Vishay introduces new, ultra-small size fully integrated proximity and ambient light sensors

     Vishay Intertechnology has announced the availability of its new fully integrated proximity and ambient light sensor, the VCNL4040. The sensor uses Filtron™ technology; Its size is the smallest in the industry, only 4mm x 2mm x 1.1mm; Includes an infrared emitter, light detector for proximity and ambient light, signal processing IC, and 16-bit ADC. The three-in-one sensor has an interrupt function and supports an I2C bus communication interface, which greatly simplifies window and sensor placement issues in a wide variety of consumer applications.

     For smartphones, tablets, digital cameras and other handheld consumer electronics, the Vishay Semiconductors VCNL4040 can be used as a proximity sensor to turn off the touch screen when a user is detected, achieving energy savings while using integrated ambient light. Adaptive brightness control and backlighting for display/keyboard. The VCNL4040 integrates the circuits needed for these applications in a single device, eliminating the need for additional gratings and optical alignment between the infrared emitter and photodiode.

     With its small form factor and low height, the VCNL4040 saves space in a small end product, giving design engineers great flexibility in deciding where and how to place the sensors. The device can operate under any depth or air gap conditions under the glass window, unlike 8 -, 10 - and 12-bit resolution sensors that require depth or air gap of less than 1.5mm, which adds a point of flexibility when used. The 16-bit resolution of the VCNL4040 enables it to be mounted on the main PCB, whereas lower resolution devices must be placed on expensive dedicated flexible boards far away from other components.

     The ambient light and proximity sensors of the VCNL4040 operate in parallel, with each sensor providing a programmable interrupt function with high and low thresholds to reduce power consumption. The device uses Filtron technology to make the spectral sensitivity of ambient light close to the human eye, while achieving good background light elimination function (including daylight) without the use of a microprocessor, thus further reducing power consumption.

     The accuracy of the VCNL4040 is ±10%, and the built-in ambient photodiode can detect light from 0.01lx to 5.2klx, enabling the sensor to be used in applications with black or transparent Windows. The sensor has no response to fluorescent lamp stroboscopic, and can compensate the temperature effect well in the temperature range of -40℃ ~ +85℃.

     The VCNL4040 has optional 12 - and 16-bit outputs, and the proximity sensor uses intelligent cancellation technology to eliminate crosstalk, ensuring accurate detection and faster response times with an intelligent afterglow model. The transmitter has a peak wavelength of 940nm, with no visible "red tail". The power supply voltage of the device is 2.5V to 3.6V, and the I2C bus voltage is 1.8V to 3.3V. The sensor comes in a lead-free, 8-pin molded package that complies with RoHS and Vishay green standards and is halogen-free.