Datasheet

© Parallax, Inc. TCS3200-DB (January 21, 2010) Page 5 of 7
Optical Data
With the supplied 5.6mm lens and a subject distance of 1" (25mm) from the front surface of the circuit
board, the sensor module will "see" a square area roughly 9/64" (3.5mm) on a side. This means that any
color variation within an area that size will be averaged by the TCS3200.
The spectral response of any color sensor system is a function not only of the sensor's device response,
but also of the system's optics and illumination. The combined response of this module to emissive
sources, taking into account the lens' IR filter, is approximated by the curves below:
TCS3200 Relative Emissive Spectral Response with IR Filter
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100
Wavelength (nm )
Relative Response
Clear Photodiodes
Red Photodiodes
Green Photodiodes
Blue Photodiodes
When the above is combined with the spectrum of the white LEDs for reflective subjects, the response
curve looks more like this:
TCS3200 Relative Reflective Spectral Response with IR Filter
and White LED Illumination
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100
Wavelength (nm )
Relative Response
Clear Photodiodes
Red Photodiodes
Green Photodiodes
Blue Photodiodes