Colour detector circuit using a TCS3200 sensor

If you're looking for an interesting circuit project then try this Raspberry Pi-Based Color Detector. It uses a TCS3200 Color Sensor to detect the colour of objects, and then lights up an LED in a matching hue.

The project was built by Circuit Digest, and you can view a detailed build over on their website.

Building a colour detector

If you're planning to create a Raspberry Pi Based Color Detector, requires the following components:

• Raspberry Pi with pre-installed OS
• TCS3200 color sensor
• CD4040 counter chip
• RGB LED
• 1KΩ resistor (3 pieces)
• 1000uF capacitor

Taking a closer look, the circuit uses the TCS3200 to detect the colour of objects placed nearby. The software on the Raspberry Pi detects the colour and then lights up an RGB LED to match.

Detecting colour with a circuit

Over on their website, Circuit Digest explains:

TCS3200 is a Color Sensor which can detect any number of colors with right programming. TCS3200 contains RGB (Red Green Blue) arrays. As shown in figure on microscopic level, one can see the square boxes inside the eye on sensor. These square boxes are arrays of RGB matrix. Each of these boxes contains three sensors for sensing Red, Green and Blue light intensity.

So we have Red, Blue and Green arrays on same layer. So while detecting color we cannot detect all three elements simultaneously. Each of these sensors arrays are to be selected separately one after the other to detect the color. The module can be programmed to sense the particular color and to leave the others. It contains pins for that selection purpose, which has been explained later. There is forth mode that is no filter mode; with no filter mode the sensor detects white light.

As a result, it’s an interesting project, and Circuit Digest go into great detail about the build. So if you’re looking for a circuit project with a twist, we suggest you head over to their website and take a good look at the build.