Color Sensors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
AS72651-BLGT ams	AS72651-BLGT LGA20 LF T&RDP	39
R58BPCRGB1Q Banner Engineering	R58B EXPERT REGISTER MARK SENSOR	2
TCS34725FN ams	IC COLOR CONV LIGHT-DGTL 6-DFN	2034
VEML6040A3OG Vishay / Semiconductor - Opto Division	RGBW COLOR SENSOR I2C INTERFACE	1021
902-0094-000 ROBOTIS	COLOR SENSOR CS-10	10
QC50A3N6XDWQ Banner Engineering	QC50 SERIES: TRUE COLOR SENSOR<B	8
O5C500 ifm Efector	COLOUR SENSOR; RED LIGHT,GREEN L	0
TCS3200D-TR ams	IC COLOR SENSOR LIGHT-FREQ 8SOIC	12075
TMD37024VCM ams	IC COLOR SENSOR MODULE OLGA8	1998
TCS34727FN ams	IC COLOR CONV LIGHT-DGTL 6-DFN	1995
TCS37727FN ams	CLR LIGHT/DIGITAL CNVRTR	1895
ISL29125IROZ-T7 Intersil (Renesas Electronics America)	IC SENSOR LIGHT-DGTL I2C 6-ODFN	0
AS72653-BLGT ams	AS72653-BLGT LGA20 LF T&RDP	0
TCS37725FN ams	IC COLOR CONV LIGHT-DGTL 6-DFN	2626
AS7341-DLGM ams	SENSOR AMBIENT LIGHT	1534
APS5130PD7C-P22 Kingbright	3.2X1.6MM RGB COLOR SENSOR	2435
BH1749NUC-E2 ROHM Semiconductor	DIGITAL 16BIT SERIAL OUTPUT TYPE	4430
TCS34715FN ams	IC COLOR CONV LIGHT-DGTL 6-DFN	7286
BH1745NUC-E2 ROHM Semiconductor	IC COLOR SENSOR DGTL 8WSON	8829
TCS34717FN ams	IC COLOR CONV LIGHT-DGTL 6-DFN	369

Color Sensors

1. Overview

Color sensors are optoelectronic devices that detect and measure color information by analyzing the intensity of light across specific wavelength ranges. They convert optical signals into electrical signals through photodiodes or CMOS image sensors, enabling precise color recognition and measurement. These sensors play a critical role in industries requiring color consistency, automation, and quality control, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer electronics.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
RGB Sensors	Measure red, green, and blue light intensities for color reproduction	Smartphone displays, lighting control systems
CMOS Image Sensors	High-resolution color imaging with integrated signal processing	Digital cameras, autonomous vehicles
Photodiode Arrays	Linear detection of color gradients with high sensitivity	Industrial color sorting, spectrophotometers
Spectral Sensors	Measure full spectral distribution for precise color analysis	Medical diagnostics, material analysis
X-Rite Type Sensors	Calibrated for standardized color matching (CIE Lab*)	Printing industry, quality inspection

3. Structure and Components

A typical color sensor consists of:

Optical Filter Array: Deposited interference filters for wavelength selection
Photodetector Matrix: CMOS or CCD-based semiconductor for light-to-charge conversion
Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): Translates analog signals to digital values
Signal Processor: Implements color space conversion (e.g., RGB to HSV)
Communication Interface: I2C, SPI, or UART for system integration

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Spectral Range	380-780 nm (visible spectrum coverage)	Determines detectable color gamut
Resolution	8-16 bits per channel	Affects color differentiation precision
Response Time	1-100 ms	Critical for real-time applications
Color Accuracy	0.5% to 2% tolerance	Essential for quality control
Operating Temperature	-40 C to +85 C	Defines environmental robustness
Interface Type	I2C/SPI/UART	Dictates system compatibility

5. Application Fields

Industries: Automotive (paint inspection), Consumer Electronics (display calibration), Healthcare (blood oxygen monitoring), Printing (ink quality control), Food Processing (product sorting).

Typical Equipment: Automated optical inspection (AOI) systems, smartphone ambient light sensors, medical imaging devices, and industrial robotic vision systems.

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
ams AG	TCS34725	High sensitivity RGB sensor with IR blocking filter
Avago Technologies	ADJD-S311	CMOS color sensor with 12-bit ADC
Texas Instruments	OPT3001	Light-to-digital sensor with 18-bit resolution
X-Rite	CNS-10	Portable spectrophotometer for color matching
Omron	E3Z-CR6C	High-speed color mark sensor for packaging lines

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations include:

Spectral sensitivity vs. target application requirements
Environmental factors (temperature, humidity, vibration)
Integration constraints (form factor, power consumption)
Calibration requirements and software support
Cost vs. performance trade-offs (e.g., 10-bit vs 14-bit resolution)

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments include:

Miniaturization through wafer-level packaging (sub-1mm sensors)
AI integration for adaptive color recognition algorithms
Wireless-enabled sensors for IoT applications
Extended spectral range (UV/IR combined sensing)
Multi-spectral imaging for augmented reality systems