Vishay's new proximity sensor offers idle current down to 5μA

The Vishay Semiconductors VCNL36828P, featuring a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), integrates a photodiode, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a 16-bit ADC, and smart dual I²C slave address, all within a compact surface-mount package measuring just 2.0 x 1.0 x 0.5mm.

This latest generation proximity sensor offers significant advancements over its predecessors, including a 20% reduction in package size, a 20% decrease in idle current to 5μA, and a 40% improvement in sunlight cancellation, supporting up to 140klx. With a 200mm range and a typical supply voltage of 1.8V, the VCNL36828P is engineered to deliver high proximity detection while minimising power consumption, making it ideal for space-limited, battery-powered devices.

The sensor is poised to enhance the functionality of smartphones and smartwatches by enabling automatic screen wake-up and turn-off features. It is also designed to detect whether users are wearing devices like true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones, virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headsets, and smart glasses. The VCNL36828P's smart dual I²C slave address eliminates the need for a multiplexer, reducing costs in these applications by allowing the connection of two proximity sensors simultaneously.

Further adding to its utility, the device features a programmable interrupt function, enabling designers to set high and low thresholds to minimize constant communication with the microcontroller. The VCNL36828P employs intelligent cancellation to reduce cross-talk and a smart persistence scheme for accurate sensing and quicker response times. The VCSEL, with a peak wavelength of 940nm, ensures no visible ‘red-tail’. In line with environmental standards, the sensor is RoHS-compliant, halogen-free, and recognised as Vishay Green.