Vishay Semiconductor Opto Division VCNL4000DEMOKIT

Overview

VCNL4000DEMOKIT from Vishay Semiconductors is an evaluation kit for the VCNL4000 fully integrated proximity and ambient light sensor IC. It enables rapid prototyping of I²C-based optical sensing applications with 16-bit resolution, 200 mm proximity detection range, and 0.25–16,383 lx ambient light measurement capability in a 3.95 × 3.95 × 0.75 mm LLP package.

For engineers reviewing the VCNL4000DEMOKIT datasheet, VCNL4000DEMOKIT pinout, VCNL4000DEMOKIT application, or VCNL4000DEMOKIT equivalent, this kit provides immediate hardware access to proximity and ambient light functions-including programmable IR LED drive (10–200 mA), flicker rejection at 100/120 Hz, and continuous/conversion-on-demand modes-without custom PCB design.

Technical Context

The VCNL4000DEMOKIT hosts the VCNL4000 sensor IC, which integrates an infrared emitter, photodiode, signal conditioning ASIC, and I²C interface in one surface-mount module. Its architecture supports simultaneous or independent ambient light and proximity measurements via twelve user-accessible 8-bit registers, including dedicated control for LED current (register #3), ambient averaging (register #4), and proximity modulation frequency (register #9).

It operates across 2.5–3.6 V supply (VDD) and 2.5–5 V IR anode voltage, with I²C bus compatibility up to 3.4 MHz and H-level tolerance from 1.7 V to 5 V. The fixed 7-bit slave address is 0x13 (0x26 write / 0x27 read), and internal timing parameters-including modulator delay/dead time (register #10)-are configurable for optimized cross-talk immunity and signal integrity.

Key Specifications

Availability

VCNL4000DEMOKIT is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for mobile device touch-screen lock, display dimming, optical switch implementation, and industrial proximity sensing requiring stable component supply and rapid evaluation capability.

Supply support for VCNL4000DEMOKIT includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Vishay Semiconductors is a global manufacturer of discrete semiconductors and passive components, specializing in high-reliability sensors, optoelectronics, and power management devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The VCNL4000 product line delivers compact, integrated optical sensing solutions targeting space-constrained portable electronics - designed specifically to replace multi-component proximity+ALS subsystems with single-chip I²C accessibility and factory-calibrated performance.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the VCNL4000DEMOKIT?

The VCNL4000DEMOKIT is an evaluation kit for the VCNL4000 sensor IC, providing immediate hardware access to its dual-function optical sensing capabilities: proximity detection up to 200 mm and ambient light measurement from 0.25 to 16,383 lx. It includes all necessary circuitry - such as decoupling capacitors, pull-up resistors, and proper I²C termination - to interface directly with a host microcontroller without additional design effort. The VCNL4000DEMOKIT simplifies validation of proximity-triggered screen blanking and adaptive display brightness control in real-world conditions.

Does the VCNL4000DEMOKIT include the VCNL4000 sensor IC itself?

Yes, the VCNL4000DEMOKIT contains one mounted VCNL4000 sensor IC in its 3.95 × 3.95 × 0.75 mm LLP package. The kit is not a bare board - it is a fully assembled demonstration platform with the VCNL4000 pre-soldered, along with supporting passives (including 10 µF, 22 µF, and 100 nF capacitors) and a 10 Ω current-limiting resistor for the IR LED anode. This allows users to immediately connect the VCNL4000DEMOKIT to an I²C host and begin reading proximity and ambient light data via registers 0x85–0x88.

Can the VCNL4000DEMOKIT operate with 5 V I²C logic levels?

Yes, the VCNL4000DEMOKIT supports I²C bus H-level voltages from 1.7 V to 5 V, as specified for the underlying VCNL4000 IC. The SDA and SCL lines on the VCNL4000DEMOKIT are compatible with 5 V-tolerant microcontrollers without level-shifting circuitry. However, the VCNL4000's VDD supply remains limited to 2.5–3.6 V, so the host must provide appropriate voltage regulation - the VCNL4000DEMOKIT does not include onboard voltage conversion for VDD.

How is proximity measurement configured on the VCNL4000DEMOKIT?

Proximity measurement on the VCNL4000DEMOKIT is controlled via register #3 (0x83) to set IR LED drive current (10–200 mA in 10 mA steps) and register #9 (0x89) to select modulation frequency (390.625 kHz default). A proximity measurement is initiated by writing bit 4 (prox_od) in register #0 (0x80); after ≥400 µs wait, results appear in registers #7 (high byte) and #8 (low byte). The VCNL4000DEMOKIT exposes these registers directly over I²C, enabling full configuration of sensitivity, speed, and noise immunity without hardware modification.

Is ambient light measurement on the VCNL4000DEMOKIT calibrated for human-eye response?

Yes, the VCNL4000DEMOKIT implements the VCNL4000's built-in ambient light photodiode with spectral sensitivity closely matching the CIE photopic luminosity function. Its 16-bit output (0.25 lx LSB) covers 0.25–16,383 lx and includes hardware-level 100/120 Hz flicker rejection - critical for accurate display dimming under artificial lighting. The VCNL4000DEMOKIT delivers this calibrated response out-of-the-box; no external filter or software correction is required to achieve human-perceived illuminance values.