Sharp has developed and will introduce the new GP2AP020A00F proximity sensor with integrated ambient light sensor, designed for mobile devices. Mobile devices such as smartphones are adopting touch panels that allow operation with the touch of a finger. Such a mobile device has an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the brightness of the LCD screen in response to the brightness of the surroundings so that users can better see the LCD screen. It also has a proximity sensor, which detects when the user’s face is near and automatically powers off the LCD screen to reduce power consumption and which also prevents inadvertent input from the user’s face.



Sharp's GP2AP020A00F package integrates a proximity sensor with a light sensor in a single component. By using a single chip solution for light-receiving components of light sensor and proximity sensor (compared to the two chips of the predecessor product), Sharp has achieved the industry’s smallest package size (approx. 16% less volume than the predecessor product). This offers more flexibility in designing the structure and the size of mobile devices.

This product also has a high-resolution digital signal processing circuit for improved light-receiving sensitivity and processing precision. The GP2AP020A00F can detect illuminance as low as 0.02 lux (compared to 0.1 lux for the predecessor product). Light sensor covers on the surface of mobile devices have normally been colored in order to maintain high light transmittance. Sharp claims that with this product, the cover can have the same color as the mobile device witout loosing its ambient light detection capabilities.