APDS-9960 Specifications and Applications

The APDS-9960 is a multi-purpose sensor capable of detecting gestures, ambient light, RGB color, and light values. This sensor is made up of four photodiodes. These photodiodes detect reflected infrared energy transmitted by an onboard LED. When a gesture is made, the IR energy is obstructed and reflects the sensor, which detects the velocity and direction information and converts it into digital data. The detection range of the APDS-9960 is also 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm).

Gesture Recognition

Gesture recognition technology reads and interprets hand movements as commands using sensors. This capability in the automotive industry enables drivers and passengers to interact with the vehicle type, to control the infotainment system without touching any buttons or screens.
A gesture recognition system begins by pointing a camera at a specific three-dimensional zone within the vehicle and capturing frame-by-frame images of hand positions and motions. This camera is typically mounted in the roof module or another unobstructed vantage point. Even when there isn’t much natural light, the system illuminates the area with infrared LEDs or lasers to provide a clear image.
Computer vision and machine learning technologies analyze the images in real-time, converting hand motions into commands based on a predefined library of signs.
Gesture recognition software commands become just another type of input, similar to turning a dial, pressing a button, or touching a screen. Furthermore, as the number and quality of cabin cameras increase, other passengers in the vehicle may eventually join in on the fun.

Proximity Sensor

The proximity sensor uses reflected IR to determine the relative distance to an object. Both the IR transmitter LED and photodiode detectors are located in the small black package. It has a maximum detection range of about 6″ depending on the surface and a minimum range of about 1″.
With no object detected, the sensor will report 255 or something close to that reading. When an object is detected the reading will approach 0 as the object moves closer and will read 0 at about 1″ distance from the sensor.

Color and Ambient Light Sensor

To reduce the impact of IR light, the color and ambient light sensing functionality employ an array of red/green/blue/clear filtered photodiodes with IR filters over them. The measurement data is presented in 16-bit format.

Pin Configuration

Pin No.	Pin Name	Description
1	VL	Optional power to the IR LED if the PS jumper is not connected. Can be 3.0V to 4.5V.
2	GND	Connected to the ground of the circuit used.
3	VCC	Power supply to the board. Can be 2.4V to 3.6V.
4	SDA	I2C Serial Data Address pin. Used to transfer the data through I2C.
5	SCL	I2C Serial Clock Line pin. Provides clock pulse for I2C communication.
6	INT	External Interrupt pin. It is Active LOW during interrupting events.

Ambient Light and RGB Color Sensing, Proximity Sensing, and Gesture Detection in an Optical Module.
Ambient Light and RGB Color Sensing.
UV and IR blocking filters.
Programmable gain and integration time.
Very high sensitivity.
Ideally suited for operation behind dark glass.
Proximity Sensing.
Trimmed to provide a consistent reading.
Ambient light rejection.
Offset compensation.
Programmable driver for IR LED current.
Saturation indicator bit.
Complex Gesture Sensing.
Four separate diodes sensitive to different directions.
Ambient light rejection.
Offset compensation.
Programmable driver for IR LED current.
32 dataset storage FIFO.
Interrupt driven I2C.
Bus communication.
I2C-bus Fast Mode Compatible Interface.
Data Rates up to 400 kHz.
Dedicated Interrupt Pin.
Small Package L 3.94 × W 2.36 × H 1.35 mm.
Operating Voltage: 2.4V to 3.6V.
Operating current: 0.2mA.
Communication protocol: 400KHz.