Vishay Introduces Ultra-Small, Highly Integrated, Highly Sensitive Ambient Light Sensor Qualified by AEC-Q100

Recently, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced that its optoelectronics products division has launched a new ambient light sensor, the VEML6031X00, which has passed AEC-Q100 certification. It is suitable for automotive and consumer electronics applications where the photosensitive lens is very dark and the sensitivity requirements are very high. The Vishay Semiconductors VEML6031X00 integrates a high-sensitivity photodiode, a low-noise amplifier, a 16-bit ADC, and an infrared (IR) channel in a small 2.67 mm x 2.45 mm opaque surface mount package with a height of only 0.6 mm.

The automotive-grade device released today has an ambient light spectrum sensitivity close to that of the human eye. The sensor detects highly linear behavior from 0 lx to 228 klux — without correction calculations — with resolutions as low as 0.0034 lx/ct, making it suitable for applications designed with low-visibility (dark) lenses. The VEML6031X00 infrared channel supports light source detection and sensitivity adjustment to compensate for illumination errors.

The device operates at temperatures up to +110 °C and is housed in a rugged package that improves the signal-to-noise ratio. It can be used for display backlight control, infotainment systems, mirror dimming, interior lighting control systems, and head-up displays. The sensor supports an easy-to-use I2C bus communication interface for these applications and provides interrupt functionality.

The flexible device supports multiple slave addresses for multi-channel sensor applications and has a fast response with an optional integration time as low as 3.125 ms. The sensor has excellent temperature compensation capability to maintain stability under changing ambient temperature and consumes only 0.5 μA (typical) in shutdown mode.

The VEML6031X00 operates from a supply voltage of 2.5 V to 3.6 V and an I2C bus voltage of 1.7 V to 3.6 V. The device is RoHS-compliant and Vishay Green-compliant, halogen-free, has a moisture sensitivity level of J-STD-020 Class 2a, and has a floor shelf life of four weeks.

Samples and production quantities of the new ambient light sensor are available now, with lead times of 12 weeks for large orders.