AMI Semiconductor has introduced an ambient light sensor for automotive and other applications. Emulating the human eye, the AMIS-74980x provides an output proportional to ambient light, allowing a display controller to adjust brightness and contrast, thus reducing eyestrain from glare and reflection and controlling power dissipation.

The AMIS-74980x is based on proprietary CMOS image-sensing technology and said to be suited for in-car entertainment video systems, GPS displays, headlamps, rearview mirrors, and dashboards. It works with light sources ranging from natural sunlight to fluorescent, conventional incandescent and halogen lamps. Its low dark current enables a display controller to adjust the brightness of the display even in low light-level environments.