New ultra-thin fully integrated proximity sensor, do you know?

What is a new ultra-thin fully integrated proximity sensor? What does it do? Recently, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE stock code: VSH) announced the launch of a fully integrated proximity sensor---VCNL36687S, which is integrated in a single package It consists of a high-power vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), a photodiode, a signal processing IC, and a 12-bit ADC. The new VCNL36687S is designed for use in smartphones, tablets, virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headsets, and other battery-operated devices.

With a sensing range of up to 20 cm (7.9 inches), the VCNL36687S greatly simplifies the use and design of proximity sensing capabilities in consumer and industrial applications because a mechanical barrier is no longer required to optically isolate the emitter from the detector. The VCNL36687S is available in a miniature surface-mount 3.05mm x 2mm lead-free package (LLP) with a profile height of only 1 mm. The device's small footprint and low profile make it ideal for space-constrained applications.

Mobile devices provide numerous application opportunities for the VCNL36687S. For example, accidental touch input on a smartphone, which could cause the call to drop and the camera to activate, can be minimized. As another example, it may be possible to detect when a user is or is not wearing a virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headset. The VCSEL's 3-profile makes the VCNL36687S ideally suited for applications requiring narrow-angle detection and minimizing optical system design issues.

The VCNL36687S uses less energy to perform the same function compared to previous generation devices. The VCNL36687S delivers 20 mA of pulsed current, enabling detection of Kodak gray cards at a distance of 20 cm, whereas previous VCNL series devices required 200 mA.

The VCNL36687S provides easy access to proximity signals through its standard I2C bus serial digital interface. Its programmable interrupt function provides a wake-up function for the microcontroller when a proximity change occurs, eliminating the need for continuous polling and thus reducing processing overhead. The above is the analysis of the new ultra-thin fully integrated proximity sensor, I hope it can be helpful to everyone.