Ambient light sensor technology moves to color

As I've written in past posts, ambient light sensors play a key role in controlling display lighting – and thus power consumption – in portable electronics. Here's the latest iteration in the technology: Rather than just a plain monochromatic light sensor, STMicro has introduced a color sensor. So, in addition to providing the sensor and smarts to control display backlighting, the VM6101 can be used to provide color balancing adjustment for projection systems and RGB backlighting. The device consumes 1mA in active mode, 1µA in standby; it sells for about $.77 in volume.

Don't think that the color balancing adjustment is only useful in digital projectors: At least two companies are working on a micro projector that enables a cell phone to project its display against a wall for sharing those can't-miss phone videos. Color sensors are enabling technology.