FlightSense technology powers the LG G3 smartphone's camera autofocus feature.

Seoul, October 17, 2014 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has announced a new high-accuracy optical range-finding module, the VL6180X, which delivers superior distance measurement based on its FlightSense™ time-of-flight technology.

FlightSense achieves accurate distance measurement by measuring the time it takes for light to reflect off a target and return. Conventional sensors only measure the reflected signal level, making it impossible to accurately determine distance. ST's FlightSense technology differentiates itself from conventional infrared sensors by enabling longer distance measurements at high frame rates and low power consumption, regardless of the target's reflectivity.

ST's VL6180X module combines FlightSense proximity and an ambient light sensor (ALS), supporting basic gesture recognition to simplify user interface design while delivering enhanced performance. This new device not only enables creative applications in a wide range of markets, including smartphones, tablets, and game controllers, but also enhances the performance of consumer electronics and industrial products.

Global electronics giant LG has used FlightSense technology to power the laser autofocus performance of its G3 smartphone.

The VL6180X module is housed in a compact optical LGA12 package measuring 4.8 mm x 2.8 mm x 1.0 mm and can accurately measure target distances up to 100 mm, or even more depending on operating conditions. It provides an I2C interface for host control and distance and ambient light level reading, and two programmable GPIO pins for threshold implementation.

Developers can easily explore the many possibilities of this latest proximity sensor module with the newly released VL6180X Explorer evaluation kit. This kit not only provides a quick start with FlightSense technology but also supports development for real-world applications. The evaluation kit includes a USB-pluggable STM32 Nucleo board and a VL6180X expansion board containing the sensor, a 4-digit LED display, and a slide switch for controlling the range and ALS functions. The display shows the distance to the target or the ambient light level.

The VL6180X sensor is currently in mass production, with pricing starting at $2.50 per unit for a minimum order quantity of 5,000 units. The VL6180X Explorer Kit is also available, priced at $19.69 per unit.

For more information, please visit www.st.com/proximitysensor .