Color & Light Recognition Sensor Module TCS3472

The TCS3472 is a color/light recognition IC that can be paired with an Arduino to recognize colors and also provide a measurement of light intensity. This has various applications e.g. sorting of different colored product, light color measurement, health or fitness products etc.

The TCS3472 device provides a digital return of red, green, blue (RGB), and clear light sensing values. An IR blocking filter, integrated on-chip and localized to the color sensing photodiodes, minimizes the IR spectral component of the incoming light and allows color measurements to be made accurately. The high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and IR blocking filter make the TCS3472 an ideal color sensor solution for use under varying lighting conditions and through attenuating materials.

The TCS3472 color sensor has a wide range of applications including RGB LED backlight control, solid-state lighting, health/fitness products, industrial process controls and medical diagnostic equipment. In addition, the IR blocking filter enables the TCS3472 to perform ambient light sensing (ALS). Ambient light sensing is widely used in display-based products such as cell phones, notebooks, and TVs to sense the lighting environment and enable automatic display brightness for optimal viewing and power savings. The TCS3472, itself, can enter a lower-power wait state between light sensing measurements to further reduce the average power consumption.

Features

• Red, Green, Blue (RGB), and Clear Light Sensing with IR Blocking Filter
• Programmable Analog Gain and Integration Time
• 3,800,000:1 Dynamic Range
• Very High Sensitivity — Ideally Suited for Operation Behind Dark Glass Maskable Interrupt
• Programmable Upper and Lower Thresholds with Persistence Filter Power Management
• Low Power — 2.5-A Sleep State
• 65-A Wait State with Programmable Wait State Time from 2.4 ms to > 7 Seconds
• I2C Fast Mode Compatible Interface
• Data Rates up to 400 kbit/s
• Input Voltage Levels Compatible with VDD or 1.8 V Bus
• Register Set and Pin Compatible with the TCS3x71 Series
• Small 2 mm  2.4 mm Dual Flat No-Lead (FN) Package

The TCS3472 uses an I2C interface to connect to an external microprocessor or controller. (Multiple articles exist that describe this interface) The default address of the TCS3472 is 0x29 and requires connection of two signals: SDA, SCL. In the Arduino UNO, these default to pins A4 (SDA) and A5 (SCL).

TCS3472 COLOR LIGHT-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER

Colour recognition:

When any coloured object is placed on the sensor then it gives high digital value to that colour, through the RGB ratio original colour can be predicted.

Red measurements:

Blue measurements:

Green measurements:

In the white colour all the RGB decimal values goes high (order of 5000) and black colour give all the values very low in order of 100. Practical values may differ in your case because of the variation in sensor and light.

Datasheet: https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/TCS34725.pdf