Proximity Sensor from STMicroelectronics Brings Superior Distance Sensing to Phones, White Goods and Industrial Applications

STMicroelectronics has revealed a new highly accurate optical range-finding module based on FlightSense Time-of-Flight technology that offers designers superior distance-measurement capability.

FlightSense provides accurate distance sensing by measuring the time for emitted light to reflect back from the target, whereas conventional sensors can only report reflected signal levels and not absolute distance. ST’s FlightSense technology brings unique advantages versus conventional infrared sensors; measuring longer ranges that are independent of the target reflectivity, at high frame rate and low power.

ST’s VL6180X module combines FlightSense proximity sensing with an ambient-light sensor (ALS) and supports basic gesture recognition to simplify the user-interface design while also offering enhanced performance. This new device supports a wide range of creative use cases across multiple markets, including smartphones, tablets and game controllers, while also improving the performance of consumer appliances and industrial products.

Global electronics giant LG utilizes the FlightSense technology to assist the laser auto-focus performance of its G3 smartphone.