The first AEC-Q100 RGBIR colour sensor detects colour and light for cars, electronics, lighting, and smart devices, with high sensitivity and low power use.
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has introduced the industry’s first AEC-Q100-qualified RGBIR colour sensor. The Vishay Semiconductors VEML6046X00 integrates a sensitive photodiode, low noise amplifier, and 16-bit ADC in a compact 2.67 mm by 2.45 mm surface-mount package with a 0.6 mm profile.
The colour sensor is designed for automotive manufacturers integrating display backlight control, infotainment systems, and lighting applications, as well as consumer electronics companies developing devices requiring accurate colour sensing and ambient light adjustment. It is also suited for lighting and display manufacturers optimizing colour temperature correction, industrial equipment makers using colour sensing in automation and quality control, and medical device manufacturers needing precise optical measurements. Additionally, IoT developers can leverage its compact size, high sensitivity, and low power consumption for smart lighting and adaptive display technologies.
Designed for automotive applications, the colour sensor has separate red, green, blue, and infrared (IR) channels, enabling colour temperature calculation for white point balancing in displays. The green channel’s spectral sensitivity aligns with human vision for accurate measurements, while the IR channel ensures stable performance across various light sources. The sensor operates in ambient light levels from 0 lx to 176 klx without saturation in daylight and has a high sensitivity of 0.0053 lx/ct, allowing placement behind dark cover glass.
With an operating temperature range of up to +110 °C, the sensor is suitable for applications such as automotive display backlight control, infotainment systems, rearview mirror dimming, interior lighting, heads-up displays, colour recognition, CCT measurement, mood lighting, laser front light monitoring. It supports I²C bus communication and includes an interrupt function.
The colour sensor operates on a supply voltage of 2.5 V to 3.6 V, supports an I²C bus voltage range of 1.7 V to 3.6 V, and has a typical shutdown current of 0.5 μA. It is RoHS-compliant, halogen-free, and Vishay Green, with a Moisture Sensitivity Level of 2a and a four-week floor life per J-STD-020E.
