LEDs and sensor come together for colourful dashes

RGB analogue-output colour sensor meets the specifications of the Automobile Electronics Council AEC-Q100 stress test qualification for integrated circuits.

Avago Technologies has introduced the industry's first RGB (red, green, blue) analogue-output colour sensor that meets the specifications of the Automobile Electronics Council AEC-Q100 stress test qualification for integrated circuits.

Components meeting these specifications are considered suitable for use in the harsh automotive environment.

In vehicle interiors, Avago's ADJD-E622-QR999 CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) analogue-output sensor converts coloured light to accurate, proportional red, green and blue voltage outputs.

These outputs can potentially be used for open-loop or closed-loop optical feedback for light sources in navigational panels, dashboard and interior lighting.

The use of the ADJD-E622-QR999 in a closed-loop optical feedback system assures consistent colour and brightness for RGB LED (light-emitting diode) lighting and backlighting systems such as in liquid crystal displays.

The combination of a colour sensor with RGB LED lighting replaces the limited range of colours available from conventional LEDs with a virtually unlimited palette of lighting colours.

The combination can also be used to offer the driver a selection of lighting colours to reflect his or her preferences.

"The use of RGB LEDs is increasing with each new car model", said Soo Ghee Lee, Vice President and General Manager of Avago Technologies' Optoelectronics Products Division.

"Avago's patented colour controller and the ADJD-E622-QR999 form an ideal and unrivaled complementary colour management solution to RGB LED lighting".

"With its versatility, robust characteristics, wide sensing range, monolithic construction and miniaturisation, we strongly believe this automotive-grade colour sensor will accelerate the adoption of custom lighting colours in the automotive market".

The AEC-Q100 stress test qualification indicates that Avago's RGB colour sensor offers a combination of robust packaging with low sensitivity to ESD (electrostatic discharge).

This also assures its reliability in industrial, commercial and test equipment applications.

The device is an excellent choice for uses ranging from bill acceptors for vending and change machines, to applications in the factory environment including colour matching paints, textiles and cosmetics; printing process control, contamination detection, and analytical measurement.

The ADJD-E622-QR999 is supplied in a lead-free QFN-16 (16-pad quad flat no-lead) surface-mount package with dimensions of 5 x 5 x 0.75mm.

The height is 25% less than Avago's previously-introduced analogue RGB colour sensor, which can help make printed circuit assemblies thinner to pack more functions in the same space.

This CMOS RGB sensor features an extended storage temperature range of -50 to +105C, and operating temperature range of -40 to +85C.

It passes the automotive latch-up compliance standard, and offers an HBM (human body model) ESD rating of 8kV and MM (machine model) rating of 200V.

Avago's RGB colour sensor is a monolithic CMOS IC solution with integrated RGB colour filters combined with three sets of 3 x 3 photodiode arrays, one for each colour, which minimises the effect of contamination and optical aperture misalignment.

The photodiode arrays convert the red, green and blue light components into photocurrents with transimpedance amplifiers then convert the photocurrent to analogue voltages.

The voltage output of each channel (R, G and B) increases linearly with increasing light intensity, and the gain of each channel can be independently set.

The colour sensor features uniform colour filter arrays throughout the photodiode active area, which helps to resolve potential inaccuracies caused by light gradient, optical aperture misalignment and tilting and irregularities of the package surface.

For samples and production quantities of the ADJD-E622-QR999 automotive-grade colour sensor, contact Avago's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.

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