RGB sensor IC provides serial output

For color light-to-digital conversion, the TCS230 CMOS device from Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions provides 10- to 12-bit resolution per color channel (Picture). The sensor targets medical diagnostic products, color-calibration units, and process-control applications.

Though not a full-image-capture device, the IC features a grid of 64 photodiodes divided by red, green, blue, and clear filters to assess primary color and overall intensity. Two programming pins let you identify which set of photodiodes report via the output pin. Dynamic range for light sensing is 250,000 -to1, and typical output range is 2 Hz to 500 kHz. You can pin-program scale factors of 2, 20, or 100%. The eight-pin SOIC sells for $2.67 (1000).

Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions, 1-972-673-0759, www.taosinc.com.