RGB Sensor Includes Digital Interface

Said to be the industry’s first RGB sensor with a digital-compatible interface, the TCS230 is built on a unique light-to-frequency converter platform that allows resolutions of 10 to 12 bits or better per color channel without the need for A/D converters. Sensing is performed with a 64-photodiode grid that is arranged in four arrays, each containing 16 photodiodes. Each array is dedicated to a single color: red, green, blue, and clear. The photodiodes are inter-digitated to minimize the effect of non-uniformity of incident irradiance. The photodiodes in each array are connected in parallel, and color is dynamically selectable via two programming pins. The device responds to light over a 250,000:1 dynamic range with a typical output frequency range of 2 Hz to 500 kHz. An additional two programming pins are supplied for selecting output scaling factors of 100%, 20% or 2%, or a power-down mode. Available in an eight-pin, surface-mount SOIC package, the RGB sensor is priced at $2.67 each/1,000. TAOS INC., Plano, TX. (972) 673-0759.