With the rapid development of intelligent connected vehicles, in-vehicle vision systems have become the core sensory interface for autonomous driving, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and intelligent cockpits.
In complex and dynamic driving environments, acquiring clear, wide-angle, and stable visual information is crucial for ensuring driving safety and enhancing the user experience.
As a critical sensing component of automotive vision systems, lens performance directly affects image acquisition quality and significantly influences the effectiveness of downstream perception algorithms and driver assistance functions. Wide angle lenses are a common type of lens used in automotive vision systems.
This article will take a 1/2.8″ wide angle lens as a basis and explore its application solutions in automotive scenarios.
1.1/2.8″ Wide-Angle Lens Core Parameter Analysis
Take the ChuangAn 1/2.8″ wide-angle lens as an example. The CH3716EB is a high-performance wide-angle lens designed specifically for the complex environment of a vehicle.
It features a 2.6mm focal length, 6 megapixels, a 172° diagonal field of view, a large F2.0 aperture, IP67 water and dust resistance, and an M12 mount. Its core parameters precisely meet the stringent visual perception requirements of modern automobiles.
1)1/2.8″ mainstream sensor format: Compared to traditional 1/3″ or 1/4″ sensors, the larger photosensitive area of the 1/2.8″ format delivers a higher signal-to-noise ratio and superior dynamic range. While maintaining high resolution, it offers the advantages of compact size and low power consumption, making it a mainstream choice for automotive vision systems.
2)6-megapixel ultra-high resolution: The 6-megapixel high resolution provides rich image details, ensuring that the lens can achieve high-resolution imaging within a limited volume. It can capture rich scene details, which can not only assist the driver’s observation, but also provide high-precision feature recognition data for ADAS algorithms, providing sufficient data support for the backend.
The high-resolution wide-angle lens delivers rich image detail
3)172° ultra-wide field of view: The ultra-wide-angle design of this lens greatly reduces blind spots. The 172° ultra-wide-angle design helps to reduce blind spots. With proper installation, it can cover a large area on the side and rear of the vehicle, and is suitable for scenarios such as 360° panoramic surround view, automatic parking and blind spot monitoring.
4)IP67 protection rating: Automotive lenses are constantly exposed to the external environment. With an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, they withstand rain, dust accumulation, and vehicle vibrations. They are suitable for harsh exterior mounting conditions, ensuring stable operation in adverse environments and preventing moisture or dust ingress from compromising image quality.
5)F2.0 large aperture: The large aperture ensures a greater amount of light entering the camera, meaning that even in low-light environments such as tunnels, underground parking garages, nighttime, or backlighting, the image can still be kept bright and clean, effectively reducing noise and improving day and night co-focus performance.
6)M12 mount: As the mainstream standard mount for automotive cameras, the M12 threaded mount is compatible with the vast majority of automotive camera housings and motherboards, offering excellent compatibility. In addition, its reinforced structure provides superior shock resistance, ensuring that the optical axis does not shift and the image remains stable even on bumpy roads.
Key parameters of a 1/2.8″ wide-angle lens
2.Multi-scenario application: Comprehensive in-vehicle vision solutions
With the aforementioned specifications and features, the CH3716EB flexibly adapts to various automotive camera systems, providing visual solutions for diverse application scenarios.
1)Front-facing camera: primarily used for ADAS and dashcam recording
Mounted above the windshield, the 172° ultra-wide-angle lens captures a broad field of view, covering multiple lanes and the shoulders on both sides. Combining a 6-megapixel image sensor with an F2.0 aperture, the lens can provide richer detail information during the day and provide a clearer image basis for the recognition of targets such as pedestrians and vehicles in low-light scenes such as night, tunnels, and underground parking lots.
The all-glass lens structure enhances thermal stability in high-temperature environments and minimizes the risk of defocusing due to heat; this ensures a clear visual foundation for ADAS functions like AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and LKA (Lane Keeping Assist), thereby improving system perception and overall performance.
2)Rear-facing camera: primarily used for the reversing view and rear-facing ADAS
Mounted at the rear of the vehicle or beneath the side mirror, the ultra-wide-angle design effectively eliminates the blind spot directly behind the vehicle. By utilizing image-stitching algorithms to generate a 360° panoramic view, it assists with low-speed parking, enabling drivers to clearly see low-lying obstacles, curbs, and children while reversing into parking spaces.
An IP67 waterproof rating ensures stable rear-view imaging performance even in challenging weather conditions, such as rain or snow.
Ultra-wide-angle lenses can effectively eliminate blind spots
3)Instrument cluster system: primarily used for electronic rearview mirrors and panoramic surround-view systems
Traditional rearview mirrors are limited by obstructions from inside the vehicle and the field of view, resulting in a limited field of vision. In streaming rearview mirrors or 360° panoramic imaging systems, the CH3716EB can serve as the core optical component for side-view or rear-view cameras.
Its ultra-wide field of view ensures sufficient overlap of lenses, effectively reducing splicing gaps and blind spot breaks, and improving the continuity and integrity of the surround view system.
4)In-cabin monitoring: primarily used for driver and occupant monitoring systems
An ultra-wide-angle field of view enables a single lens to cover a large portion of the cabin and minimize blind spots, capturing not only the driver and front passenger but also the activities of rear-seat passengers. High-resolution imaging provides the DMS algorithm with detailed facial and eye-tracking data, facilitating the assessment of fatigue levels.
A large F2.0 aperture ensures clear capture of facial features and eye status even in low-light conditions; when combined with infrared illumination, this enables round-the-clock fatigue monitoring and warning capabilities.
3.Stability design for automotive applications
The CH3716EB is designed with the needs of the vehicle environment in mind, featuring wide temperature adaptability, shock-resistant structure, and waterproof and dustproof capabilities, making it suitable for various camera application scenarios both outside and inside the vehicle. Its application value is mainly reflected in:
Enhancing driving safety: By eliminating blind spots and improving night vision capabilities, it enables ADAS systems to provide earlier and more accurate warnings, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
Wide-angle lens with in-vehicle stability design
Ensuring system reliability: IP67 protection and an M12 vibration-resistant design enhance the lens’s stability and reliability during long-term vehicle operation, reducing system failures caused by optical component malfunctions.
Enabling an intelligent experience: High resolution and a large aperture provide high-quality data sources for in-vehicle AI algorithms, allowing various advanced system functions to operate smoothly and precisely.
In the era of smart vehicles, automotive lenses serve not merely as recording devices but as integral components of a perception system. Centered on a 1/2.8″ sensor, a 172° ultra-wide-angle field of view, a large F2.0 aperture, and IP67-rated protection, the CH3716EB delivers an automotive vision solution that balances wide coverage, image clarity, and environmental adaptability, thereby providing optical-level support for vehicle intelligence and safety.
Final Thoughts:
By working with professionals at ChuangAn, both design and manufacturing are handled by highly skilled engineers. As part of the purchasing process, a company representative can explain in more detail specific information about the type of lens you wish to purchase. ChuangAn’s series of lens products are used in a wide range of applications, from surveillance, scanning, drones, cars to smart homes, etc. ChuangAn has various types of finished lenses, which can also be modified or customized according to your needs. Contact us as soon as possible.
Post time: Oct-16-2026
