April 30, 2015 – ams (Country Manager Jong-Deok Lee), a specialist in high-performance analog ICs and sensors, announced the release of an illuminance sensor (product name: TSL2584TSV) using a through-silicon via (TSV) package. The footprint of the illuminance sensor is 1.145 x 1.66 mm, and the height is only 0.32 mm.

In display management applications, ambient light sensors (ALS) automatically adjust backlight intensity to ensure the best user experience and extend battery life. The new TSL2584TSV is approximately half the size of competitors' existing ALS chips, making it the smallest ALS product in the world.

ams leverages wafer processing expertise that includes TSV packaging technology as part of its light sensor portfolio. This TSV packaging technology improves performance by eliminating wire bonds and provides a direct connection from device I/O to the solder ball. By complying with the Moisture Sensitivity Level-1 standard, TSV technology enhances device reliability and increases performance in humidity temperature-cycling evaluations while simultaneously increasing corrosion resistance.

The photopic response of the TSL2584TSV, which is very similar to the human eye, allows for very precise measurement of lux even when the TSL2584TSV is mounted behind a dark glass substrate. The combination of state-of-the-art wafer processing technology and the technical capability to precisely deposit interference filters onto semiconductors has resulted in the creation of an Ambient Light Sensor (ALS) capable of high performance. By filtering out unwanted infrared (IR) light, the filter enables more precise measurement of ambient light, thereby providing a photopic response very similar to how the human eye perceives light.

David Moon, Senior Marketing Manager leading ams’s Advanced Optical Solutions business unit, said, “By providing the world’s smallest ambient light sensor (ALS), ams enables designers of wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands to easily integrate ambient light sensors into ultra-thin backlit displays. The ultra-small size of the TSL2584TSV also provides excellent design flexibility for smartphone and tablet developers. Offering a footprint of less than 2 mm² and a height of just 0.32 mm, the TSL2584TSV completes a critical step in the development of ALS solutions and provides numerous new optional opportunities to enable display management functions even in space-constrained designs.”

The TSL2584TSV is currently available in mass production quantities and is priced at $0.58 per unit based on a quantity of 1,000 units.

The TSL2584TSV evaluation kit is currently available. For sample requests and inquiries regarding technical details, please visit www.ams.com/ambient-light-sensors/TSL2584TSV.