Optical proximity sensor makes the shortlist

An optical proximity sensor for mobile appliances developed by Agilent Technologies was one of the finalists for the EE Times Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) awards.

An optical proximity sensor for mobile appliances developed by Agilent Technologies was one of the finalists for the EE Times Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) awards.

The EE Times ACE awards recognise people, companies and products that show leadership in the electronics industry.

Award nominees are reviewed by a committee composed of academic leaders, industry visionaries and Wall Street's top executives.

Agilent's HSDL-9100-021 is a miniature, low-cost optical proximity sensor that enables a variety of applications in compact mobile devices.

In mobile phones, for example, the proximity sensor allows an automatic change from loudspeaker to earpiece mode when the phone is placed next to the ear.

The device can also activate the power-saving mode in notebook computers and detect the opening and closing of clamshell mobile phones.

The Agilent HSDL-9100-021 proximity sensor can also be used for paper-edge detection in printers, photocopiers and fax machines and has potential applications in the consumer, industrial and automotive markets.

For example, the sensor can switch on/off home appliances, such as table lamps, without the need for mechanical switches.

The HSDL-9100-021 is packaged in a metal housing to shield the LED emitter from the photodetector.

Its small footprint (7.1 x 2.75mm and only 2.7mm high) has been optimised for size, performance and mobile device design.

In addition, the surface-mount, lead-free package offers a variable detection range from approximately zero to 60mm (2.4 inches) and eliminates optical crosstalk between the LED emitter and the light sensor, assuring high signal-to-noise ratio for reliable performance.

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