TCS34725 RGB Color Sensor with IR filter and White LED
The TCS34725 is a compact light-to-digital converter that returns red, green, blue and clear channel measurements as 16-bit digital values. The device integrates a 3×4 photodiode array with an on-chip IR-blocking filter so that measured color content reflects visible light more accurately (IR is minimized at the photodiode). All optical conversion and basic timing are handled on-chip; results are made available to a host processor via an I²C register interface.
Internally the sensor uses four simultaneous integrating ADCs (one per channel) plus programmable analog gain and programmable integration time, so a single readout delivers synchronized RGBC counts. The converter is double-buffered to prevent invalid reads during conversions, and an interrupt pin can optionally assert when the clear channel crosses user-programmed thresholds enabling event-driven color monitoring rather than continuous polling.
Mechanically the TCS34725 is supplied in a small FN (dual flat no-lead) package with industry standard I²C pinout (VDD, SCL, GND, INT, SDA) and is specified to operate from nominal 3 V supply rails. Its combination of IR filtering, high dynamic range and programmable timing/gain makes it a convenient drop-in sensor for embedded systems needing accurate color or ambient-light readings while minimizing host CPU overhead.
Features:
- Red, Green, Blue and Clear light sensing with on-chip IR-blocking filter.
- 16-bit integrating ADCs for each channel (simultaneous conversion).
- Programmable analog gain (1×, 4×, 16×, 60×) and programmable integration time.
- Very high dynamic range (documented up to ~3,800,000:1).
- I²C fast-mode compatible interface (up to 400 kHz) with standard 7-bit address (TCS34725: 0x29).
- Maskable interrupt with programmable upper/lower thresholds and persistence filter.
- Low-power modes: active, wait (typical 65 µA) and sleep (~2.5–10 µA).
Specifications:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Device / Part ID: | TCS34725 (I²C address 0x29). |
| Interface: | I²C (standard/fast mode), up to 400 kHz. |
| Supply voltage (VDD): | 2.7 – 3.6 V (nominal 3.0 V). |
| Operating temperature: | −30 °C to +70 °C. |
| ADC resolution: | 16-bit per channel (R,G,B,Clear). |
| Photodiode array: | 3 × 4 RGBC photodiode array with IR-blocking filter. |
| Integration time (ATIME): | Programmable steps of 2.4 ms; typical range 2.4 ms → 614 ms (various ATIME values). |
| Gain (AGAIN): | 1×, 4×, 16×, 60×. |
| Max RGBC count: | Up to 65,535 (per 16-bit ADC / selected ATIME). |
| Dynamic range: | Specified very high, up to ~3,800,000:1 (documented). |
| Power consumption (typ): | Active: 235–330 µA; Wait: 65 µA; Sleep: 2.5–10 µA (datasheet values). |
| Interrupt: | Open-drain active-low INT output; maskable with programmable thresholds/persistence. |
| Package: | FN (Dual Flat No-Lead), small 2.0 × 2.4 mm style package (FN-6). |
| Solder / reflow: | Reflow profile and MSL information provided (see datasheet). |
Applications:
- RGB LED Backlight Control.
- Light Color Temperature Measurement.
- Ambient Light Sensing for Display Backlight Control.
- Fluid and Gas Analysis.
- Product Color Verification and Sorting.
Package Contents:
- 1x TCS34725 RGB Color Sensor with IR filter and White LED
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