Free Print Subscription Printer-friendly version Email to a Friend

Ambient light sensor assesses backlighting needs

( 01 Nov 2002 )
Bill Schweber

How much backlighting you need in a given ambient light condition for PDAs, handheld instrumentation, camcorders, and similar products is not a minor issue—it affects power consumption, which is always critical. The TSL2550 from Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions, Inc (TAOS) promises to make the judgment easier. This light sensor provides an SMBus-compatible output derived from the readings on two integral sensors, one for visible plus infrared light and one for infrared only. By combining the two readings and digitizing the result, it approximates the response of the eye, thus letting you assess the visible light intensity along with the effect of infrared, so you can adjust the backlighting accordingly. The internal, 12-bit companding ADC provides necessary dynamic range, while the design rejects unavoidable 50-/60-Hz ripple from ambient lighting sources. The 1 mW 8-lead IC operates from a 2.7- to 5.5-V supply, and needs just two wires for the SMBus serial interface.


Along with the IC, the vendor offers an evaluation kit, which consists of a pc board with sensor, choice between RS-232 interface or PCMCIA interface to the board, and a CD ROM with exercise code. The TSL2550 is US$1.59 (1000 pieces) while each evaluation kit is US$110.
The TSL2550 sensor plus interface IC controls display backlighting and saves system power.





Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions (TAOS)

www.taosinc.com.

 
Free Print Subscription Printer-friendly version Email to a Friend
 
Article Rating 
Average Rate: No rating yet
 
Poor Quite Good Good Very Good Excellent
 
Related Content 
 
 
KNOWLEDGE CENTER
Panasonic Key Devices Guide 2008 :
 
Fairchild Semiconductor :
 
Texas Instruments: DaVinci™ Technology
 
Texas Instruments: Safe Bet Series
 
 
 
Highest Rated  
Feedback Loop  

ADS BY GOOGLE 
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
Press Release 
 
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
 
RESOURCE CENTER

 
 
PRODUCT NEWS
 
FEATURED SPONSORS
 
 
DESIGN CENTERS
 
ADVERTISEMENT
     
Reference Designs 
   
     
 
 
 



RSS
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

POLL
What type of environmental regulation do you think will be most beneficial for the tech industry?
Proper recycling and disposal
Push for power efficiency and energy conservation
Chemical/lead regulation
View results


     
Power Technology E-newsletter 
Dual-input, Single-output Power Supply Selector Switch Reduces System Size while Improving Integrity EDNA, February 08
Analog Devices completes sale of CPU voltage and PC thermal monitoring business to ON SemiconductorEDNA, January 08
Fairchild’s Green FPS Power Switches Increase Efficiency, Reduce EMI in Power Supply Designs EDNA, December 07
 
Test and Measurement E-newsletter 
Agilent Technologies and Anite Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver 3GPP LTE Test Solutions for Wireless R&D EDNA, November 07
WiMAX Technology Leaders Aeroflex and Sequans Partner to Speed Product Development and Deployment of WiMAX Test EDNA, October 07
Tektronix’ IMS Solution Proves Successful in Industry Forum Tests EDNA, September 07
 
     
 
KNOWLEDGE CENTER
 
Panasonic Key Devices Guide 2008:
 
Fairchild Semiconductor :
 
Texas Instruments: DaVinci™ Technology
 
Texas Instruments: Safe Bet Series
 
 
INDUSTRY LINKS
 
Photonics Association (Singapore)
Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA)
Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA)
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR SPONSORS
 












Texas Instruments: New Technical Video360 Podcast Demostrates Advantages of DaVinci™ Technology

 
 
ADS BY GOOGLE