Sony eyes autonomous vehicles to sustain profits from chip business

Sony Corp. is betting on self-driving cars as way to boost its semiconductor business and ensure sustainable growth, given the volatility in the smartphone market. The electronics giant has developed a highly sensitive CMOS image sensor for automotive cameras to more precisely interpret signals from traffic lights and tail lamps that use light-emitting diodes. Automotive cameras that respond to LED signaling are facing growing demand because cameras based on conventional sensors are less accurate. Sony's new CMOS sensor is capable of capturing high-quality images in a wide dynamic range, even in situations with striking contrast, such as when cars enter or exit tunnels in daylight, the company says. Sony plans to begin mass production of the new CMOS sensor next March.