Pennsylvania-based Vishay Intertechnology has introduced a high sensitivity proximity sensor for smart home, industrial and office applications.

The VCNL36758 comes in a compact 5.0 by 2.0 by 1.5mm surface-mount package and combines an infra-red emitter, photodiode, amplifiers and 12bit ADC in one device to deliver low power consumption and medium distance proximity detection up to 600mm

The sensor provides presence detection for display activation in printers, copiers, tablets and home appliances; collision avoidance in toys and robots; proximity sensing and lighting control in offices, corridors and public buildings; lavatory appliance activation; and parking space availability in lots and garages. For these applications, the device has intelligent background light cancellation to ensure reliable proximity detection in the presence of ambient light sources, while its high sensitivity supports dark lens designs.

A programmable interrupt function allows designers to specify high and low thresholds, reducing continuous communication with the microcontroller and lowering power consumption. Additional power-savings are provided through an active force mode that enables one-time measurements triggered by a single command. The device’s 12bit proximity sensor uses intelligent cancellation to eliminate crosstalk, while a smart, adjustable persistence scheme prevents false triggers to ensure accurate sensing and faster response time.

Compared with the firm’s previous products, the proximity sensor reduces volume by 65%. The small package supports space-limited designs that require longer detection distances than typical short distance sensors, while enhancing design flexibility. The integrated IR emitter is driven by a built-in current sink with an internal selectable register, allowing engineers to optimise detection range and power consumption.

The emitter wavelength peaks at 940nm and has no visible red tail. The device offers temperature compensation from -40 to +85˚C and comes in a lead (Pb)-free ten-pin moulded package. The sensor is RoHS-compliant and halogen-free.

For more information on the VCNL36758, see www.vishay.com/en/product/80555/.

Vishay (www.vishay.com) makes discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components for automotive, industrial, computing, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace and medical markets.