High-resolution conversion of light intensity to frequency
Programmable colour and full-scale output frequency
No need of ADC(Can be directly connected to the digital pins of the microcontroller)
Power down feature
Size: 28.4×28.4mm(1.12×1.12″)
This Arduino compatible TCS3200 color sensor module consist of a TAOS TCS3200 RGB sensor chip and 4 white LEDs. The main part of the module is the TCS3200 chip which is a Color Light-to-Frequency Converter. The white LEDs are used for providing proper lighting for the sensor to detect the object colour correctly. This chip can sense a wide variety of colours and it gives the output in the form of corresponding frequency.
This module can be used for making colour sorting robots, test strip reading, colour matching tests, etc.
The sensor has four different types of filter covered diodes. In the 8 x 8 array of photodiodes, 16 photodiodes have Red filters, 16 have Blue filters, 16 have Green filters and the rest 16 photodiodes are clear with no filters. Each type can be activated using the S2, S3 selection inputs. Since each photodiodes are coated with different filters each of them can detect the corresponding colours. For example, when choosing the red filter, only red incident light can get through, blue and green will be prevented. By measuring the frequency, we get the red light intensity. Similarly, when choose other filters, we can get blue or green light.
We can also set the frequency scaling option by using the S0, S1 select lines. Normally, in Arduino 20% frequency scaling is used.
The TCS3200 chip consist of an 8 x 8 array of photodiodes. Each photodiode have either a red, green, or blue filter, or no filter. The filters of each color are distributed evenly throughout the array to eliminate location bias among the colors. Internal circuits includes an oscillator which produces a square-wave output whose frequency is proportional to the intensity of the chosen color.
Programming Logic
First set the input pins as input and output pins as output. No need to use analog pins.
Set S0 and S1 to high or low to set desired frequency scaling.
In loop, activate each filters by setting S2 and S3 to HIGH or LOW and measure frequency ‘fo’ from 6th pin to get corresponding colour intensity. Compare frequencies of each colour to determine the colour of the object.
