TCS34725FN

The TCS34725FN is a digital RGBC color sensor from ams-OSRAM in a 6-lead FN (2.0 x 2.4 x 0.65 mm) package, featuring an integrated IR-blocking filter for accurate color measurement. It provides 16-bit per channel digital output for red, green, blue, and clear channels using four simultaneous integrating ADCs. With programmable analog gain (1x, 4x, 16x, 60x), programmable integration time from 2.4 ms to 614 ms, and a 3,800,000:1 dynamic range, it operates under diverse lighting conditions. The I2C interface runs at up to 400 kHz, and a programmable interrupt with threshold and persistence filter enables event-driven color monitoring. Supply current is 235 uA active and 2.5 uA in sleep mode at 3.0 V.

The TCS34725FN integrates a 3 x 4 photodiode array on a single CMOS die, where each photodiode is coated with a specific color filter (red, green, blue, or clear/no filter) and an IR-blocking filter layer that minimizes the infrared spectral component of incoming light. Four independent 16-bit integrating ADCs simultaneously convert the photocurrent from each photodiode channel into digital values. The integration time is programmable in 2.4 ms steps from 2.4 ms to 614 ms, effectively controlling the ADC resolution and sensitivity. Longer integration times provide higher effective resolution for low-light conditions. The programmable analog gain (AGAIN) amplifies the photodiode signals before conversion, with 60x gain enabling detection of extremely low light levels. The I2C interface allows the host MCU to read the 16-bit R, G, B, and Clear channel data registers. A double-buffered data register prevents invalid reads during conversion. The interrupt output can be configured to assert when the Clear channel crosses programmable upper or lower thresholds for a programmable number of consecutive integration cycles (persistence filter), reducing host polling overhead.

TCS34725FN uses the FN-6 (Dual Flat No-Lead, 2.0×2.4×0.65mm) package from ams-OSRAM with Pin 1 = VDD, Pin 2 = SCL, Pin 3 = GND, Pin 4 = NC, Pin 5 = INT (interrupt, open-drain), Pin 6 = SDA. Pin 1 is identified by a dot or chamfer on the package corner. The exposed thermal pad on the package bottom is electrically connected to GND and must be soldered to the PCB ground plane. The I2C address is fixed at 0x29 (7-bit) and cannot be changed — only one TCS34725 can exist on a bus without an I2C multiplexer. SCL and SDA require external pull-up resistors (4.7kΩ typical). The INT pin is open-drain and also requires a pull-up resistor. The NC pin should be left floating.

• Display Backlight Control: Measuring ambient color temperature for automatic display white-point and brightness adjustment
• RGB LED Calibration: Closed-loop color feedback for consistent LED lighting output in horticulture and stage lighting
• Product Color Verification: Industrial sorting and quality control of colored products on assembly lines
• Medical Diagnostics: Colorimetric analysis in point-of-care test strips and fluid analysis instruments
• Wearable Devices: Ultra-compact color sensing in smartwatches and fitness bands for ambient light adaptation

TCS34725FN is an RGBC color sensor from ams-OSRAM in DFN-6 (2.0×2.4mm) with IR-blocking filter and I2C interface. The TCS34727 is an automotive-grade variant. TCS3471 provides similar functionality without the RGBC separation. For cost-sensitive designs, TCS3200 offers frequency-output color detection in DIP-8. APDS-9960 from Broadcom provides RGB+gesture detection in a similar small package. VEML6040 from Vishay offers RGBW color sensing with I2C.