New multi-channel spectral sensors to boost the mobile color and light measurement market

     Ams introduces a tiny spectral sensor chip that provides laboratory-grade, multi-channel color analysis for portable mobile devices. In end products such as mobile phones or accessories, the new AS7341 from AMS offers more accurate spectral measurements in a wider range of lighting conditions than competing products. The small size of the new sensor makes it easier to integrate it into mobile phones and other portable devices.

     "The AS7341 represents a breakthrough in small package spectral sensor technology, suitable for installation in mobile phones or consumer devices. It is the smallest in its class and offers 11 measurement channels, providing superior light sensitivity compared to other multi-channel spectral sensors for the consumer market, "said Kevin Jensen, senior marketing manager, Optical Sensor Business Line, AMS.

     The AS7341 chip provides accurate spectral measurements for better automatic white balance, more reliable light source identification, and integrated light source flicker detection, providing consumers with a number of benefits, including improved phone camera performance. The technology reproduces colors more accurately and minimizes ambient light source distortion, resulting in sharper and more realistic photos. Using the PANTONE color matching system, the AS7341 also allows consumers to use their phones to color objects such as fabrics according to their color preferences.

     Variable's Spectro 1 portable colorimeter demonstrates the AS7341's ability to improve color measurement performance. Variable has adopted the AS7341 in the Spectro 1 to provide professional-grade color measurement at an affordable consumer price. The product provides highly repeatable spectral curve data in 10nm increments in the visible spectral range of 400nm to 700nm. This capability was previously available only for professional-grade spectrophotometers, but it costs more than 10 times as much as the portable Spectro 1.

     "In our view, no spectral sensor IC can deliver the same multichannel capabilities in such a small package size as AMS 'AS7341," said George Yu, CEO of Variable. "Small size is a key advantage; Mobile app integration is one of the highlights of the Spectro 1, and we designed the product to be small enough to be easily controlled with one hand. The AS7341's ability to provide multi-channel spectral measurements means that Spectro 1 users will never experience mismatching of heterochromatic pairs."

     The AS7341 is a complete spectral sensing system in a 3.1mm x 2.0mm x 1.0mm LGA subminiature aperture package. It is an 11-channel device that is able to describe very precisely the spectral characteristics of a direct measurement of a light source or a reflecting surface. Eight of these channels cover eight equidistant parts of the visible light spectrum. The device also has a near-infrared light channel, a pure channel, and a channel dedicated to the detection of typical ambient light flicker (frequency 50Hz to 1kHz).