TCS3200 Color Sensor Symbol
Definition: The TCS3200 Color Sensor symbol represents an integrated colour-to-frequency converter IC — manufactured by ams-OSRAM (formerly Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions) — that illuminates a target with onboard white LEDs and converts the reflected light's red, green, blue (RGB), and clear channel intensities into a digital square-wave output whose frequency is proportional to the detected light intensity, enabling microcontroller-based colour detection without an ADC.
Also known as: TCS3200 color sensor, colour sensor, RGB sensor, colour-to-frequency converter, TCS34725 sensor, light colour detector, color detection module.
What the TCS3200 Color Sensor symbol means
The TCS3200 Color Sensor symbol represents a colour sensing module with five pins: VCC (power supply, left), GND (ground, left), S0 and S1 frequency-scaling inputs (left), OUT (frequency output, right), and OE (output enable, active-low, right). The S0 and S1 pins set the output frequency scaling (2%, 20%, or 100% of full-scale output frequency) to match the microcontroller's input speed. The OUT pin delivers a square wave whose frequency is proportional to the light intensity detected by the selected photodiode array.
The internal photodiode array consists of 64 photodiodes: 16 covered with red filters, 16 with green filters, 16 with blue filters, and 16 clear (unfiltered). Two additional control pins (S2, S3 — not shown in the simplified symbol but present on the IC) select which photodiode group is active, allowing the microcontroller to read R, G, B, and clear channels in sequence by pulsing S2 and S3.
How to identify the TCS3200 Color Sensor symbol
The TCS3200 Color Sensor symbol is a rectangle labelled 'TCS3200 Color Sensor' or 'Color Sensor' with the following pins: VCC and GND on the left side (power), S0 and S1 on the left side (frequency scaling), OUT on the right side (frequency output), and OE on the right side (output enable). Full pinout versions also show S2 and S3 (filter select) pins. The designator is U in schematics.
Function in a circuit
The TCS3200 illuminates the target using four onboard white LEDs and measures the reflected light using a 8×8 photodiode array. A current-to-frequency converter inside the IC converts the photocurrent from the selected photodiode group into a digital square wave. The microcontroller measures the output pulse frequency using timer capture or counting, and by cycling through R, G, B, and clear channels it can calculate the RGB colour coordinates of the target using the ratio of each channel's frequency to the clear channel frequency. Output frequency at full scale (S0=HIGH, S1=HIGH) is typically 500 kHz–600 kHz.
Standards: IEC vs ANSI
| IEC 60617 | IEC 60068-2 series covers environmental testing for electronic components including colour sensors. IEC 62368-1 covers safety for audio/video and IT equipment incorporating colour sensors. The schematic symbol follows IEC 60617 IC/module block representation conventions. |
|---|---|
| ANSI/IEEE 315 | IEEE 315 / ANSI Y32.2 defines the rectangular IC block symbol with labelled pins used to represent the TCS3200 in schematics. UL 62368-1 covers product safety for equipment using colour sensors. The TCS3200 is produced by ams-OSRAM under the datasheet specification TAOS TCS3200-DB. |
| Key difference | Both IEC and ANSI/IEEE represent the TCS3200 as a labelled rectangular IC block with named pins. There is no functional difference between the two drawing styles for this specific IC symbol; both follow the component datasheet pin arrangement. |
Terminals / pins
| Pin | Name |
|---|---|
| vcc | VCC |
| gnd | GND |
| s0 | S0 |
| out | OUT |
| oe | OE |
Typical values
Supply voltage VCC: 2.7 V to 5.5 V. Supply current: 2.5 mA typical (LEDs off) to 15 mA (LEDs on). Output frequency (100% scale): 50 kHz to 500 kHz depending on illumination. Frequency scaling: 2% (~1 kHz–12 kHz), 20% (~10 kHz–120 kHz), 100% (full scale). Photodiode responsivity peak: red filter ≈ 615 nm, green ≈ 540 nm, blue ≈ 465 nm. Operating temperature: −40 °C to +85 °C. Package: 8-pin SOIC (TCS3200) or module board (TCS3200-DB with onboard LEDs).
Where the TCS3200 Color Sensor symbol is used
- Colour sorting machines — detecting and sorting products by colour (candy, tablets, plastics) on a production line
- Robot colour detection — Arduino and Raspberry Pi robots detecting coloured targets or line-following markers
- Spectrophotometry and colour measurement — low-cost ambient light colour measurement in DIY instruments
- Print and ink quality control — verifying ink colour on printed substrates in desktop printers
- LED colour mixing control — closed-loop feedback for maintaining precise RGB LED colour output
- Agriculture and food processing — colour-based ripeness detection of fruits and vegetables
- Object recognition in educational robotics — Lego Mindstorms and similar educational robots using TCS3200 breakout boards
Example
In an Arduino-based colour sorter schematic, the TCS3200 colour sensor symbol has its VCC pin connected to the 5 V rail, GND to ground, S0 and S1 both wired HIGH (100% frequency scaling), OUT connected to a digital timer-capture pin on the Arduino, and OE connected to GND (always enabled); the sketch cycles S2/S3 through R/G/B combinations, measuring OUT frequency for each channel to calculate the object colour.
Key facts
- The TCS3200 is an RGB colour-to-frequency converter IC that outputs a square wave whose frequency is proportional to the intensity of the filtered light channel (R, G, B, or clear) selected by S2/S3 pins.
- The symbol shows five pins in the simplified version: VCC, GND, S0 (frequency scale bit 0), OUT (frequency output), and OE (output enable, active-low); full pinout also includes S1, S2, S3.
- Output frequency scaling is controlled by S0 and S1: S0=LOW, S1=LOW powers down the device; S0=LOW, S1=HIGH gives 2% scaling; S0=HIGH, S1=LOW gives 20%; S0=HIGH, S1=HIGH gives 100% full-scale frequency.
- The internal photodiode array has 64 elements in a 4×4×4 arrangement: 16 red-filtered, 16 green-filtered, 16 blue-filtered, and 16 unfiltered (clear).
- No ADC is required — the microcontroller reads the output frequency using a digital timer, making the TCS3200 compatible with all microcontrollers including those without built-in ADC peripherals.
- The four onboard white LEDs illuminate the target; they can be disabled by a control pin to measure ambient light independently of the onboard illumination.
- The TCS34725 is the updated I²C version of the TCS3200, providing direct digital RGB values via I²C interface, higher sensitivity, and 3.3 V compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
What does the TCS3200 color sensor symbol mean in a circuit diagram?
The TCS3200 color sensor symbol represents an integrated colour detection IC that converts reflected light intensity of red, green, blue, and clear channels into a frequency-encoded digital output. The VCC and GND pins provide power, S0 sets the output frequency scaling, OUT delivers the frequency-encoded colour signal, and OE enables or disables the output.
What does the TCS3200 color sensor symbol look like?
The TCS3200 symbol is a rectangle labelled 'TCS3200 Color Sensor' with pins VCC and GND for power on the left, S0 (and optionally S1, S2, S3) as control inputs on the left, and OUT (frequency output) and OE (output enable) on the right side. It follows the standard IC rectangular block symbol convention.
How does the TCS3200 detect colour?
The TCS3200 illuminates the target with onboard white LEDs and uses a 64-photodiode array — with groups filtered for red, green, blue, and clear light. Two control pins (S2, S3) select which photodiode group is active. The selected photodiodes' current is converted to a frequency-encoded square wave on the OUT pin; the microcontroller measures the frequency for each channel in turn to calculate the RGB colour.
What is the difference between TCS3200 and TCS34725?
The TCS3200 outputs a frequency-encoded signal that the microcontroller measures using a digital timer. The TCS34725 is the newer version that communicates via I²C bus, providing pre-converted 16-bit digital RGB and clear channel values directly. The TCS34725 operates at 3.3 V or 5 V, has higher sensitivity, and is easier to interface with modern 3.3 V microcontrollers without the timing-sensitive frequency measurement required by the TCS3200.
What do the S0 and S1 pins control on the TCS3200?
S0 and S1 control the output frequency scaling of the TCS3200: S0=LOW + S1=LOW powers the IC down (output disabled). S0=LOW + S1=HIGH scales to 2% of full frequency (for slow microcontrollers). S0=HIGH + S1=LOW scales to 20%. S0=HIGH + S1=HIGH uses 100% full-scale output frequency (fastest response, best for precise measurement with a capable timer).
Does the TCS3200 need an ADC?
No. The TCS3200 converts light intensity directly to a digital frequency output, which the microcontroller reads using a digital input and timer/counter peripheral. This avoids the need for an ADC and allows the sensor to be used with any microcontroller that has a digital I/O pin and a way to measure pulse frequency or period.
What is the OE pin on the TCS3200?
OE is the Output Enable pin, which is active-low. When OE is LOW (connected to GND), the frequency output on the OUT pin is enabled. When OE is HIGH, the OUT pin is in a high-impedance state, disabling the output. OE allows multiple TCS3200 sensors to share a single OUT line by enabling only one sensor at a time, or it can simply be tied permanently LOW if only one sensor is used.
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