ams launches the industry’s smallest module to offer color, ambient light and proximity sensing

Premstaetten, Austria (2 August, 2016) -- ams AG (SIX: AMS), a leading provider of high performance sensors and analog ICs, today launched the smallest ever optical sensor module that delivers a combination of color (RGB), ambient light and proximity sensing, providing OEMs with design flexibility and the ability to provide a better display viewing experience.

The TMD3700 footprint, at 4.00 x 1.75mm, is the smallest footprint available in the market, and with height of 1.00mm, it’s low-profile is ideal for next-generation mobile phones with extremely tight layout and mechanical design constraints.  It’s wide 45 degree field-of-view, ambient light sensing accuracy of +/-10%  and operating range of  200mlux to 60Klux behind dark glass, enable smartphones to measure the surrounding light environment and automatically adjust display color and brightness for optimal viewing.

The TMD3700 color sensor channels each have UV and IR blocking filters and a dedicated converter allowing simultaneous data capture necessary for accurate measurements. The combination of photopic color and ambient light sensing enables smartphones to perform real-time adjustment of the display properties; such as white point, color gamut and color saturation, to achieve the best visual color accuracy.

The TMD3700 features allow dynamic elimination of both electrical and optical crosstalk producing reliable proximity detection; a function used by smartphone manufacturers to disable the touchscreen display when it is held close to the user’s face. In addition, the module’s integrated IR LED is calibrated for maximum performance and consistent operation.

 “Smartphone OEMs are continually condensing their product profiles while seeking ways to improve display performance for the best visual appeal. The availability of the TMD3700 light sensing and proximity detection performance in a compact package, enables innovative display management for today’s space-constrained smartphones”, said Darrell Benke, Strategic Program Director for Advanced Optical Solutions at ams.

The TMD3700 is available now in production volumes. Unit pricing is $1.10 in order quantities of 1,000.