AMI has unveiled environmental light sensors AMIS 74980x for electronic displays and car applications

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) has unveiled its environmental light sensors, called AMIS 74980x, for electronic displays and car applications.The sensor simulates the human eye and provides output balanced with ambient light, enabling the display controller to adjust brightness and contrast.Not only will this help reduce eye strain from high brightness and reflections, it will also control energy consumption and minimize the number of battery charges and replacements on mobile devices.

AMIS-74980x ambient light sensors use CMOS image sensing technology proprietary to AMI Semiconductor, making them more flexible and economical to design for devices with light-emitting displays.Ambient light sensors are ideal and affordable solutions for mobile phones, pdas, hand-held displays, LCD monitors, portable DVD players, laptops, large liquid crystal displays, and MP3 players.It is also ideal for in-car video systems, GPS displays, headlights, rearview mirrors and dashboards in automotive applications.

AMI Semiconductor's ami-74980x series of ambient light sensors work well under a variety of light sources, including natural light, fluorescence, traditional incandescent and halogen lamps.An important feature of the AMIS-74980x is its low dark current, which enables the display controller to adjust the brightness of the display in low brightness environments.

Jon Stoner, chief technology officer of AMI Semiconductor, said: "the AMIS family of ambient light sensors offers lower cost and smaller appearance, making them ideal for mobile applications that require a higher price and size.Offering a variety of output options, programmable capabilities, innovative methods to reduce dark current, and low power consumption, the range can assist system designers in product development and extend the battery life of handheld devices and battery-powered household appliances.

Traditionally, sending text messages from a mobile phone or instant messages from a PDA required the display to be turned on for a long period of time, quickly draining battery life.With AMI Semiconductor's ambient light sensors, consumers can communicate for longer periods of time in more diverse lighting environments.

Because the AMIS-74980x is an analog/digital output device, it performs well in the 3.0-3.6v power supply voltage range, 10-100khz operating frequency, and 0-70c temperature range.

AMI Semiconductor is now available to the market in AMIS-74980x.For purchases of 10,000 AMIS, $0.75 for digital output AMIS-74980x and $0.55 for analog output AMIS-74980x.