The company said that the VD5376 optical joystick controller enhances features of portable electronic products, such as smartphones, laptop PCs, netbooks, media players, GPS devices and remote controls for home-entertainment equipment.
The new controller chip has been designed into new smartphones by many mobile phone manufacturers and is being evaluated by PC companies for use in portable computing devices and by TV and set-top-box makers for remote controllers.
An optical joystick, or OFN module, enables mobile users to enjoy accuracy and flexibility of a desktop-PC mouse while allowing consumer manufacturers to save space with the integration of this small user interface, according to the company.
ST added that its VD5376 contains a highly sensitive imaging array for detecting finger movement, and driver circuitry for the light source. This chip is compatible with laser, infrared or optical LEDs, thereby maximizing flexibility for module builders.
In addition, advanced power-management capabilities contribute to the device’s low overall power consumption, ultimately resulting in longer battery life for end products.
The VD5376 is available in sample quantities and mass production, as bare die priced at $0.4 above 100,000 units.
Arnaud Laflaquiere, sensors business unit director of imaging division at STMicroelectronics, said: “This new combo sensor-controller chip leverages both ST’s know-how in optical mouse ICs and the company’s leading expertise in CMOS imaging for mobile products.
”With this device, we are aiming to significantly penetrate the wide and fast growing range of mobile applications that are adopting optical finger navigation to simplify the human interface.”
