An Overview of the TCS3200 Sensor
TCS3200 is a programmable color-to-frequency converter, which gives square wave output with frequency directly proportional to the light sensitivity. The sensor comprises a current-to-frequency converter and a configurable photodiode.
Hardware Overview
This TCS3200 color sensor module comprises a TCS3200 RGB sensor chip and 4 white LEDs. The vital part of the module is the TCS3200 chip which is actually a Color Light-to-Frequency Converter. They used white LEDs for providing proper lighting for the sensor to identify the object’s color correctly. This chip can detect diverse colors and it gives the output as corresponding frequency. We can use this module for making color-sorting robots, color-matching tests, etc.
Working of Module
The sensor has four different filter-covered diodes. In the 8 x 8 array of photodiodes, 16 photodiodes have blue filters, 16 have red filters, 16 have green filters and the rest of the 16 photodiodes are clear with no filters. We can activate each type using the S2, and S3 selection inputs. Since it coated each photodiode with different filters, therefore, each of them can detect the corresponding colors. For instance, when choosing the blue filter, only blue incident light can get through, it will prevent red and green. By estimating the frequency, we get the blue light intensity.
Features and Specifications of TCS3200 Sensor
Features
- High-Resolution Conversion of Light Intensity to Frequency
- Programmable Color and Full-Scale Output Frequency
- Power Down Feature
- Communicates Directly to Microcontroller
- interface: Digital TTL
- High-resolution conversion of light intensity to frequency
- Programmable color and full-scale output frequency
- No need for ADC(Can be directly connected.
Specifications
- Single-Supply Operation (2.7V to 5.5V)
- Size: 28.4×28.4mm
- Input voltage: (2.7V to 5.5V)
- Interface: Digital TTL
- Working temperature: -40oC to 85oC
- Size: 28.4×28.4mm(1.12×1.12″)
Pinouts
| PIN NAME | PIN NUMBER | DESCRIPTION |
| GND | 4 | Power supply ground. All voltages are a reference to the ground. |
| VCC | 5 | Supply voltage |
| OE | 3 | Enable for FO (Active low) |
| OUT | 6 | Output frequency (fo) |
| S0, S1 | 1, 2 | Select lines for output frequency scaling |
| S2, S3 | 7,8 | Select lines for photodiode type. |
Applications of TCS3200
Color Sorting Robots
The robot can sort the object according to their colors into a respective color station in minimum time. A color sorting robot is designed, analyzed, and created with a microcontroller, TCS3200 Color Sensor, and some other components.
Color Matching Test
In the color-matching test device, the sample absorbs some of the light, and the rest passes completely through and strikes a sensor behind the sample. The sensor detects the light being transmitted through the sample and transforms this data into a digital display.
