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IMI’s Straylight Test Solution critically boosts visual accuracy and ensures driver safety by detecting glare and flare issues in automotive camera modules. Introduced through the award-winning paper “Automated Glare and Flare Optical Tester for High-Performance Automotive Camera Modules,” this innovative solution has since become a standard feature across IMI’s end-of-line test platforms.
 

A report from Towards Automotive estimated the global market for automotive cameras at approximately $11.5 billion in 2023, with projections indicating it could surpass $23 billion by 2032 due to rising demand and technological advancements. The market is projected to expand at a strong annual growth rate of 11.5% through 2032.

Passenger vehicles lead the global car camera market and are expected to stay on top in the coming years. This is mainly because vision technology services like car cameras play an important role in keeping drivers and passengers safe. They give drivers a clear view of their surroundings in real-time, helping them respond quickly to what’s happening on the road.

Automotive camera trends in 2025

As vehicles become more future-ready, the role of automotive cameras is evolving to meet the demands of smarter, safer driving.

1. Luxury car makers driving growth

The car camera sector is poised for robust revenue growth, largely propelled by luxury automakers who maximize product development by incorporating sophisticated safety technologies to attract demanding buyers. Ongoing innovation, the rollout of state-of-the-art features, and strong after-sales support are set to accelerate market expansion.

2. Surging demand for advanced safety tech

The automotive sector is witnessing a sharp rise in demand for improved safety and convenience, fueling swift progress in vehicle technology and test services. As drivers prioritize safer journeys, advanced safety systems have become standard, helping to reduce accidents and enhance road security.

3. The rise of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)

With ADAS gaining popularity, vehicle safety has entered a new era of innovation. These sophisticated systems now offer a wide array of features such as lane keeping, automated parking, video recording, emergency braking, and smart traffic navigation. This wave of new product introductions transforms the driving experience, giving motorists a greater sense of security behind the wheel.

4. Multi-camera setups

The automotive sector is rapidly advancing as leading manufacturers like Toyota and Honda integrate sophisticated safety tech often supported by multi-camera setups to boost visual inspection around the vehicle. Meanwhile, brands including Tesla and Audi push boundaries with Level 3 autonomous driving, promising safer, more convenient journeys.

5. Advancement of smart cameras

Smart cameras revolutionize automotive safety by meeting strict safety standards through advanced image processing and product validation. Unlike radar or lidar, they excel in real-time object recognition by tracking vehicles, pedestrians, and road signs to improve driver awareness and support features like automatic emergency braking.

IMI, a major player in the automotive camera industry

For more than four decades, Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) has specialized in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge automotive technologies. Their portfolio includes advanced camera systems, displays, ADAS controllers, sensors, steering modules, and telematics. A pioneer in ADAS, IMI has over fifteen years of experience in manufacturing and testing of automotive cameras for major OEMs.

With growing safety demands requiring stricter testing and validation, IMI enhances its automotive camera systems through a platform-based approach. By integrating design and manufacturing at the systems level and collaborating with key suppliers and developers, IMI advances its camera technology to meet evolving industry standards.

Proving IMI's expertise is its in-house development of advanced testing solutions, including a proprietary stray light tester designed to detect glare issues in ADAS cameras. This innovation earned top honors at the 2018 ASEMEP National Technical Symposium (ANTS), showcasing the company’s strong capabilities in engineering excellence and camera system validation. 

ANTS, organized by SEIPI, serves as a platform where engineers from member firms present breakthroughs and developments in the Philippine semiconductor and electronics sector.

IMI’s award-winning paper, Automated Glare and Flare Optical Tester for High-Performance Automotive Camera Modules, detailed the creation of a specialized optical tester designed to detect and eliminate camera modules affected by excessive stray light. This innovation ensures superior image clarity and reliability in ADAS used in modern vehicles.

Detecting straylight defects

Straylight defects refer to unwanted visual distortions caused by light scattering or internal reflections in a camera system. These issues are especially common in high-contrast conditions and can be intensified by external factors like fog, haze, or smog. While unavoidable, glare and flare can be managed through controlled susceptibility thresholds, improving image reliability.

When IMI released its paper, lens screening systems were widely used, but often missed straylight defects introduced during manufacturing. Before, existing camera-level straylight testers relied on manual inspection, making them prone to subjectivity. IMI aimed to change this by developing an automated, objective screening system to detect straylight at the camera module level.

Most straylight defects observed in automotive camera modules stem from streaks and ghost reflections. IMI’s straylight test software eliminates subjective bias by using an analytical approach to screen cameras. Results from the straylight tester closely matched those of the initial prototype setup, validating its effectiveness.


IMI’s straylight tester successfully and automatically identifies automotive camera modules exhibiting glare and flare defects. By integrating automated image analysis with optical inspection, the tester achieves greater accuracy and is well-suited for high-volume manufacturing.

IMI’s innovations enhance safety for drivers of all abilities, addressing challenges faced by those with limited skills or physical constraints. By delivering cutting-edge technology across the automotive, industrial, and aerospace sectors, IMI remains committed to solving real-world problems. Amid rapid global change, the company continues to adapt and evolve, prioritizing the human element in its solutions.

Learn more about IMI’s camera manufacturing solutions today.

As one of the Top 20 EMS companies in the world, IMI has over 40 years of experience in providing electronics manufacturing and technology solutions. 

We are ready to support your business on a global scale.

Our proven technical expertise, worldwide reach, and vast experience in high-growth and emerging markets make us the ideal global manufacturing solutions partner. 

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