Maxim is introducing the MAX44007/MAX44009, digital ambient-light sensor (ALS) ICs with a unique adaptive-gain block. Designed using the Company's proprietary BiCMOS technology, these ICs integrate two optical sensors, an ADC, and digital functionality into a tiny 2mm x 2mm x 0.6mm package. This integration saves valuable board space while delivering the industry's highest performance.

The MAX44007/MAX44009 consume 100x less power than the nearest competitive product, significantly extending battery life. They offer a unique interrupt function that constantly measures the amount of light and reports to the microcontroller when the measurement passes the threshold. This functionality extends power savings by reducing the frequency of I²C communications.

The MAX44007/MAX44009 are designed to meet the tightest of power budgets. The ICs boast an operating current (0.65µA) that is lower than the power-down current of many competitive products, and they operate from an industry-low 1.7V to 3.6V supply voltage. Consuming as little as 1.1µW of operating power, Maxim's solutions use 100x less power than the nearest competitor (124µW).

As an added benefit, the devices' low supply voltage allows them to use the same 1.8V supply for both the supply voltage and the I²C interface. This reduces power consumption and design complexity by only requiring a single voltage rail for the part. An address pin allows the use of two sensors on the same I²C bus.

Designed for the tight space requirements of portable systems, the MAX44007/MAX44009 are offered in a lead-free, 2mm x 2mm x 0.6mm, 6-pin UTDFN-Opto-EP package.