The ams TCS3200 is a programmable color light-to-frequency converter/sensor. The sensor is a single monolithic CMOS integrated circuit that combines a configurable silicon photodiode and a current-to-frequency converter. The output is a square wave (50% duty cycle) with frequency directly proportional to light intensity (irradiance).

Digital inputs and digital output allow direct interface to a microcontroller. The full-scale output frequency can be scaled by one of three preset values. The sensor has a temperature operational range of -40°C to +85°C and comes in a small 8-SOIC package. The TCS3200 is ideal for RGB LED control, industrial, and medical diagnostic equipment.

DFRobot has combined this RGB sensor chip and four white LEDs into an easy-to-use, breadboard friendly breakout that can be powered by 2.7 V to 5.5 V.  Additionally, Arduino example code has been provided along with a wiki based tutorial to help users get projects up and running quickly and easily, providing the fastest route to reading the TCS3200 array of photodetectors.