Digital color sensors feature on-chip IR filtering and proximity sensing

TAOS released what it claims is the industry's first color sensors with an on-chip infrared (IR) blocking filter and proximity sensor.

Dubbed the TCS3x71 and TCS3x72 series, these digital color RGB and proximity sensors provide color measurement, and when coupled with IR LED, proximity detection within a wide range of lighting conditions and through a variety of attenuating materials.

According to TAOS, the devices in its TCS3x72 series are the first color sensors with an IR blocking filter integrated directly on-chip and localized only to the color sensor photodiodes. High accuracy color sensing requires eliminating errors due to the IR spectral component in light sources.  The on-chip IR blocking filter minimizes these effects and eliminates requirements for external IR filtering.

In addition, the on-chip IR blocking filter enables the devices to perform ambient light sensing (ALS). ALS devices are commonly used in display-based devices such as smartphones, tablets, HDTVs, notebooks/desktop PCs and monitors to enable automatic backlight brightness control based on lighting conditions for optimum viewing and energy conservation.

For color sensing in closed environments with no IR light sources, the TCS3x71 Series applications include closed-loop color temperature feedback control in solid-state lighting (SSL) and LED RGB backlit displays.

Pricing: In the TCS3x71 series, the TCS3471 color sensor costs $1.32 and the TCS3771 color and proximity sensor costs $1.51 in 1K quantities.

Availability: The TCS3x72 series sensors are sampling; TCS3x71 series are available in production quantities.

For more information: visit www.taosinc.com