MediaTek's ASC Technology to Bring 3D Facial Recognition to Budget Phones

MediaTek has partnered with Himax and Megvii, a Chinese visitor which specializes in creating facial recognition software, to unveil the industry's first Active Stereo Camera (ASC) technology which seeks to the bring 3D facial recognition to affordable smartphones. Targeted at a more secure face unlock procedure and authenticating online payments, MediaTek's ASC is touted to retain the security attribute of 3D facial recognition without inflating the cost of the hardware.

The ASC 3D sensing reference design employs the AI-based Face++ computer vision algorithm provided by Megvii's, MediaTek'due south stereo matching depth engine and sensing hardware provided by Himax such as high-efficiency light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation drivers and about-Infrared image sensors to evangelize a more affordable authentication solution.

A conventional structured light technology for 3D facial recognition employs a costly dot matrix projector and an Infrared camera to create a face up map, merely so, far it is only available on a scattering of flagship smartphones due to loftier component cost. MediaTek's ASC technology uses an infrared module which creates just a general random texture blueprint with the existing lens module, so that the depth information is captured for added security without calculation up to the expenditure on hardware.

"We are pleased to partner with MediaTek and Megvii. This strong alliance ensures that 3D sensing is affordable for Android mass market and can be easily adopted past smartphone makers to create heady user experience. I believe ASC will facilitate a broader adoption of 3D sensing on Android smartphone during 2019″, Himax chief, Jordan Wu was quoted as saying past StreetInsider.

Equally for the ASC technology introduced by MediaTek, following is the list of components it employs to deliver 3D facial hallmark on a upkeep:

Infrared projector
2 set of Infrared lenses
AI-based facial recognition algorithm
A depth of field engine integrated with the processor's hardware

MediaTek claims that the ASC fix-upward can evangelize the aforementioned level of reliability and security as the 3D structured light technology which is a lot more expensive. The hardware components for the ASC module volition be provided by Himax and the authentication algorithm will be sourced from Megvii. As for MediaTek, the company has already employed the Active Stereo Depth Engine with the ASC reference design in the new Helio P60 and Helio P22 SoCs.