Associations align around MIPI CSI-2 automotive camera interface

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Terms of agreement between MIPI Alliance and Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA) create a pathway for implementers to use MIPI CSI-2 directly, or "natively," with the ASA-ML physical layer (PHY) interface.

www.embedded.com/, Aug. 11, 2023 – 

The MIPI Alliance and the Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA) said they have entered into a liaison agreement creates a pathway to enable native/direct, implementation of MIPI Camera Serial Interface 2 (MIPI CSI-2) with the ASA Motion Link (ASA-ML).

The terms of the agreement create a pathway so that implementers will be able to use MIPI CSI-2–widely considered the preferred camera and image sensor interface by the extended automotive ecosystem–directly, or "natively," with the ASA-ML physical layer (PHY) interface. Supporting specifications would also be made available through this pathway, such as MIPI Camera Service Extensions (MIPI CSE), which provides protocol-layer security and additional functional safety support.

Originally introduced in 2005, MIPI CSI-2 is said to be one of the most widely implemented embedded camera and imaging interfaces, with widespread adoption for its ease of use and ability to support a broad range of high-performance applications, including 1080p, 4K, 8K and beyond video, and high-resolution photography.

The ASA was established in 2019 by BMW, Continental, Broadcom, Fraunhofer IIS and NXP as founding members, and now has more than 90 active member companies across the automotive ecosystem including car manufacturers (OEMs), tier-ones, semiconductor suppliers, cable and component manufacturers and test houses and testing tool vendors. The ASA Motion Link transceiver specification v1.01 was released in December 2020, defining a SerDes communication technology for in-vehicle connectivity ranging from 2Gbps to 16Gbps line rate.

MIPI and ASA each have standardized asymmetric SerDes PHY interfaces (MIPI A-PHY and ASA-ML, respectively) for automotive applications such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving systems (ADS) and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) that rely on cameras/sensors and displays. MIPI members can implement CSI-2 directly only with a MIPI PHY (i.e., A-/C-/D-PHY) or MIPI Board-approved non-MIPI PHY. Products incorporating other PHYs may utilize CSI-2 with a "bridge" device following a MIPI-approved PHY. Upon successful completion of the process defined under this liaison, ASA-ML will be approved for native integration with CSI-2.

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