Proximity sensors reduce power for consumer and industrial applications
Two integrated proximity sensors from the Optoelectronics Group of Vishay Intertechnology are designed to increase efficiency and performance in consumer and industrial applications. The VCNL36821S features an IR emitter and the VCNL36826S has a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). They both combine a photodiode, signal processing IC, and 12bit ADC in a compact 2.55 x 2.05 x 1.0mm surface mount package.
According to Vishay Semiconductors, the VCNL36821S and VCNL36826S offer smaller packages at a lower cost, compared to previous generation devices. Their size makes them suitable for space-constrained, battery-powered applications, such as detecting if users are wearing or not wearing earpods or virtual reality / augmented reality (VR / AR) headsets. Range is up to 300mm to provide collision detection in toys and consumer and industrial robots. The VCNL36821S and VCNL36826S feature low power consumption down to 6µA for the VCNL36826S and 13A for the VCNL36821S proximity sensor, to increase efficiency in these applications, adds the company.
The devices support the I²C bus communication interface for easy access to the proximity signal and a programmable interrupt function allows designers to specify high and low thresholds to reduce the continuous communication with the microcontroller. The VCNL36821S and VCNL36826S proximity sensors use intelligent cancellation to eliminate cross-talk and a smart persistence scheme ensures accurate sensing and faster response time. The IRED and VCSEL wavelengths peak at 940nm and have no visible “red-tail”, reports Vishay Semiconductor.
The VCNL36821S and VCNL36826S offer temperature compensation from -40 to +85 degrees C and a moisture sensitivity level (MSL) of 3, in accordance with J-STD-020, for a floor life of 168 hours. The sensors are RoHS-compliant and halogen-free.
Samples and production quantities of the new VCNL36821S and VCNL36826S are available now. Lead times are eight to 12 weeks for large orders.
Vishay Intertechnology is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, MOSFETs, and infrared optoelectronics) and passive electronic components (resistors, inductors, and capacitors). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, power supplies, and medical markets.