Digital ambient-light sensors cut power consumption by over 100x

Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX44007/MAX44009, digital ambient-light sensor (ALS) ICs with a unique adaptive-gain block.

Designed using the company’s proprietary BiCMOS technology, the ICs integrate two optical sensors, an ADC, and digital functionality into a tiny 2mm x 2mm x 0.6mm package. According to Maxim, the MAX44007/MAX44009 consume 100x less power than the nearest competitive product, extending battery life. They offer a unique interrupt function that constantly measures the amount of light and reports to the microcontroller when the measurement passes the threshold. This functionality extends power savings by reducing the frequency of I²C communications.

Applications include tablet and notebook PCs, smartphones, TVs, digital lighting-management systems, and light-intensity monitoring applications.

Key highlights:

• Wide 0.025 Lux to 104,444 Lux Range (MAX44007); wide 0.045 Lux to 188,000 Lux Range (MAX44009)
• Small, 2mm x 2mm x 0.6mm UTDFN-Opto
• VCC = 1.7V to 3.6V
• ICC = 0.65µA operating current
• -40°C to +85°C temperature range

Pricing: Starts at $1.20 (1000-up, FOB USA).

Availability: Now.

Datasheets: MAX44007 and MAX44009