The VM6101 is a high dynamic range 4-channel CMOS photosensor suitable for ambient light sensing as well as color light sensing. Light intensity is converted linearly to a variable frequency signal. The signal period is readable through the two-wire serial interface. A direct PWM output is provided for power saving LCD backlighting applications, where backlighting intensity adapts to the ambient light level. Alternatively, this output can be used as an ambient light level detector output, with two user programmable thresholds.