New sensors feature 16-bit resolution for higher sensitivity

Vishay Intertechnology offers new RGBC-IR sensors for applications including automatic white balancing and colour cast correction in digital cameras, automatic LCD backlight adjustment, and active monitoring of LED colour output for IoT and smart lighting. The new VEML3328 (top-looking) and VEML3328SL (side-looking) sensors provide greater linearity and higher sensitivity in comparison to earlier generation devices, as well as new features including an IR channel.

The sensors sense red, green, blue, clear, and IR light by including photodiodes, amplifiers, and analog/digital circuits into a single CMOS chip. With the capability to calculate colour temperature and sense ambient light, the devices provide a compact solution for altering backlighting in consumer electronics and notebook computers. They can also assist in differentiating indoor from outdoor lighting environments to assure that displays maintain consistent true colour and the best brightness levels based on the prevailing environment lighting conditions.

As well as digital camera and TV applications, the devices will also be employed in different industrial and consumer applications where their superior temperature compensation ability will keep the sensors' output stable under varying temperatures.

The sensors' built-in ambient light photodiode provides very high sensitivity, enabling the devices to perform in applications with dark lens designs. A programmable analog gain and integration time function, as well as the added IR channel, enable designers to tailor the devices to their applications.