Tool manages display backlighting in mobile phones

Everlight's ambient light sensors (ALS) combine a photodiode and a current amplifier IC in one package.

This system saves power for backlighting displays in mobile appliances by adjusting the backlight brightness depending on the ambient light.

To ensure accurate measurement, the spectral response of the ambient light sensor corresponds to that of the human eye.

The Everlight ALSs are current-output types that offer a high-output linearity across a wide illumination range and a low sensitivity variation across various light sources.

The ALS can be operated within a supply voltage range from 1.8 to 5.5V and in a temperature range from -40 to 85C.

The Everlight Ambient Light Sensor range is RoHS compliant, Pb Free and halogen-free.

The sensors can also be used in computing and consumer devices, automatic residential and commercial management, in- and outdoor light control, automatic contrast enhancement for electronic signboards, ambient light monitoring devices for daylight and artificial light, street light and CCD/CCTV.

Besides the standard ALS, Everlight also provides a combined ambient light and proximity sensor called APS.

The APS has the same features as an ALS but is additionally equipped with a proximity sensor to measure the closeness of approaching/departing objects.

This device is intended primarily for use in applications in which measurement of both ambient light and proximity sensing is a must, such as laptop computers, PDAs, camcorders and GPS systems.