New digital RGBW sensor features Filtron technology for accurate RGBW spectral sensitivity

Vishay has introduced a new digital RGBW sensor featuring Filtron technology for accurate RGBW spectral sensitivity while providing ambient light spectral sensitivity with responses close to that of the human eye. The VEML6040 incorporates photo-pin-diodes (RGBW) and a signal processing IC in a compact 2mm x 1.25mm x 1mm surface-mount package while offering an I²C bus interface for simple operation. The device senses red, green, blue, and white light, and it offers 16-bit resolution for each colour channel. The VEML6040 is ideal for consumer devices such as smartphones, digital cameras, and televisions, where it allows the brightness and colour temperature of backlighting to be adjusted based on ambient light, making LCD and LED panels more comfortable for end users' eyes. Containing the circuitry needed for colour balancing, backlight control, and colour temperature measurement in one device, the sensor saves space, lowers costs, and simplifies designs by eliminating the need for an external resistor. The VEML6040's built-in ambient light photo-diode offers extremely high sensitivity, with detection from 0.0056 lx to 11.7klx, allowing the device to operate in applications with dark lens designs. The sensor provides fluorescent light flicker immunity, low power in shutdown mode of < 1 µA, and excellent temperature compensation stability from -40C to +85C. The RoHS-compliant halogen-free device features an operating voltage and I²C bus voltage range of 2.5V to 3.6V and is offered in a lead (Pb)-free, 4-pin OPLGA package.