March 5, 2013, Seoul – STMicroelectronics (ST), a global semiconductor company providing a wide range of electronic applications, has unveiled a new proximity sensor, the VL6180. This new product is expected to contribute significantly to the development of more flexible and user-friendly smartphones.

The VL6180 integrates three optical elements into a single small package and is the first product in ST's FlightSense™ family. It incorporates new optical sensing technology that reduces sudden call drops and provides innovative user interactions on smartphones.

The VL6180 utilizes groundbreaking proximity measurement technology to provide unprecedented accuracy and reliability in measuring the distance between a smartphone and the user. Because methods that calculate distance by measuring the amount of light reflected back from objects are significantly affected by color or surface conditions, this sensor instead accurately calculates the time it takes for light to reach the nearest object, reflect back to the sensor, and return. This "Time-of-Flight" measurement method ignores the amount of reflected light and considers only the time it takes for the light to return.

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This is the first time time-of-flight measurement technology has been utilized in a form factor small enough to be integrated into smartphones with severe space constraints. The success of this technology will bring significant performance improvements to existing proximity sensors. “This allows us to solve the recent smartphone problem of calls dropping when the phone touches the face, and to present new, innovative methods for user-to-smartphone interaction,” said Arnaud Laflaquière, General Manager of ST’s Imaging Business Unit.

Key elements of this new patented ST solution are an infrared emitter that emits a light pulse, an ultrafast photodetector that detects the reflected pulse, and an electronic circuit that accurately measures the time difference from the emission of the pulse to the detection of the reflected pulse.

Combining ST’s expertise in electronics, optics, and packaging, the VL6180 incorporates a powerful time-of-flight sensor and a broadband ambient light sensor along with an infrared emitter. Thanks to its ready-to-use, integrated architecture, it is easy to integrate and can reduce the time and cost burden of optimizing optical and mechanical designs.

The benefits ST's new technology has brought to the smartphone market extend beyond just solving dropped call issues. Its ability to accurately measure the distance from a mobile phone to a hand or other objects enables mobile phone manufacturers and app developers to create new user interaction scenarios that can be utilized immediately. The performance and applications of this proximity sensor were demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Through this, ST showcased a unique product that combines its strong commitment to wireless and imaging sectors with its diverse capabilities.