Malvern, Pa. — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has claimed the industry’s first fully integrated proximity and ambient light optical sensor that combines an IR emitter, PIN photo diode, ambient light detector, signal processing IC, and a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a 3.95 x 3.95 x 0.75-mm leadless (LLP), surface-mount package. The VCNL4000 supports an I2C bus communication interface and simplifies designs in a variety of consumer and industrial applications.
For mobile devices such as smart phones, touch phones, PDAs, GPS units, and digital cameras, in addition to computing and industrial devices and displays, the new VCNL4000 saves power as a proximity sensor for touch-screen locking, and serves as an integrated ambient light function for display/keypad contrast control and dimming.
Containing all the circuitry needed for these applications in one device, the VCNL4000 eliminates the need for light barriers and optical alignment of the IR emitter and photo diode, said the Malvern, Pa.-based company.
The sensor’s 16-bit effective resolution for proximity detection ensures excellent cross talk immunity, said Vishay. While other products only achieve object detection up to 100 mm, the VCNL4000’s programmable LED drive current from 10 mA to 200 mA (in 10 mA steps) allows distances up to 200 mm. The device offers excellent ambient light suppression by signal modulation.
The VCNL4000’s built-in ambient light PIN photo diode offers sensitivity close to that of the human eye, with a 16-bit dynamic range for ambient light detection from 0.33 lux to 22 klux. The sensor offers 100-Hz and 120-Hz flicker noise rejection.
Featuring low stand-by current consumption of 1.5 microamps, the device offers a supply voltage range of 2.5 V to 3.6 V and an I2C bus voltage range from 1.7 V to 5 V. The sensor provides a moisture sensitivity level (MSL) of 4 and operates over a temperature range of – 25 deg. C to + 85 deg. C.
The VCNL4000 is compliant to the RoHS and WEEE directives. The device is free of halogens, and is compatible with lead-free soldering.
Availability: Production quantities are available in January with a lead time of 10 weeks for large orders.
Resources: VCNL4000 datasheet.