Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry's First Optical Proximity Sensor for Mobile Appliances.PALO ALTO Palo Alto, city, California Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif. -- Miniature Device Allows Phones to Automatically Switch to "Speakerphone" Mode Agilent Technologies This article needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A) today introduced a miniature, low-cost optical proximity sensor to enable a variety of applications in compact mobile devices. In mobile phones, for example, Agilent's proximity sensor enables an automatic change from loudspeaker loudspeaker or speaker, device used to convert electrical energy into sound. It consists essentially of a thin flexible sheet called a diaphragm that is made to vibrate by an electric signal from an amplifier. to earpiece mode when the phone is placed near the ear. Current phone models require user intervention to switch between loudspeaker and earpiece mode. The new device can also detect the opening and closing of popular clamshell mobile phones and can activate the power-saving mode in notebook computers A laptop computer that weighs in a range from five to seven pounds. The term originated when laptops were routinely more than 10 pounds, and those that became lighter were placed in a special "notebook" category. In practice, notebook computer and laptop computer are synonymous. . The proximity sensor is ideal for paper-edge detection in printers, photocopiers and fax machines. It can also be used to switch on/off home appliances, such as table lamps, without the need for mechanical switches. There are many other potential applications within the consumer, industrial and automotive markets. "The proximity sensor is another example of Agilent's ability to apply optoelectronic technology leadership to the mobile device arena," said Kee Hane Ngoh, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Infrared Products Division. "This innovative product will add new convenience and performance features to mobile phones and other mobile applications." Agilent's HSDL-9100-021 optical proximity sensor is specifically optimized for size, performance and ease of design in mobile appliances. Its small footprint (7.1 x 2.75 mm and only 2.7 mm high) is ideal for space-constrained applications, and it offers a variable detection range from approximately zero to 60 mm (2.4 inches) that allows manufacturers to easily customize the device for multiple applications. The proximity sensor is packaged in a metal housing to shield the LED emitter from the photodetector A device that senses light. It uses the principle of photoconductivity, which is exhibited in certain materials that change their electrical conductivity when exposed to light. See photoelectric, photocell and photodiode. . The surface-mount, lead-free package eliminates optical crosstalk (1) Electromagnetic interference that comes from an adjacent wire. "Alien" crosstalk is interference that comes from a wire in an adjacent cable, for example, when two or more twisted wire pair cables are bundled together. between the LED emitter and the light sensor to assure high signal-to-noise ratio The ratio of the power or volume (amplitude) of a signal to the amount of unwanted interference (the noise) that has mixed in with it. Measured in decibels, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR or S/N) measures the clarity of the signal in a circuit or a wired or wireless transmission channel. for reliable performance. The unit also features an integral ambient light filter and guaranteed performance over the -25 C to +85 C temperature range. U.S. Pricing and Availability The HSDL-9100-021 proximity sensor is available now through Agilent's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners. It is priced at $0.91 each in 50,000-unit quantities. More information is available at www.agilent.com/view/ir. Agilent's Mobile Appliance Solutions Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group is a leading supplier of solutions for today's highly integrated, feature-rich mobile handsets. In addition to the new proximity sensor, Agilent provides camera modules, RF components that help shrink handset size and save battery life, infrared transceivers for remote control and transmitting data, surface-mount LEDs that provide backlighting back·light n. A type of spotlight, used in photography, that illuminates a subject from behind. tr.v. back·light·ed or back·lit , back·light·ing, back·lights styling options, and ambient light photo sensors that save battery life by controlling backlighting. No other component vendor offers all of these solutions for mobile appliances. More information about Agilent's family of mobile appliance semiconductor solutions is available at www.agilent.com/view/mobile. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6.1 billion in fiscal year 2003. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: Please direct reader inquiries to Agilent Semiconductor Products Group at 800-235-0312, or e-mail us at semiconductorsupport@agilent.com. Further technology, corporate citizenship Corporate Citizenship The extent to which businesses are socially responsible in meeting legal, ethical and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim it to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the community in which it operates, while and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news. |
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