Ian Smith, MIPI Alliance Technical Content Consultant
A multi-vendor interoperability demonstration showcased at both AutoSens USA in Detroit and AutoSens Europe in Barcelona highlights the growing ecosystem around MIPI A-PHY®, a standardized interface for high-speed automotive camera and display connectivity.
The demonstration comes as high-speed automotive connectivity requirements continue to increase, with higher resolutions, faster refresh rates and wider color depths driving the need for greater bandwidth. MIPI A-PHY addresses those needs by providing a standardized interface for transporting high-speed camera and display data, along with power and control interfaces, over long distances in harsh automotive environments.
A video of the demo can be viewed here.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Southchip, Valens and Velinktech Participate in the Demo
The demonstration brought together semiconductor companies Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Southchip, Valens and Velinktech to show how the use of a standardized interface can enable technologies from different suppliers to operate within a common connectivity framework.
A key component of the demonstration was Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ IMX828 CMOS image sensor for automotive cameras. The IMX828 is the first image sensor on the market with a built-in high-speed MIPI A-PHY serializer, combining high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities, low power consumption and native long-range, high-speed connectivity for next-generation automotive camera applications. The A-PHY specification is specifically designed to enable native integration into image sensors by shifting design complexity away from the serializer into the deserializer.
In addition to the IMX828, the system incorporated A-PHY serializers from Southchip (SCP25505), Velinktech(VL7717) and Valens Semiconductor (VA7000), each of which was connected to an independent image sensor. The four image sensors were connected using A-PHY over long coax cables to a four-channel Valens VA7044 deserializer (receiver), which in turn was connected to an NVIDIA Orin Nano platform.
What the Demonstration Means for the Industry
The demo provided a practical example of interoperability within a multi-vendor A-PHY environment, showing how the use of A-PHY can provide automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and system designers greater choice and flexibility as they develop increasingly sophisticated electrical and electronic (E/E) vehicle architectures.
By showcasing the demonstration at AutoSens events in both Detroit and Barcelona, the participating companies provided automotive audiences in North America and Europe with an opportunity to see MIPI A-PHY interoperability in action. The demonstration represents an important step in the continued development of the A-PHY ecosystem.
Related to the demonstration, MIPI Alliance launched the MIPI A-PHY Compliance Program in May 2026—the automotive industry’s first standardized SerDes compliance program. The program gives MIPI members a formal path to validate that their A-PHY devices have been tested and deemed compliant with the specification, providing automotive OEMs and suppliers with greater assurance around interoperability, functional safety and EMI robustness. Watch the recent webinar to learn more about the latest developments with MIPI A-PHY and the A-PHY Compliance Program.