Proximity 18 Click is a compact add-on board that provides a close-range proximity sensing solution. This board features the VCNL3036X01, a high-resolution digital proximity sensor from Vishay Semiconductors. Besides the proximity sensing element, the VCNL3036X01 also integrates a mux and a driver for three external LEDs, which are located near the chip on the board, photodiodes, amplifiers, and analog to digital conversion circuits into a single CMOS chip. Proximity 18 Click provides absolute distance measurement, whatever the target color and reflectance, and is accurate up to 50cm. This Click board™ is suitable for proximity/optical switch applications for consumer, computing, automotive, and industrial purposes.

Proximity 18 Click is based on the VCNL3036X01, a close-range digital proximity sensor from Vishay Semiconductors. The VCNL3036X01 integrates a proximity sensor, a mux, and a driver for three external LEDs (green LED VLMTG1300 and dual-pack IR and Red LED VSMD66694) located near the chip on the board, alongside photodiodes, amplifiers, and analog to digital conversion circuits into a single CMOS chip. Proximity 18 Click provides absolute distance measurement that is accurate up to 50cm.

The VCNL3036X01 supports various basic proximity function settings such as duty ratio, integration time, interrupt, proximity enable, disable, and persistence, all handled by the register configurations. Besides Normal operation mode, it also simplifies the use of proximity detection logic output mode that outputs HIGH / LOW levels, saving loading from the host selected via register settings.

Proximity 18 Click communicates with an MCU using the standard I2C 2-wire interface to read data and configure settings, supporting Fast Mode up to 400kHz. The command register controls all operations. The simple command structure helps users to easily program the operation setting and latch the light data from VCNL3036X01. It is simple for the host MCU to access proximity output data via the I2C interface without extra software algorithms.

A further benefit is that the VCNL3036X01 also provides a programmable interrupt feature of individual high and low thresholds, resulting in the best utilization of MCU resources and power, routed to the INT pin on the mikroBUS™ socket. If the interrupt function is enabled, the host reads the proximity output data from VCNL3036X01, which saves the host loading from periodically-read proximity data. More than that, an interrupt flag indicates the interrupt behavior triggered under different conditions. Once the host reads the result, the interrupt is cleared, and the ranging sequence can repeat.

This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels. It should be highlighted that the VCNL3036X01 works exclusively at 3.3V, so it is necessary to perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. 5V is used only for powering the LEDs. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

• Interface: I²C
• Compatibility: mikroBUS™
• Dimensions: 28.6 x 25.4mm
• Input Voltage: 3.3V, 5V
• Supply Voltage: Min. 3.3V, Max. 5V
• Operating Range: 500mm
• Spectral Bandwidth Range: Min. 500nm, Max. 910nm
• Red LED Wavelength: 660nm
• IR LED Wavelength: 940nm
• Green LED Wavelength: 525nm
• Resolution: 16 bit
• Operating Temperature Range: Min. -20°C, Typ. +25°C, Max. +85°C

• Schematic
• VCNL3036X01 Datasheet
• VLMTG1300 Datasheet
• VSMD66694 Datasheet
• mikroSDK
• LibStock