Automotive sensing systems
Where signal integrity meets material stability
Automotive sensing systems demand zero tolerance for signal degradation or drift. Every signal must be captured and maintained with unwavering integrity, despite relentless vibration, extreme temperature swings, and years of mechanical stress. As vehicles evolve toward sleeker, more integrated designs, sensing performance is no longer just about detection. It is about the material behavior that shapes optical and mechanical stability before signals even reach the electronics. Refractive index stability, high transmission in visible and near-infrared ranges, and controlled thermal expansion aren’t just features – they are the foundation of latency, accuracy, and reliability in safety-critical automotive functions.
The non-negotiable standards of automotive sensing
Automotive sensing without a correction loop
Automotive sensing systems operate in closed, safety-critical loops where continuous recalibration or compensation are simply not an option. Once deployed, optical alignment, mechanical stability, and timing behavior must remain rock-solid under real-world stress. Any attempt to correct instability downstream increases system complexity and reduces robustness.
The core modalities of automotive sensing
Automotive sensing spans the fundamental principles of optics and pressure. Both share one uncompromising rule: stability and reproducibility under real-world conditions.
Imaging and sensing systems (interior and exterior)
The eyes of the vehicle.
Used for:
- In-cabin sensing and driver monitoring (DMS)
- Face authentication and occupant monitoring
- Environmental perception and ADAS
- LiDAR
Technologies like Time-of-Flight, structured light, and camera-based imaging impose strict demands for optical stability, timing accuracy, and material behavior under automotive stress.
The challenges that define success or failure:
- Optical alignment stability under vibration
- Tight thickness tolerances and low total thickness variation (TTV)
- Stable optical transmission in VIS and NIR ranges
- Resistance to thermal drift over the lifetime
In automotive imaging, optical performance is locked in at the material level. Refractive indices must be uniform, transmission must be stable in VIS/NIR ranges, and thermal expansion must be perfectly matched. Even the smallest deviation can mean the difference between crisp, immediate data and degraded, delayed responses.
Interior DMS setup (IR camera + illumination)
Exterior ADAS camera / LiDAR module
Automotive pressure sensors
The silent guardians of safety and control
Pressure sensors are the unsung heroes of automotive systems, providing drift-free signals under thermal stress, vibration, and long-term operation. The challenges that separate reliable from unreliable:
- Mechanical and thermal stability at the sensor interface
- Material compatibility under automotive stress
- Long-term signal stability and compliance
Material choice and system integration define whether pressure sensors can be trusted for years.
Why most automotive sensing systems fail
Most failures are not algorithmic. They are material.
The silent killers of automotive sensing
- Thermal expansion destabilizing alignment
- Thickness variation causing focus errors
- Mechanical stress inducing signal drift
- Material mismatch at integration points
In Time-of-Flight and structured light systems, these effects directly translate into depth errors, delayed system response, and reduced functional safety. These failures share one root cause: they originate at the material and system integration level. Fixing them requires materials that do not just perform – they endure.
Material stability: The invisible foundation of automotive sensing
In automotive sensing systems, performance is not defined by software alone. It is defined by the physical behavior of materials under real-world stress. Once optical or mechanical stability is compromised at material level, no amount of downstream processing can restore true system reliability.
How the SCHOTT sensing vision portfolio powers automotive sensing
Glass is not a passive component in these systems. It is the backbone of optical performance, mechanical stability, and long-term reliability. SCHOTT delivers a portfolio of specialty thin glasses designed to meet the extreme demands of automotive imaging, perception, and pressure sensing. These materials are engineered to thrive under real-world conditions – not just in the lab.
The material characteristics that define success
These properties are the difference between an automotive system that works and one that lasts. SCHOTT sensing vision’s portfolio combines:
Manufacturing expertise that delivers reliability
SCHOTT produces these thin glasses are using its down-drawn and microfloattechnologies, ensuring: high optical quality, tight thickness control, and reproducible material behavior at automotive production volumes.
Components that enable automotive sensing
SCHOTT sensing vision is integral to critical components in automotive imaging and sensing, including:
- Image sensor cover glass
- Wafer-level optics and integration
- Microlens array substrates
- IR-cut and narrow-band filter substrates
- Diffractive optical elements (DOE) and diffuser substratesv
- Spacers and protective windows for optical and LiDAR sensors
Each component imposes unique optical, mechanical and thermal requirements, all met by SCHOTT’s tailored material solutions.
The glass materials that define automotive sensing
SCHOTT provides a range of proven glass materials. Choose the right material for the job:
AF 32® eco
Ultra-thin glass for high-precision optical and electronic applications.
D 263®
High-quality thin glass for optical components, wafer-level optics (WLO), and sensor integration.
BOROFLOAT® 33
Borosilicate glass with unmatched thermal and chemical stability.
From materials to scalable automotive components
Reliable automotive sensing systems isn’t just about the right materials. It is about translating those materials into performance at scale.
Wafer-level optics (WLO)
Reliable automotive sensing systems isn’t just about the right materials. It is about translating those materials into performance at scale.
Nanoimprint and diffractive optical elements
Structured glass substrates power nanoimprintd processes and diffractive optical elements (DOEs) for structured-light systems. In automotive applications, timing accuracy and optical reproducibility are critical for safety-These technologies simplify system complexity while ensuring reliability.
How SCHOTT drives automotive sensing from prototype to production
SCHOTT supports automotive sensing projects with:
- Application-driven material consultation
- Deep expertise in automotive qualification and compliance
- Reproducible, high-volume manufacturing
- Long-term supply stability
This is more than support. It is a guarantee of performance.
Automotive sensing in context: Beyond the vehicle
Imaging and sensing systems
Pressure sensors
Define your automotive sensing performance at the material level
Automotive sensing systems leave no room for drift or instability. Share your requirements, and we will help you identify glass properties that ensure stable, reliable performance over the full vehicle lifetime.
