ams and Osram, a leading global provider of optical solutions, announces the launch of a combined ambient light (ALS) and proximity sensor that provides accurate color, illuminance measurement and reliable proximity detection in high-speed HD OLEDs for new smartphones Excellent performance under the display.
The new TCS3720 is ams Osram's next-generation "OLED under-screen" sensor for smartphone displays with high refresh rates, high frequency PWM brightness control and low transmittance. These display characteristics make the operating conditions of ambient light/proximity sensors under OLED screens extremely challenging: high sampling speeds shorten the time between device measurements of light signals, while low transmittance weakens the signal reaching the sensor photodiode.
Compared to previous generations of OLED under-screen sensors, the innovative technology that ams Osram has incorporated into the TCS3720 significantly improves sensitivity and dynamic range. The TCS3720 has more than five times the sensitivity and three times the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the first-generation TCS3701. The TCS3720 is available in a 12-pin OLGA package measuring 3.34mm x 1.36mm x 0.6mm.
AMS Osram has also introduced independent VSYNC timing synchronization for the ALS and proximity sensing functions to improve the synchronous alignment of measurement timing and luminance drive timing.
With these innovations, accurate measurement performance can be achieved even when the device is operating under faster, darker OLED screens. In typical applications, the TCS3720 can reliably support a proximity sensing range of up to 5cm, while providing color and illuminance measurements to fine-tune the brightness and color balance of mobile phone displays.
Will Zhou, Product Marketing Director Integrated Optical Sensors at ams Osram, said: “Today’s smartphones offer stunning display experiences that can smoothly display dynamic action scenes in high resolution. With the TCS3720, smartphone manufacturers can Meet customer expectations for extremely high display performance without compromising display management or proximity sensing capabilities.”
The TCS3720 is a fully integrated ALS and proximity sensor IC with the following features:
• Two advanced drivers for infrared proximity sensing VCSELs;
• Red, green, blue and transparent photodiode channels with built-in UV and IR blocking interference filters;
• Automatically maximize dynamic range;
• Advanced crosstalk cancellation;
• Adjustable IR transmitter timing and power output to optimize SNR or power consumption.
