Sharp develops proximity sensor with ambient light sensor

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Sharp Corp has developed the new GP2AP020A00F proximity sensor with integrated ambient light sensor. Ideal for use in smartphones and other mobile devices, it has the industry’s smallest package size (4.0 x 2.0 x 1.2 mm) and is one of the best products in the industry for detecting extremely low levels of light.

Mobile devices such as smartphones, which are undergoing rapid expansion, are increasingly adopting touch panels that allow operation with the touch of a finger. Such a mobile device has an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the brightness of the LCD screen in response to the brightness of the surroundings so that users can better see the LCD screen. It also has a proximity sensor, which detects when the user’s face is near and automatically powers off the LCD screen to reduce power consumption and which also prevents inadvertent input from the user’s face.

The GP2AP020A00F integrates a proximity sensor with a light sensor in a single component. By using a single chip solution for light-receiving components of light sensor and proximity sensor (compared to the two chips of the predecessor product), Sharp has achieved the industry’s smallest package size (approximately 16% less volume than the predecessor product). This offers more flexibility in designing the structure of mobile devices and allows them to be made smaller.

This product also has a high-resolution digital signal processing circuit for improved light-receiving sensitivity and processing precision.

Light sensor covers on the surface of mobile devices have normally been in colors with high light transmittance, but with this product, the cover can be the same color as the mobile device and still detect ambient light.