Texas Instruments OPT3004 Digital Ambient Light Sensor (ALS)

Texas Instruments OPT3004 Digital Ambient Light Sensor (ALS) is a sensor that measures the intensity of visible light. The spectral response of the sensor tightly matches the photopic response of the human eye and includes significant infrared rejection over a wide angle of incidence. The OPT3004 is a single-chip lux meter measuring the intensity of light as visible by the human eye. The device's precision spectral response and strong IR rejection enables the OPT3004 to accurately meter the intensity of light as seen by the human eye regardless of the light source. The strong IR rejection also helps to maintain high accuracy when an industrial design calls for mounting the sensor under dark glass for aesthetics. The OPT3004 is designed for systems that create light-based experiences for humans and is an ideal preferred replacement for photodiodes, photoresistors, or other ambient light sensors with less human eye matching and IR rejection.

Measurements can be made from 0.01lux up to 83klux without manually selecting full-scale ranges by using the built-in, full-scale setting feature. This capability allows light measurement over a 23-bit effective dynamic range. The digital operation is flexible for system integration. Measurements can be either continuous or single-shot. The control and interrupt system features autonomous operation, allowing the processor to sleep while the sensor searches for appropriate wake-up events to report via the interrupt pin. The digital output is reported over an I2C and SMBus-compatible, two-wire serial interface. The low power consumption and low power-supply voltage capability of the OPT3004 enhance the battery life of battery-powered systems.

Features

Precision optical filtering to match the human eye
- Rejects > 99% (typical) of IR over ±85° angle of incidence
Automatic full-scale setting feature simplifies software and ensures proper configuration
1.6V to 3.6V measurements
23-bit effective dynamic range with automatic gain ranging
12 binary-weighted full-scale range settings
< 0.2% (typ.) matching between ranges
1.8µA (typical) low operating current

–40°C to +85°C operating temperature range
1.6V to 3.6V wide power-supply range
5.5V tolerant I/O
Flexible interrupt system
Small-form-factor
- 2mm × 2mm × 0.65mm for the USON package
- 2.1mm × 1.9mm × 0.6mm for the SOT-5X3 package