Vishay intros AEC Q101-qualified photodiodes

Vishay Intertechnology Inc. has unveiled what it claimed as the first ambient-light sensing photodiodes qualified to the AEC Q101 standard, a reliability test qualification procedure for discrete semiconductors published by the Automotive Electronics Council.

The new TEMD6010FX01 and TEMD5510FX01 use Vishay's infrared filtering epoxy technology to match the spectral sensitivity of the human eye with minimal sensitivity to light beyond the visible range. They also provide the benefit of having a closely similar response to either incandescent or fluorescent light, for which the devices deliver response ratios of 1.3 and 1.4, respectively.

In addition, TEMD6010FX01 and TEMD5510FX01 provide a linear response to illuminance from 0.1lux to 100klux with good lot-to-lot repeatability over the extended operating temperature range of -40°C to 100°C. Lot-to-lot repeatability may allow customers to eliminate calibration steps in their manufacturing process. Competing sensors are unable to match this linear response at temperature extremes, particularly above +85°C.

Ambient-light sensors are typically used to turn on, turn off, or adjust features as a convenience, to conserve battery power, or to provide added safety. Automotive applications include rain, light, and tunnel sensors; brightness control for dashboard and navigation displays; and automatically turning on the headlights at dusk.

The new sensors join Vishay's existing portfolio of ambient light sensing photo transistors, which are also qualified to the AEC Q101 standard. They are RoHS compliant, free of halogens, and compatible with Pb-free soldering. Samples are available now with lead times of six weeks.