LG Innotek announced on December 18 that it has developed a next-generation under-display camera module (UDC) for vehicles that monitors drivers from behind the instrument cluster and will unveil it for the first time at CES 2026.
The under-display camera is a core component of the Driver Monitoring System (DMS), which integrates in-cabin cameras and software to monitor a driver’s condition in real time. Installed behind the vehicle’s display panel, the camera is invisible from the outside while detecting driver drowsiness, gaze direction, and attentiveness.
As autonomous driving technologies advance, DMS has become an essential safety feature to prevent driver negligence. Europe plans to mandate DMS installation in new vehicles starting in 2026, while the U.S., China, and Japan are also actively considering similar regulations. Demand for under-display cameras is rising, particularly among premium vehicle models, due to design sophistication and improved privacy.
However, conventional UDCs have suffered from image quality degradation caused by display panels obstructing the camera’s field of view, a challenge that has slowed adoption by automakers.
To address this issue, LG Innotek partnered with LG Display in 2024 and, after more than a year of research and development, introduced the industry’s first next-generation UDC that virtually eliminates image degradation while keeping the camera completely hidden.
The new UDC delivers image quality equivalent to more than 99% of that captured without a display panel in front of the camera. By combining advanced optical design with proprietary AI-based image restoration software, LG Innotek has achieved both design freedom and high performance.
The AI image restoration technology applies deblurring and denoising algorithms to reconstruct images degraded by the display, enabling accurate detection of facial expressions, eye movement, and driver behavior—critical factors for DMS performance.
LG Innotek plans to further enhance the UDC’s capabilities so that it can recognize not only drivers but also passengers and interior features, supporting personalized in-vehicle functions such as seat adjustment and cabin temperature control.
With the launch of the next-generation UDC, LG Innotek has strengthened its autonomous driving sensing solution lineup, which spans cameras, LiDAR, and radar. Leveraging its leadership in smartphone camera modules, the company aims to accelerate its presence in the global automotive sensing market.
CEO Moon Hyuk-soo said LG Innotek aims to grow its vehicle sensing solutions business to KRW 2 trillion in revenue by 2030, adding that the company will continue delivering innovative components that provide differentiated customer value.
According to S&P Global, the global in-cabin camera module market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of approximately 11%, from about USD 1.8 billion in 2025 to USD 5.1 billion by 2035.
