Servo - June 2010

measurements within applications where a high degree of accuracy is required.

The unique design of the All AccuStar electronic clinometers are 100% tested and calibrated at the factory prior to shipment, and are accompanied by a two-year comprehensive warranty. The product is also included under the new Sherborne Sensors Guaranteed On-Time Delivery program.

For further information, please contact:

Sherborne Sensors

877•486•1766 (US and Canada) + 44 (0) 870 444 0728 (Worldwide) Email: sales@sherbornesensors.com Website: www.sherbornesensors.com

Digital Ambient Light Sensors and Proximity Detectors

Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions®, Inc. (TAOS), is now offering the first members of its next generation digital ambient light sensor (ALS) and proximity detection family that is designed to provide consumer electronics manufacturers with greater freedom to produce sleeker, more appealing, and innovative product designs. These latest TAOS devices eliminate the need to use clear glass/plastic in front of the sensor or drill holes/slots into the display, bezel, or frame in order for light to reach the sensor.

Specifically designed to operate behind darkened glass or other translucent materials, the TSL2771 device family

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provides both ambient light sensing and proximity detection in a single device that consumes less power than currently available comparable solutions.

Proximity detection is ideally suited for touch screen smart phones to automatically turn off the display or control other user functions and can also be used in laptops, desktop computers, and monitors to conserve energy or maintain information privacy when the user is not present.

Other emerging applications for proximity sensing technology include touchless display controls activation and management, as well as human gesture detection.

The TSL2771 ambient light sensor and proximity detection device family incorporates an IR LED current-limited driver, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), interrupt capability, multiple I2C interface voltage options, and flexible programming allowing it to be configured into many different applications. As darkened glass or translucent materials can be transparent to IR wavelengths while attenuating visible light by 100 times or more, the device utilizes TAOS’ patented dual-photodiode architecture that allows the sensor system to compensate for the increased IR component. When combined with the ability to adjust the analog gain settings up to 128X, the device excels in challenging low-light level applications.

“Power consumption is another key advantage to the TSL2771 device family,” said Kerry Glover, TAOS, Inc. Applications Manager. “In many of the portable applications, battery life is very critical. Traditional proximity detection methods require a significant amount of power. With the new TAOS architecture, as few as one IR pulse is required for presence detection. This can provide 10x in power savings over traditional analog or other digital solutions.” In applications requiring longer distance detection, an external driver can be utilized to boost the power such that a person can be detected in front of a monitor. A unique state machine allows the device to go into a lower power wait state, thereby only having the high power external detection running a very small portion of the time. For applications requiring only ambient light sensing, this next generation of TAOS devices also includes the TSL2580/81 high-sensitivity ambient light sensors.