need more information about STURDeCAM12? Have any questions about how it may fit into your vision system? Please write to camerasolutions@e-consystems.com and connect with one of our vision experts.
FAQs
- How does STURDeCAM12 handle sunlight, shade, and reflections in the same rear-view?
STURDeCAM12 offers up to 120dB HDR, which captures balanced images and retains augmented detail when the scene contains sharp variations in brightness.
- What helps STURDeCAM12 capture sharp visuals under low illumination?
The camera uses OMNIVISION’s OX01G10 sensor with PureCel® Plus technology, high sensitivity, and an on-chip ISP. The sensor has a sensitivity of 32500 e/Lux-sec and a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of 42dB.
- Can the lens be changed for a required rear-view area?
Yes. STURDeCAM12 uses an M12 S-mount holder, and e-con Systems can change the lens based on the required field of view and optical requirements.
- How far can STURDeCAM12 transmit power and image data?
Its GMSL2 interface carries power and data over cable lengths up to 15m through a FAKRA connector. The standard configuration includes a 3m cable, with a 15m option also available.
- What protects STURDeCAM12 in exposed rear mounting positions?
The camera has an automotive-grade IP69K-rated enclosure and operates from -40°C to 85°C. Its environmental coverage includes shock, drops, vibration, heat, cold, and humidity.
Suresh Madhu is the product marketing manager with 16+ years of experience in embedded product design, technical architecture, SOM product design, camera solutions, and product development. He has played an integral part in helping many customers build their products by integrating the right vision technology into them.