Light Sensor

Hi all,
I’m working on a project with my RealSense camera where I want to also measure ambient light levels for better exposure and calibration. I’m using the OPT101PG4 which is a photodiode with built-in amplifier, and runs from 2.7 V to 36 V. 

Here’s what I’ve done so far:
I power the sensor with 5 V rail, place it near the camera’s field of view (but shield it slightly so it doesn’t get false light from the camera IR emitter). The output voltage rises smoothly with more light falling on it.

What I’m testing now:
How well it tracks changes in light level when the camera moves between bright and dark areas, and whether there’s any interference from the RealSense IR projector or the USB data lines. I also want to check if I need a small filter cap to smooth the output for stable readings.

If anyone here has used the OPT101 series (or similar photodiode + amplifier sensors) with a RealSense or other depth camera system, I’d love to hear your tips about placement, shielding, or how you integrated the sensor data into your camera’s firmware or post-processing.

Thanks in advance!