Sony Announces IMX479 SPAD Depth Sensor for Superior Automotive LiDAR Technology

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation Launches IMX479 Depth Sensor for Automotive LiDAR Applications

On June 9, 2025, in Atsugi, Japan, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) announced a groundbreaking innovation — the IMX479 stacked, direct Time of Flight (dToF) SPAD depth sensor. This new product is specifically designed for automotive LiDAR systems, promising exceptional high resolution and high-speed performance to enhance the safety and reliability of future mobility solutions.

The IMX479 is built upon advanced dToF pixel technology, featuring a 3x3 configuration of SPAD pixels that significantly boosts measurement accuracy. With an impressive frame rate of up to 20 frames per second (fps)—the fastest available for a 520 dToF pixel SPAD depth sensor—this sensor is poised to meet the rigorous demands of advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems (ADAS and AD).

The significance of LiDAR technology cannot be understated; it plays a crucial role in the precise detection of road conditions and in the recognition of various objects, including vehicles and pedestrians. With the increasing push towards Level 3 automation—the level of driving in which the vehicle can take full control under certain conditions—further advancements in LiDAR technology are paramount. The IMX479's ability to detect the time of flight of light emitted from a source upon reflection creates reliable distance measurements critical for safe navigation.

SSS utilized its proprietary technologies, refined through the development of CMOS image sensors, to create the IMX479. Key innovations include a back-side illuminated stacked structure and Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connections, which facilitate efficient integration of distance measurement circuits and dToF pixels onto a single chip. As a result, this new sensor achieves remarkable specifications while maintaining a compact design.

Outstanding Features of IMX479:
1. High Frame Rate: Capable of 20 fps, it is unrivaled in the realm of high-resolution SPAD depth sensors. This performance level allows for real-time data processing critical for ADAS.
2. Vertical Angular Resolution: Improved vertical angular detection resolution of 0.05 degrees represents a 2.7 times enhancement over earlier models, permitting the car to discern three-dimensional obstacles even at long distances.
3. Distance Precision: The sensor boasts a distance resolution capability refined to intervals of just 5 cm, enabling enhanced measurement accuracy and operational reliability.
4. Photon Detection Efficiency: The IMX479 features a 37% efficiency rate for detecting photons at 940 nm, allowing it to function well under a bright background light environment, up to 100,000 lux.
5. Max Detection Range: The sensor can accurately detect objects located up to 300 meters away, making it effective for long-range vehicle navigation.

To evaluate its performance and aid partners, SSS has also developed a mechanical scanning LiDAR unit incorporating this new sensor, which will be shared with customers for collaborative development and testing.

This advancement is a testament to Sony's commitment to driving the automotive sector into an era where vehicles can navigate autonomously with unprecedented safety and reliability. The IMX479 will start sample shipments in autumn 2025, with an estimated price of ¥35,000. As the automotive industry continues to evolve towards greater automation, SSS's innovations will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobility.

With the IMX479, we can expect a significant leap forward in the capabilities of LiDAR technology, enhancing not just how vehicles sense their environments but also paving the way toward smarter, safer roads for everyone.