A sensor extends proximity detection range while combining low power use and integrated sensing features for connected devices in home, office, and industrial systems.
The Optoelectronics division of Vishay Intertechnology has launched a new highly sensitive proximity sensor in a compact 5.0 mm × 2.0 mm × 1.5 mm surface-mount package. The Vishay Semiconductors VCNL36758 integrates an infrared emitter, photodiode, amplifiers, and a 12-bit ADC into a single device, enabling low power operation and medium-range proximity detection of up to 600 mm for use in smart home, industrial, and office environments.
Compared with earlier-generation solutions, the new sensor reduces volume by about 65%. Its small footprint makes it well-suited for space-constrained designs that still require longer sensing distances than typical short-range sensors, while also improving overall design flexibility. The integrated IR emitter is powered by an internal current sink with a selectable register, allowing designers to fine-tune detection range and power usage.
The VCNL36758 supports a wide range of applications, including presence detection for activating displays in printers, copiers, tablets, and home appliances; collision avoidance in toys and robotics; proximity sensing and lighting control in offices, hallways, and public buildings; touchless activation in restroom fixtures; and parking space monitoring in garages and lots. It also includes intelligent ambient light suppression to maintain accurate detection in varying lighting conditions, and its high sensitivity enables use behind dark lens covers.
To improve system efficiency, the device features a programmable interrupt function that lets designers set high and low thresholds, minimizing the need for constant microcontroller communication and reducing power consumption. Additional energy savings are achieved through an active force mode, which allows single-shot measurements triggered by a command. Its 12-bit sensing engine incorporates smart crosstalk cancellation, while an adaptive persistence mechanism helps prevent false triggers and improves response accuracy.
The sensor operates with an emitter wavelength centered at 940 nm and produces no visible red glow. It also offers strong temperature stability across a range from −40 °C to +85 °C. The VCNL36758 is supplied in a lead-free 10-pin molded package and complies with RoHS standards; it is halogen-free and classified as Vishay Green.
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