Composite Video Signal in Automotive Application: Past and Future

Analog video decoders play a critical role in converting composite analog signals into digital data for processing by automotive SoCs. From legacy CVBS signals delivering 0.3M pixels per frame to today’s high-resolution cameras with up to 4M pixels per frame, Richnex’s decoder portfolio supports the entire resolution spectrum.

 

Our solutions are optimized for automotive vision systems and machine vision applications, ensuring seamless integration, low latency, and exceptional image quality across diverse use cases.

 

Standard Definition Video Camera System

Standard-definition (SD) composite video signaling was first adopted in early rear-view camera systems due to its compatibility with NTSC and PAL broadcast standards. NTSC delivers 720×480 resolution with interlaced fields at 60 fields per second, providing smooth motion while minimizing bandwidth requirements.

 

SD sensors often offer superior dynamic range compared to HD sensors, thanks to larger pixel sizes. This advantage, combined with proven reliability and cost-effectiveness, ensures that SD cameras with composite (CVBS) output remain a popular choice in both OEM and aftermarket rear-view systems.  

 

HD Camera System

Composite video signaling, originally designed for NTSC/PAL systems, can be extended to support higher resolutions through frequency scaling. By increasing luma and chroma bandwidth and adjusting the color carrier frequency, this approach enables HD, FHD, 2K, and even 4K video transmission using the same fundamental concept.

 

Progressive scanning replaces interlaced formats for improved image quality, and remarkably, 4K video at 30 fps can be transmitted within a 100 MHz bandwidth—significantly lower than the bandwidth required by typical SerDes solutions for the same resolution. This efficiency translates into simpler, cost-effective wiring harnesses without compromising performance.

 

UHD Roadmap

Ultra High Definition (UHD), defined as 4K resolution at 30 fps, is becoming essential for advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) applications. Richnex is actively developing decoders for UHD video, delivering a far more cost-effective solution compared to SerDes-based systems.

 

Building on our proven 2K/30 decoder technology, the upcoming 4K decoder will showcase the superior performance and bandwidth efficiency of analog video systems—enabling high-resolution imaging without the complexity and expense of high-speed SerDes links.