In this article we look at another acceleration sensor – this time its the VCNL4010 and we will connect it to our Beaglebone and we will have a python example
First lets take a look at the sensor in question
The VCNL4010 is a fully integrated proximity and ambient light sensor. Fully integrated means that the infrared emitter is included in the package. It has 16 bit resolution. It includes a signal processing IC and features standard I2C communication interface. It features an interrupt function.
PROXIMITY FUNCTION
• Built-in infrared emitter and photo-pin-diode for proximity
function
• 16 bit effective resolution for proximity detection range
ensures excellent cross talk immunity
• Programmable LED drive current from 10 mA to 200 mA in
10 mA steps
• Excellent ambient light suppression by modulating the
infrared signal
• Proximity distance up to 200 mm
AMBIENT LIGHT FUNCTION
• Built-in ambient light photo-pin-diode with close-tohuman-eye sensitivity
• 16 bit dynamic range from 0.25 lx to 16 klx
• 100 Hz and 120 Hz flicker noise rejection
FEATURES
• Integrated modules: infrared emitter (IRED), ambient light sensor (ALS-PD), proximity sensor (PD), and signal conditioning IC
• Interrupt function
• Supply voltage range VDD: 2.5 V to 3.6 V
• Supply voltage range IR anode: 2.5 V to 5 V
• Communication via I2C interface
• I2C Bus H-level range: 1.7 V to 5 V
• Low stand by current consumption: 1.5 μA
Parts Required
Schematic/Connection
Code Example
[codesyntax lang=”python”]
# Distributed with a free-will license. # Use it any way you want, profit or free, provided it fits in the licenses of its associated works. # VCNL4010 # This code is designed to work with the VCNL4010_I2CS I2C Mini Module available from ControlEverything.com. # https://www.controleverything.com/content/Light?sku=VCNL4010_I2CS#tabs-0-product_tabset-2 import smbus import time # Get I2C bus bus = smbus.SMBus(1) # VCNL4010 address, 0x13(19) # Select command register, 0x80(128) # 0xFF(255) Enable ALS and proximity measurement, LP oscillator bus.write_byte_data(0x13, 0x80, 0xFF) # VCNL4010 address, 0x13(19) # Select proximity rate register, 0x82(130) # 0x00(00) 1.95 proximity measeurements/sec bus.write_byte_data(0x13, 0x82, 0x00) # VCNL4010 address, 0x13(19) # Select ambient light register, 0x84(132) # 0x9D(157) Continuos conversion mode, ALS rate 2 samples/sec bus.write_byte_data(0x13, 0x84, 0x9D) time.sleep(0.8) # VCNL4010 address, 0x13(19) # Read data back from 0x85(133), 4 bytes # luminance MSB, luminance LSB, Proximity MSB, Proximity LSB data = bus.read_i2c_block_data(0x13, 0x85, 4) # Convert the data luminance = data[0] * 256 + data[1] proximity = data[2] * 256 + data[3] # Output data to screen print "Ambient Light Luminance : %d lux" %luminance print "Proximity of the Device : %d" %proximity
[/codesyntax]
Output
Run this example and you should see the following , cover the sensor and alter the light on it
Links
https://www.vishay.com/docs/83462/vcnl4010.pdf