TCS34725 Color Sensor SKU: CQRSENYS001

TCS34725 Color Sensor

Description

This module is the core color sensor of the TCS34725FN color light digitizer of ams AG. The sensor provides digital output of red, green, blue (RGB) and clear light sensing values. The integrated infrared blocking filter can minimize the infrared spectral components of the incident light, and can accurately perform color measurement. It has high sensitivity, wide dynamic range and infrared blocking filter. Minimize the effects of IR and UV spectral components to produce accurate color measurements. And with ambient light intensity detection and shieldable interrupt. Communication via I2C interface.

Specifications

Sensor Specifications

Product Category: Light to Digital Converters/TCS34725FN
Peak Wavelength: 525 nm
Maximum Operating Frequency: 400 kHz
Operating Supply Voltage: 3.3V to 5V
Operating Current: 235 uA
Maximum Operating Temperature: +70 Degree Celsius
Minimum Operating Temperature: -30 Degree Celsius
Interface Type: I2C
Maximum Fall Time: 300 ns
Maximum Rise Time: 300 ns
Resolution: 4-ch RGBC, 16-bit per ch
Recommended Measuring Distance: 20mm
Dimension: 30.5mm * 23mm
Mounting hole size: 3.0mm

Ocean interface Cable Specifications

Cable Specifications: 22AWG
Material: Silicone
Length: 21cm
Withstand Voltage: Less Than 50V
Withstand Current: Less Than 1000MA
Line Sequence: Red-Positive Power Supply; Black-Negative Power Supply; Green-I2C Data Input; Blue-I2C Clock Input; Yellow-Interrupt Output; Orange-Light Emitting Diode.

Hardware Description

Chip

Media: TCS3472_DataSheet.pdf

TCS34725 is used for color sensing. TCS34725 is an I2C bus-based color light-to-digital converter with an IR filter, providing a digital return of red, green, blue (RGB), and clear light sensing values. The high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and IR blocking filter make the TCS34725 an ideal color sensor solution for use under varying lighting conditions and through attenuating materials.

Communication Protocol

I2C bus has two lines, one is a data line (SDA) and another is a lock line (SDL). There are three kinds of signals when communicating, Start signal, Stop signal, and Answer signal.

Start Signal: When SCL is High, SDA change from High to Low, it start to transmit data
Stop Signal: When SCL is High, SDA change from Low to High, it stops transmitting.
Answer Signal: Every time IC sends back a certain Low plus to the sender after it receives 8 bits of data.

I2C Write

When working, Raspberry Pi (hereafter named as Master) will first send a Start signal, then send a byte to TCS34725(hereafter named as Slaver), whose first 7bits are the address of Slaver and 1 bit write bit. Slave response with Answer signal every time it receives any data. Master sends command register address to Slaver, then data of command register. Stop signals are sent to slaves to stop communicating.

I2C Read

When working, Master will first send a Start signal, then send a byte to Slaver, whose first 7bits are the address of Slaver and 1 bit write bit. Slave response with Answer signal every time it receives any data. Master sends command register address to Slave. After that, Mater will send a Start signal again, and then send a byte (7bits address and 1bit read bit) to Slaver. Slaver response and send data of the register to Master, master answer as well. Stop signals will be sent to stop communicating.

I2C Address

The I2C device address of TCS34725 is 0x29

Note: 0x29 is 7bit in fact, therefore, when you set the I2C address, you should left-shift one bit, turn it to 0x52

Connection Diagram

Raspberry Pi Application

Enable I2C Interface

Open a terminal and run the following commands：

sudo raspi-config 
Choose Interfacing Options -> I2C ->yes

Reboot Raspberry Pi：

sudo reboot

Install libraries

BCM2835 libraries

wget http://www.airspayce.com/mikem/bcm2835/bcm2835-1.68.tar.gz
tar zxvf bcm2835-1.68.tar.gz 
cd bcm2835-1.68/
sudo ./configure && sudo make && sudo make check && sudo make install

Install wiringPi

sudo apt-get install wiringpi
wget https://project-downloads.drogon.net/wiringpi-latest.deb
sudo dpkg -i wiringpi-latest.deb
gpio -v

Python3

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3-pip
sudo apt-get install python3-pil
sudo apt-get install python3-numpy
sudo pip3 install RPi.GPIO
sudo pip3 install spidev

Download examples

Open a terminal of the Raspberry Pi

sudo apt-get install p7zip-full -y
sudo wget https://www.waveshare.com/w/upload/a/a1/TCS34725_Color_Sensor_code.7z
7z x TCS34725_Color_Sensor_code.7z -O./TCS34725_Color_Sensor_code
cd TCS34725_Color_Sensor_code/RaspberryPi/

Hardware Connection

Download and Run the Test Examples

Media: TCS34725 Color Sensor-Raspberry Pi.rar

Run Examples

C examples

cd ~/TCS34725_Color_Sensor_code/RaspberryPi/
cd wiringPi
sudo make clean
sudo make 
sudo ./main

Python example

cd ~/TCS34725_Color_Sensor_code/RaspberryPi/
cd python
sudo python main.py

Expected result

The RGB data are printed in terminal:

R, G, B values are printed in RGB888 format (DEC), C is light value without processing, RGB565 and RGB888 are HEX data printed in a certain format. LUX is light value processed. CT is color temperature. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature) If you want to measure CT, please turn off the LED. INT is interrupted, 1: light value is over the threshold.

You can turn the RGB value to color with tools:

Media: TCS34725 Color Sensor Tool-Raspberry Pi.rar