APDS-9960 Gesture, Proximity & RGB Light Sensor Module — GY-9960-3.3, I²C, Arduino

APDS-9960 Gesture, Proximity & RGB Light Sensor Module — GY-9960-3.3, I²C

The GY-9960-3.3 module uses the Broadcom APDS-9960 sensor to provide four sensing capabilities in a single I²C device: gesture detection (swipe up/down/left/right), proximity sensing (0–10cm), ambient light intensity, and RGB color sensing. It's the sensor used in many smartphones for screen-off detection and gesture control. The module includes a 3.3V regulator and I²C level shifter, making it directly compatible with both 3.3V and 5V Arduino boards.

Module Specifications

• Sensor IC: Broadcom APDS-9960
• Interface: I²C (address: 0x39)
• Supply Voltage: 3.3V (on-board regulator — can accept 5V input)
• Sensing Functions:
  • Gesture: Detect swipe direction (up, down, left, right)
  • Proximity: Detect object presence 0–10cm range
  • Ambient Light: Measure light intensity (lux)
  • RGB Color: Measure red, green, blue color components
• Interrupt: INT pin for hardware interrupt on gesture/proximity events
• Library: SparkFun APDS-9960 Arduino library

Arduino Wiring

• VCC → 3.3V or 5V | GND → GND
• SDA → Arduino A4 (with 4.7kΩ pull-up) | SCL → Arduino A5 (with 4.7kΩ pull-up)
• INT → Arduino D2 (interrupt pin, optional)
• Install SparkFun APDS-9960 library from Arduino Library Manager

Typical Applications

• Touchless gesture control: Swipe to control music, lights, or menu navigation without touching
• Proximity wake: Wake display or activate device when hand approaches
• Color detection: Identify object color for sorting and quality control
• Ambient light sensing: Auto-adjust display brightness based on room lighting
• Smart home control: Gesture-controlled lighting and appliance switching

Package Contents

• 1 × GY-9960-3.3 APDS-9960 gesture, proximity, and RGB light sensor module

Four sensors in one I²C module — gesture, proximity, ambient light, and RGB color detection with Arduino library support for touchless control and smart sensing applications.