Light/Color Sensor Provides Control And Feedback

The VM6101 debuts as the first sensor device on the market to offer both color and ambient light sensing, plus an embedded-system interface that requires no external components. Groomed for automatic LCD backlight control, CCFL or white LED, the device can also provide color-balancing adjustment for projection systems and RGB backlighting. As opposed to increasing more pixels for higher resolutions, the VM6101 employs four pixels¾red, green, blue, and a fourth with no filter¾to measure total ambient light levels and separate RGB color components. Its spectral response matches that of the human eye via unique frequency-response shaping techniques that reject the IR spectrum. Other features include a dynamic range from 30 mLux to 30 kLux and a power consumption of 1 mA in active mode and 1 µA in standby. Available in an 8-lead, 3 mm x 3 mm x 0.7 mm MLPD package, pricing is $0.77 each/10,000. STMICROELECTRONICS, Lexington, MA. (888) 787-3550.