ams adds tristimulus sensor with added blue spectrum channels for HCL applications

Based on the established AS72xx smart sensor platform for SSL applications, the newest ams sensor product includes channels dedicated to sensing blue spectral energy that is commonly associated with circadian rhythm issues.

ams has announced the AS7264N tristimulus sensor for intelligent and tunable LED-based lighting products, and further adds input channels for measuring blue spectral energy at two wavelengths. The company believes that the new sensor will serve both in smart sensors that communicate human-centric lighting (HCL) data to building or lighting management systems, and in solid-state lighting (SSL) luminaires that deliver precise recipes of lighting for health and wellbeing.

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ams launched its family of tristimulus sensors last year with the introduction of the AS7221. The initial targets for the products were tunable white or color luminaires where the sensor could enable precise matching of the output to the human visual system. Moreover, the sensor would ensure consistent performance over time even as different LEDs suffered lumen depreciation or chromaticity shift at different rates. To fully understand the importance of the tristimulus sensor concept, you may want to review the detailed four-part series we published on color science and the human visual system a few years ago.

The new product includes that tristimulus capability and adds the ability to capture data on light spectra that may have an impact on the human non-visual receptors that are critical to circadian health and indeed may profoundly influence our health and wellbeing in a negative or positive manner depending on spectral power distribution (SPD), exposure time, and time of exposure. See our coverage of our Lighting for Health and Wellbeing Conference for more on the human-centric lighting topic.

Specifically, the AS7264N sensor adds channels to accurately measure spectral energy at 440 and 490 nm. Those wavelengths are in the range that has been shown to boost energy and alertness, which can be a good thing in the morning but have negative effects at night.

ams has delivered a new tristimulus sensor that can track data relevant to human-centric lighting characteristics for building and lighting management systems.

“With true color sensing and precise spectral measurements at wavelengths with active photobiological influence, the AS7264N serves a wide range of applications including ambient light characterization and light exposure data collection for commercial, residential, and industrial lighting applications,” said Tom Griffiths, senior marketing manager for lighting and spectral sensors at ams.

The blue channels would not be utilized in exactly the same way that the tristimulus sensor is used. SSL luminaire designers would know the SPD of the LEDs used during fixture development and would not need to monitor that with a local sensor.

But Griffiths added that a dedicated smart sensor could send data to a management system characterizing light in the space, including the impact of natural sunlight. In turn, the management system could tune luminaires in the space based on circadian principles that are evolving in the HCL field.

The sensors could be used in luminaires as human-centric lighting science advances and allows light recipes to be dialed up in a prescriptive manner, according to Griffiths. He further suggests that displays (PCs, TVs, etc.) may integrate the sensors to enable the product to record accumulated exposure as a feature.

To understand how ams envisions that such sensor products should get integrated in a smart lighting environment with Internet of Things (IoT) support, see a feature article on the topic that the company contributed a few years back.

In addition, for insight into the latest thinking about circadian lighting, see our recent webcast that was entitled “Transforming built spaces with healthy lighting.” One of the presentations came from Mariana Figueiro, director of the Lighting Research Center.