Sensor Starter Kit User Guide
APPLICATION NOTE
Application Note
www.vishay.com Vishay Semiconductors
Revision: 18-Aug-14 3Document Number: 84264
For technical questions, contact: sensorstechsupport@vishay.com
THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND THIS DOCUMENT
ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC DISCLAIMERS, SET FORTH AT www.vishay.com/doc?91000
VCNL Sensor Board Layout
The VCNL sensor boards, figure 3 and 5, have test points
to allow simple evaluation and / or connection to the
customer’s application board. The boards also include
an external emitter (VSMF2890GX01) to increase the
measurement range to 500 mm and supporting FETs to
use the integrated emitter and external emitter in series.
For more information on extending the detection range,
please read www.vishay.com/doc?84225
Sensor Board Description, Functions, and Features, as
well as a Schematic of the Board
For the VCNL4020 gesture control sensor board, this
information can be found at: www.vishay.com/doc?84218
Every new sensor board can be connected to the Sensor
Starter Kit. Please see:
www.vishay.com/moreinfo/vcnldemokit/
and the last page of this document.
Other Useful Links
I2C specification version 3.0:
www.nxp.com/documents/user_manual/UM10204.pdf
Male pin connector 2199SB-XXG-301523
Female pin connector 2200SB-XXG-A1
www.almita-connectors.com/connector/pcb-connectors.html
VCNL40x0 Development Software
After installing the software, run the following command:
Rapid_VCNL40x0.exe. When executing the program, the
Proximity Function screen is displayed. There are four
tabbed files: Proximity Function, Ambient Light Function,
Setup, and Register.
PROXIMITY FUNCTION
Proximity Mode
- select a single measurement, periodic measurement, or
self-timed measurement. The periodic measurement rates
are set in the Measurement Speed window within Setup
menu. The default setting is “periodic measurement (on
demand).” Selecting periodic measurement sets the
‘prox_od’ bit 3 of the command register #0 (80h) to “1.”
See screen shot 1.
When chosen “selftimed mode” one additional window
will appear what allows then the to program the proximity
rate between 1.95 and 250 measurements per second as
specified within datasheet: proximity rate register #2 (82h)
bits 0 to 2.
Proximity Settings
- sets the infrared emitter current. The infrared emitter
current determines the effective range of the sensor;
higher current will translate to longer sensing range. This
feature can also be used to determine the impact of the
cover or window on the sensing range. To compensate for
the infrared light absorbed by the window, the current can
be increased. The current can be set by either toggling up
or down or by left clicking in the window and a current
select bar will pop-up. The default setting is 100 mA.
Proximity Results
- shows the chosen measurement rate, which is dependent
on the delay time selected in conjunction with the
measurement speed. The default is 10 ms (“10”), which
results in about 30 measurements per second. So the time
needed for one measurement is 1/30 s = 0.033 s, which is
shown within the “Measurement Time / Sample” field. The
next four items show the actual proximity counts, their
max., min., and mean values as well as the averaged peak
to peak noise value.
Clear Display
- clears the upper and lower window graphs and resets the
‘Data#’ to zero.
Proximity Value
Changes the unit of measure for the proximity value.
Click on the small blue letter on its left side. This letter
indicates the selected format: b = binary, d = decimal,
x = hexadecimal, o = octal, and p stands for SI notation.
Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) Filter
This low pass filter is activated with the “active” button and
shows an average of the measurement results. The average
value can be changed from 1 to 20 by clicking on the toggle
arrow where 1 corresponds to no averaging and 20 to strong
averaging. When active the button will be red.
Upper Window
Displays the entire 16-bit measured signal from 0 to 65 535
counts.
Lower Window
Displays only the active or dynamic range. The y-axis
represents the number of counts and will change depending
on the sensor reading.
Proximity Measurement
Click on the measure button to initiate a measurement.