Sensor company ams AG is partnering with SmartSens Technology Co. Ltd., a supplier of CMOS imaging systems, to meet an increasing demand for 3D sensing solutions in mobile devices. The collaboration is aimed at speeding market delivery of these solutions and broadening the diversified 3D product range for mobile, computing, consumer, and automotive application areas. The partners' initial focus will be on 3D NIR sensors for facial recognition and applications requiring a high quantum efficiency (QE) in the NIR range (2D and 3D). According to the companies, the development of a 3D active stereo vision (ASV) reference design to support the future launch of a stacked BSI global shutter image sensor with QE up to 40% will speed delivery of solutions that will enable high-performance depth maps for payment, face recognition, and AR/VR applications. "The collaboration [with SmartSens] will also help accelerate time to market for exciting new automotive applications such as in-cabin 2D and 3D sensing," said Stéphane Curral, executive vice president for the Image Sensor Solutions division at ams. Austria-based ams is a designer and manufacturer of advanced sensor solutions that drive applications requiring small form factor, low power, high sensitivity, and multisensor integration. Products include sensor solutions, sensor integrated circuits, interfaces, and related software for consumer, communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets. Founded in 2011, SmartSens Technology is a supplier of high-performance CMOS imaging systems with products used in the fields of vehicle-mounted imaging, machine vision, and consumer electronics.