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| Avago Rolls Out New Ambient Light Photo Sensor Avago Technologies has introduced a new version of its analog-output ambient light photo sensor that helps to conserve power and extend the life of LCD screens in portable display devices. These sensors control the backlighting in portable LCD display applications based on predetermined conditions set by the manufacturer. Avago's APDS-9004 is a suitable power-savings solution for notebook PCs, portable DVD players, camcorders, digital cameras, and mobile phones. It can also be used for turning on/off indoor and outdoor lighting, street lighting and electronic signs and signals. The APDS-9004 sensor detects the ambient light level and provides a highly linear proportional output that is used to adjust the backlighting of a display screen or keypad. If there is sufficient ambient light, designer-provided logic can turn off the backlighting to reduce battery recharges or replacements. Avago's reverse-mount photo sensor offers additional flexibility to designers of price- and size-sensitive mobile products. Avago's ambient light sensors out perform silicon photodiode light-detection solutions because their spectral response peaks at the same wavelength as the human eye. The sensors perform equally well with light sources ranging from natural sunlight to fluorescent, conventional incandescent, and halogen lamps. They also offer significantly faster response to changes in illumination than phototransistors. Avago's package, developed for surface-mount LEDs, combines proven reliability and optimization for automated manufacturing processes with an extremely small, industry-standard footprint. The APDS-9004 sensor is supplied in a reverse-mount four-pin package with Electronic Industries Association (EIA) standard dimensions of 3.2 mm by 1.6 mm by 1.1 mm. It mounts with the light sensitive area facing toward the PC board with light passing through a user-provided aperture. This allows the board to be mounted tightly against the case of the product resulting in space savings. Performance of the APDS-9004 ranges from 2.4 V to 5.5 V and -40° C to +85° C in temperature. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Computing News :: home page |