How Three Armor-3C10CRS-FPD3 Cameras Resolved HDR, Flicker, and Synchronization Issues in a Tier-1 ADAS Program
A Tier-1 automotive supplier developing an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for a new passenger vehicle platform encountered repeated validation failures during on-road testing. The system used a three-camera setup: one forward-facing camera and two mirror-mounted units. Image quality and timing issues prevented consistent data processing by the perception stack. These failures delayed fleet trials and affected program timelines.
Daily driving scenarios revealed the system’s limitations. Sudden lighting transitions caused loss of image detail; LED-based traffic infrastructure introduced flicker artifacts, and poor synchronization between cameras disrupted sensor fusion. The supplier required a camera solution that could address all three issues without custom hardware development.
Requirement
High dynamic range imaging to handle extreme lighting transitions
Accurate synchronization across three cameras for sensor fusion
Automotive-grade hardware suitable for windshield and mirror mounting
Challenges Addressed
Image detail loss in tunnels, shadows, and direct sunlight
LED flicker from traffic lights and headlights is causing false detections
Frame misalignment across cameras is affecting ADAS functions
Solution Components
Three Armor-3C10CRS-FPD3 cameras with up to 140 dB HDR
LED Flicker Mitigation and synchronized multi-camera timing
FPD-Link III connectivity with automotive-grade FAKRA connectors
Results Achieved
Stable image quality across all lighting conditions
Elimination of LED flicker artifacts and false detections
Restored consistency of lane-keeping and blind-spot functions
Requirement Overview
The Tier-1 supplier required a camera module that met technical performance and production criteria. The ADAS platform used three cameras as a unified vision system, delivering time-aligned frames to the electronic control unit (ECU).
Each camera needed to support up to 140 dB HDR to retain detail in scenes with both bright and dark regions. LED Flicker Mitigation was required due to the use of pulsed LED lighting in traffic signals, road signage, and vehicle headlights. Accurate synchronization was necessary so that all three camera feeds reached the perception stack in the correct sequence.
From a hardware perspective, the cameras had to support Power-over-Coax, use automotive-grade FAKRA connectors, and withstand environmental exposure, particularly mirror-mounted locations. Immediate availability, full documentation, and production stability were required to avoid delays from custom board development.
Challenges
The existing camera hardware did not perform reliably under real-world driving conditions. During sudden transitions from bright sunlight into tunnels or underpasses, images showed clipped highlights or lost shadow detail. These inconsistencies made frames unusable for perception algorithms.
LED-based traffic infrastructure operating in the 90–300 Hz range introduced visible rolling bands in captured images. These artifacts triggered false object detections and reduced confidence in pedestrian and vehicle recognition, especially during nighttime driving and in urban environments.
Timing misalignment across the three cameras disrupted sensor fusion, leading to inconsistent blind-spot alerts and lane-departure warnings. Mirror-mounted cameras were exposed to rain, road spray, debris, and vibration, requiring a sealed, automotive-grade enclosure. With program deadlines approaching, there was no time to design, qualify, and validate a custom camera module.
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The Solution
The application engineering team replaced the existing hardware with three Vadzo Armor-3C10CRS-FPD3 cameras built around the OmniVision OX03C10 2.5 MP CMOS sensor with PureCel®Plus-S technology.
Each camera supported up to 140 dB HDR using multi-exposure imaging, enabling capture across extreme lighting conditions. Integrated LED Flicker Mitigation eliminated banding caused by pulsed LED sources. The cameras included an integrated FPD-Link III serializer, allowing video, control, and power transmission over a single coax cable.
System architecture routed serialized streams from all three cameras to a central FPD-Link III deserializer. This deserializer delivered logically synchronized streams to the vehicle ECU, typically an NXP i.MX8 or similar automotive SoC. Automotive-grade FAKRA connectors provide vibration-resistant connections, while the IP68-rated enclosure protects the cameras from water ingress and environmental exposure.
Using off-the-shelf cameras reduces integration time.
The Results
After integration, image quality remained stable across driving conditions. High-contrast scenes, including tunnel transitions, shaded roads, and night driving, were usable. HDR performance allowed both sky and road details to remain visible in the same frame.
LED flicker artifacts from traffic lights and headlights were eliminated, reducing false detections during urban and night testing. Accurate synchronization across the three cameras enabled consistent sensor fusion, supporting accurate lane-keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and pedestrian detection.
Field performance improved. The IP68-rated enclosure is protected against rain, road spray, and debris. Across the first 500 pre-production units, output remained consistent, simplifying calibration and reducing integration effort.
All three core issues-contrast handling, LED flicker, and multi-camera timing, were resolved during the first integration run. Fleet validation began on schedule. The same three-camera configuration was later reused across multiple vehicle platforms.
Next Steps
Vadzo continues to support the program with lens selection and focus-locking for mirror housing, automated end-of-line calibration for color and black-level tuning, and full vehicle-level validation across seasonal conditions.
For assistance with similar ADAS imaging requirements or camera integration support, contact Vadzo Imaging.
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Mail Us: support@vadzoimaging.com