If you want a sensor that's a 3-in-1, the Adafruit APDS9999 Proximity, Lux Light, and Color Sensor has RGB color, lux light level as well as infrared proximity all built into one device. When connected to your microcontroller (running our library code), it can detect the amount of red, blue, green, and clear light, as well as how close an object is to the front of the sensor. This device uses an I2C interface, so it's easy to wire up and use.

Note that this chip is considered by Broadcom to be the 'successor' to the APDS-9960 which has technically been discontinued, but it does not have gesture sensing! It does have true Lux sensing though, not just light counts.

The proximity sensing bounces IR light, it isn't a time-of-flight sensor, so it doesn't give you exact distances, just how much light has reflected. It's best for short distances, 2 inches / 50mm or less, but can detect objects up to 150mm away. The APDS9999 also has a configurable interrupt pin that can trigger when a specified proximity threshold is crossed or when a color sensor threshold is exceeded.

For your convenience, we've pick-and-placed the sensor on a PCB with a 3.3V regulator and some level shifting so it can be easily used with your favorite 3.3V or 5V microcontroller. We've included SparkFun qwiic compatible STEMMA QT connectors for the I2C bus, so you don't even need to solder! Just wire up to your favorite microcontroller or computer with a plug-and-play QT cable to light/color/proximity data ASAP. QT Cable is not included, but we have a variety in the shop.

We've also prepared a guide and software library to get you up and running in Arduino IDE with just a few lines of code!

Technical Details :

APDS-9999 Specifications

RGB and ambient light sensing (RGB and ALS)
– Accuracy of correlated color temperature (CCT)
– Individual channels for red, green, blue, and infrared
– Approximates human eye response with green channel
– Uses optical coating technology to emulate human eye spectral response
– Works well under different light source conditions
– Low-light sensitivity; operates behind darkened glass
– 50 Hz/60 Hz light flicker immunity
– Fluorescent light flicker immunity
– Programmable interrupt function with upper, lower thresholds and persists function
– Programmable ALS integration time
– Programmable ALS gain setting
Proximity detection (PS)
– 940-nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)
– Programmable VCSEL drive current
– Cancellation of crosstalk
– Ambient light suppression
– Programmable interrupt function with upper and lower thresholds and persists function
– Programmable persists function
IEC 60825-1 Class 1 Laser Eye Safety
Power management
– Low active current
– Low standby current
I2C interface compatible
– Up to 400 kHz (I2C fast-mode)
– Dedicated interrupt pin