Vishay recently released the VEML4031X00, the first rectangular ambient light sensor with the AEC-Q100 standard in the industry. This automotive-grade device is easier to integrate into space-limited designs and offers sensitivity up to 0.0026 lx/ct.
VEML4031X00 is a high accuracy ambient light digital 16-bit resolution sensor in a miniature opaque 4.38 mm x 1.45 mm package, thickness is only 0.6 mm. Compared with the previous generation of products, it is half the width. This makes it easier to integrate into space constrained designs, such as borderless center consoles. VEML4031X00 integrates ALS and includes a high-sensitivity infrared (IR) photodiode, a low noise amplifier, a 16-bit A/D converter and supports an easy to use I 2C bus communication interface and additional interrupt feature.
Source from Vishay
FEATURES
• Package type: surface-mount
• Dimensions (L x W x H in mm): 4.38 x 1.45 x 0.6
• AEC-Q100 qualified
• Integrated modules: ambient light sensor (ALS)
• Supply voltage range VDD : 2.5 V to 3.6 V
• Communication via I2 C interface
• Floor life: 4 weeks, MSL 2a, according to J-STD-020
• Low shut down current consumption: typ. 0.5 μA
APPLICATIONS
Ambient light sensor in automotive for
• Display backlight controls
• Infotainment systems
• Rear view mirror dimming
• Interior lighting control systems
• Head-up displays
The Ambient Light Sensor (ALS) is a sensor that can measure the ambient light conditions. In daily life, it is usually used in electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets to automatically detect the intensity of ambient light, thereby realizing intelligent control of screen brightness. In addition, its application in the automotive market is becoming more and more extensive. It is mainly used to detect and respond to lighting conditions inside the car, weather conditions outside the vehicle, and the amount of light reaching the PCB hidden behind the black panel of the car's center console. These applications require different sensor functions based on sensitivity, total dynamic sensing range, measurement speed, temperature compensation, and robustness to achieve functional reliability.
The spectral sensitivity of the automotive sensors released by Vishay is comparable to that of the human eye, enabling high-precision measurements, and its infrared channel allows the differentiation of light sources. The VEML4031X00 has an ambient light detection range of 0 lx to 172,000 lx without saturation in daylight conditions, while its high sensitivity of 0.0026 lx/ct enables the device to be placed behind a dark cover glass.
The VEML4031X00 operates over a -40 to +110 °C temperature range and can be used for display backlight control, infotainment systems, mirror dimming, interior lighting control systems, and head-up displays. In these applications, the sensor supports an easy-to-use I2C bus communication interface and provides interrupt functionality.
It supports a supply voltage range of 2.5 V to 3.6 V, an I2C bus voltage range of 1.7 V to 3.6 V, and a typical shutdown current as low as 0.5 μA. The devices are RoHS-compliant, halogen-free, and meet Vishay green standards. According to J-STD-020, its moisture sensitivity level is 2a, and it can be stored in workshop storage for four weeks.
Vishay, a global leader in manufacturing discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, provides innovative solutions that serve as critical building blocks across diverse industries, including automotive, industrial equipment, computing, consumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace, and medical devices. As a Fortune 1000 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: VSH), Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. embodies the "DNA of tech" philosophy, delivering cutting-edge electronic solutions to worldwide customers.