New high-resolution digital proximity sensor with I2C interface

New Yorker Electronics now offers two new High-Resolution Digital Proximity Sensors with I2C Interface from Vishay. Vishay Optoelectronics has developed two new fully integrated Automotive Grade proximity sensors offering high resolution up to 20µm for force sensing applications.

With selectable 12-bit and 16-bit outputs, they are excellent for force sensing applications in steering wheel controls, laptop smart power buttons and multi-force trackpads, and touchpads for IoT devices and kitchen appliances. They each incorporate a photodiode, amplifier and ADC circuitry in a 4mm x 2.36mm surface-mount package with a low 0.75mm profile. The VCNL3030X01 provides an on-board infrared emitter (IRED) while the VCNL3036X01 is intended to be employed with up to three external IREDs, for which an onboard driver with internal logic is supplied. A smart persistence scheme provides accurate sensing and faster response time.

The Vishay VCNL3030X01 incorporates a proximity sensor and a high power IRED into one small package. The Vishay VCNL3036X01 combines a proximity sensor, a mux and a driver for up to three external IREDs, also into a small package. Both types include photodiodes, amplifiers and ADC circuits into a single chip by CMOS process. The PS provides a programmable interrupt with individual high and low thresholds with the power savings on the microcontroller.

The devices both prevent false triggers while delivering higher resolution compared to earlier-generation sensors. A programmable interrupt function enables designers to select high and low thresholds to decrease the continuous communication with the microcontroller, while its intelligent cancellation stops cross-talk. For force sensing applications, the sensors provide the flexibility to fine-tune the current for short displacements. They function normally even when the user is wearing gloves.