Next-Generation Si114x QuickSense™ Infrared and Ambient Light Sensors
Enable Advanced Gesture Control for "Touchless" Human Interfaces
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced its next-generation
infrared (IR) and ambient light sensors for human interface (HI)
applications. The new Si114x family, the latest addition to Silicon
Labs' QuickSense™
HI portfolio, features the industry's most sensitive,
power-efficient and longest range proximity sensors. Available in a tiny
2 mm x 2 mm package, the Si114x sensors enable sophisticated proximity
sensing and touchless interfaces for handsets, eReaders, netbooks,
tablets, personal media players, toys, office equipment, industrial
controls, security systems, point-of-sale stations and many other
products.
A proximity sensor's detection range and sensitivity is determined by
the system's signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); the higher the SNR, the longer
the range. Numerous variables contribute to a system's SNR including
ambient noise/light compensation, photo-diode sensitivity, filtering and
analog-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture. While competing
solutions may address one or two of these variables, the patent-pending
Si114x architecture addresses all of these parameters to minimize noise
and maximize performance. The Si114x family's combined architectural
optimizations result in very high system SNR, enabling the Si114x
proximity sensors to achieve the industry's longest range, highest
sensitivity and fastest data acquisition speed.
The Si114x family's industry-leading sensitivity gives developers the
flexibility to locate IR sensors behind semi-opaque product overlays.
The robust IR sensing architecture also operates in direct sunlight and
includes an ambient light sensor capable of sensing light levels up to
128 kilolux. In addition, the Si114x family's advanced architecture
enables proximity measurements in only 25 microseconds, minimizing the
on-time of power-hungry infrared LEDs and resulting in the industry's
lowest system power consumption — up to 20 times lower than competitive
solutions.
The Si114x family includes sensor options with up to three infrared LED
drivers, giving developers the freedom to implement one-dimensional HI
systems with a detection range of more than 50 cm or
multi-dimensional systems capable of gesture sensing with ranges of up
to 15 cm. The Si1142 and Si1143 devices, with two and three infrared LED
drivers respectively, enable advanced motion and gesture sensing. With
its two integrated LED drivers, the Si1142 supports z- and x-axis motion
sensing for touchless slider interfaces. The Si1143, which supports
three LED drivers, enables innovative 3D motion sensing for the ultimate
in multi-dimensional touchless control.
When coupled with the intelligent control of a Silicon Labscapacitive
touch-sense microcontroller (MCU) such as an F700,
F800
or F99x
MCU, the Si114x sensors can enable a wide range of motion and gesture
detection and expected-object distance correction applications. The
Si114x devices' sensing modes provide valuable information to the MCU to
determine the background light type, such as sunlight, fluorescent or
incandescent. This information is useful in many applications to improve
IR proximity sensing, optimize infrared sensing power, enhance backlight
dimming functions in a display, and control other devices within the
system.
"The new Si114x family is the most sophisticated single-chip proximity
sensing solution available, delivering unmatched sensitivity, range and
power efficiency in a tiny footprint," said Mark Thompson, vice
president and general manager of Embedded Mixed-Signal products at
Silicon Labs. "As the only semiconductor supplier to offer both
proximity sensors and touch-sense MCUs in the same portfolio, we offer
developers the benefits of single-source solutions to streamline the
design of next-generation human interfaces."
QuickSense Studio and Board Support
Like all members of the QuickSense portfolio, the Si114x family is
supported by the QuickSense
Studio, an intuitive, easy-to-use software environment that enables
developers to program, debug and analyze proximity, ambient light and
capacitive touch-sense applications. QuickSense Studio streamlines the
configuration of infrared proximity and ambient light sensors through a
library of APIs. The graphical environment offers the ability to
generate C code for proximity and motion detection, gesture detection
and algorithmic identification of background light types.
Complete evaluation and development kits, including the IRSLIDER2EK
evaluation kit for Si1142-based touchless sliders and the Si1140DK
development kit for Si1143 3-LED evaluation, are available at www.silabs.com/pr/QuickSense.
Silicon Labs offers an online optical sensor current estimator utility
that helps developers evaluate power consumption levels required for a
proximity and ambient light sensing application. To access the utility,
visit www.silabs.com/sensor-current-estimator.
Pricing and Availability
The Si114x proximity sensors are available today in an exceptionally
small, optically clear 2 x 2 x 0.75 mm 10-pin QFN package. Pricing
ranges from $1.22 for single LED to $1.98 for multiple LED
implementations in 10,000-unit quantities. The IRSLIDER2EK evaluation
kit is priced at $49.99, and the Si1140DK development kit is available
for $59.99. (All prices in USD.) For more information or to request
samples, please visit www.silabs.com/pr/QuickSense.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of patented semiconductor
solutions offers customers significant advantages in performance, size
and power consumption. For more information about Silicon Labs, please
visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: QuickSense, Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S"
symbol, the Silicon Laboratories logo and the Silicon Labs logo are
trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted
herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
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Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman, +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Source: Silicon Laboratories
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