Intersil is focusing on the automotive market, CEO Dave Bell explained to GlobalPress attendees. Today, electronics are used to for connectivity in infotainment systems and for efficiency and the company is relying on integration techniques to provide value-added and reliable devices in this growing market. To this end it has introduced what it claims is the industry's first automotive-qualified, ambient light sensor, the ISL76671, which can measure incident light levels down to 0.01lux. The sensor is for use in backlight control, allowing dashboard controls to be read in daylight, without appearing ‘washed out' ; and also appear clear in low light conditions. The sensitivity range is designed for night light conditions and can be set by an external resistor. Instead of responding to the IR part of the spectrum, the sensor responds like a human eye, with spectrum light targeted at green. The fast response time of 30ms is designed to accommodate the rapidly changing light conditions, for example such as experienced when leaving a tunnel. The ambient light sensor operates from a 1.8 to 3V supply with a low operating current of less than 4µA. The voltage output can be connected directly to an ADC without buffering. The ADC is packaged in a small 2.1x2.1mm OFND package.
