Infineon’s automotive-grade XENSIV MEMS microphones help Selunsi’s emergency vehicle detection technology to accurately identify emergency vehicle alarms and give cars a sense of hearing

In order to improve the level of road traffic safety, many countries are promulgating relevant laws and regulations, requiring drivers to take the initiative to give way to emergency vehicles. And as the number of self-driving cars increases, these regulations will likely extend to autonomous driving, requiring them to recognize and respond to emergency vehicles and meet safety requirements. This requires the use of both audible and visual warning signals in most cases. To this end, Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) recently announced that it has cooperated with Selunci (NASDAQ: CRNC) to build an automotive-grade XENSIV™ MEMS microphone (IM67D130A ) and Serenity Emergency Vehicle Detection (EVD) software solutions. This will enable the car to proactively detect approaching emergency vehicles, even when they are in blind spots.

Christophe Couvreur, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Core Products at Selence, said: “As autonomous vehicles rapidly land, emergency vehicle detection will be key to providing drivers with the information they need in an emergency. Our partnership with Infinex Together with Ling, we will provide automakers with an integrated hardware- and software-based emergency vehicle detection solution that will improve road safety around the world."

Frank Findeis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive Perception and Control business line at Infineon Technologies, said: "We are committed to driving innovation in next-generation products in partnership with industry leaders. Selens is a global provider of AI software solutions for automobiles. A supplier and an excellent ecological partner. By combining the Selens emergency vehicle detection system with Infineon’s high-performance MEMS microphones, we provide automakers with leading solutions to meet demanding market demands.”

Reliable detection, classification and sound localization

The emergency alert detection system provides a complementary detection method for autonomous vehicles and enhances the car's ability to sense its surroundings. The system combines a XENSIV MEMS microphone array strategically placed on the outside of the car with a Selence EVD.

XENSIV MEMS microphones are AEC-Q103-003 compliant and have an ultra-wide operating temperature range from -40°C to +105°C, making them suitable for a variety of harsh driving environments. With a sound pressure level (SPL) of 94 dB and an acoustic overload point (AOP) of up to 130 dBSPL, the microphone has a total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 0.5%, enabling the capture of distortion-free audio signals in noisy environments. As a result, it can accurately classify the signal even if the siren's tone is disturbed by background noise.

The Selunx EVD can be integrated into car assistance systems or a separate controller, and it is able to accurately and reliably detect sirens using a microphone. In addition, the Selunx EVD can estimate the location of sound sources based on emergency alerts from police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Once an alert is identified, it can notify the driver or allow the automated driving assistance systems in the self-driving car to react accordingly. In addition, the system will notify the driver to evade by reducing the volume of the radio or other media, displaying visual warnings on the head unit screen, and issuing audible warnings through the vehicle assistance system.