Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the potential damage caused by automotive lidar systems to smartphone cameras, highlighting incidents where laser emissions have resulted in physical damage to camera lenses and sensors [1][4][17]. Group 1: Lidar Technology and Functionality - Automotive lidar systems emit laser pulses to measure distances and shapes of objects by analyzing the time and intensity of reflected signals [8]. - The precision of lidar is determined by the number of laser lines it can emit, with higher line counts resulting in greater accuracy [10]. - Typical lidar systems scan a horizontal field of 120° and a vertical field of 25° over distances of several hundred meters [10]. Group 2: Damage Mechanism - When lidar lasers hit a smartphone camera lens, they can penetrate through the lens's micro-lenses and damage components like the CMOS sensor, leading to various degrees of damage [12]. - The energy density required to damage a CMOS sensor varies with the wavelength of the laser, with 532nm and 1064nm lasers needing 28.95 mJ/cm² and 40.79 mJ/cm² respectively [13]. - Current automotive lidar systems typically operate at wavelengths of 905nm and 1550nm, with the latter requiring higher energy densities to cause damage [15]. Group 3: Safety and Standards - Lidar systems are designed to meet Class 1 safety standards for human eye safety, ensuring that single pulse energy is below 8mJ/cm² [15]. - The 1550nm wavelength lasers are less harmful to human eyes due to their absorption by water, which is present in the human body, thus reducing the risk of retinal damage [19][21]. - The 1550nm lidar systems can achieve detection ranges over 300 meters, surpassing the 200 meters typical for 905nm systems, albeit at the cost of potential damage to camera sensors [21]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The incidents of camera damage from lidar systems have raised concerns about the trade-offs between enhanced lidar performance and the safety of consumer electronics [23]. - Companies like NIO, which utilize advanced lidar technology, may need to address these issues to maintain consumer trust and product integrity [23].