Seeed Grove - I2C User manual

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Grove - I2C Color Sensor
User Manual
Version：1.0
Release date：2015/9/22
Wiki:http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Twig_-_I2C_C
olor_Sensor_v0.9b
Bazaar:http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Grove-I2C-Color-Sensor-p
-854.html

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Document Revision History
Revision
Date
Author
Description
1.0
Sep 22, 2015
jiankai.li
Create file

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Contents
1. Introduction······················································································· 2
2. Specification ······················································································ 3
3. Demonstration···················································································· 4
4. With Arduino/Seeeduino········································································ 5
4.1 Suggest Reading for Starter ······································································· 5
4.2 Hardware Installation ·············································································· 5
4.3 Color Sensor Library ··············································································· 5
4.4 Color Sensor Examples/Applications···························································· 6
5. Resources·························································································· 8
6. Other Reference ·················································································· 9

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Disclaimer
For physical injuries and possessions loss caused by those reasons which are not related to
product quality, such as operating without following manual guide, natural disasters or force
majeure, we take no responsibility for that.
Under the supervision of Seeed Technology Inc., this manual has been compiled and published
which covered the latest product description and specification. The content of this manual is
subject to change without notice.
Copyright
The design of this product (including software) and its accessories is under tutelage of laws.
Any action to violate relevant right of our product will be penalized through law. Please
consciously observe relevant local laws in the use of this product.

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1. Introduction
This module is based on the color sensor TCS3414CS with digital output I2C. Based on the 8*2
array of filtered photodiodes and 16-bit analog-to-digital converters, you can measure the color
chromaticity of ambient light or the color of objects. Of the 16 photodiodes, 4 have red filters, 4
have green filters, 4 have blue filters and 4 have no filter(clear). With the synchronization input
pin, an external pulsed light source can provide precise synchronous conversion control.

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2. Specification
PCB Size ：2.0cm*4.0cm
Interface ：2.0mm pitch pin header
IO Structure ：SCL,SDA,VCC,GND
ROHS ：YES
VCC :3.3 ~6.0 V
Operating Free-air Temperature :-40 ~ 85 °C

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3. Demonstration
This module can be used to detect the color of light source or the color of objects.When used to
detect the color of the light source, the led switch should be turned off, and the light source
should shine the sensor directly. When used to detect the color of things, the led should be on
and you should put the object on the top of the enclosure closely. The theory of sensing the
color of objects is Reflective Sensing Theory. Like the picture below.

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4. With Arduino/Seeeduino
4.1 Suggest Reading for Starter
Download Arduino and install Arduino driver
Getting Started with Seeeduino/Arduino
4.2 Hardware Installation
Grove products have a eco system and all have a same connector which can plug onto the
Base Shield. Connect this module to the I2C port of Base Shield, however, you can also
connect Grove - I2C Color Sensor toArduino without Base Shield by jumper wires.
Arduino UNO
Grove - I2C Color Sensor
5V
VCC
GND
GND
SDA
SDA
SCL
SCL
4.3 Color Sensor Library
We have created a library to help you start playing quickly with the Seeeduino/Arduino, in this
section we'll show you how to set up the library.
Setup
Download the library code as a zip file from the Grove_I2C_Color_Sensor github page.
Unzip the downloaded file into your …/arduino/libraries.
Rename the unzipped folder "Color_Sensor"
Start theArduino IDE (or restart if it is open).
Description of functions
These are the most important/useful function in the library, we invite you to look at the .h
and .cpp files yourself to see all the functions available.
1. Read RGB data through the library function
readRGB(int *red, int *green, int *blue)
*red: The variable address to save R.
*green: The variable address to save G.
*blue: The variable address to save B.

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void loop()
{
int red, green, blue;
GroveColorSensor colorSensor;
colorSensor.ledStatus = 1; // When turn on the color sensor LED, ledStatus = 1; When
turn off the color sensor LED, ledStatus = 0.
while(1)
{
colorSensor.readRGB(&red, &green, &blue); //Read RGB values to variables.
delay(300);
Serial.print("The RGB value are: RGB( ");
Serial.print(red,DEC);
Serial.print(", ");
Serial.print(green,DEC);
Serial.print(", ");
Serial.print(blue,DEC);
Serial.println(" )");
colorSensor.clearInterrupt();
}
}
4.4 Color Sensor Examples/Applications
These example are going to show you how to use features of Grove - I2C Color Sensor. And via
Chainable RGB LED Grove to display the detected color.
Notice: If you haven't download Grove-Chainable RGB LED library to your Arduino IDE before,
please download and set up the library first.
Open File->Examples->Color_Sensor->example->ColorSensorWithRGB-LED sketch for a
complete example, or copy and paste code below to a newArduino sketch.
Description: This example can measure the color chromaticity of ambient light or the color of
objects, and via Chainable RGB LED Grove displaying the detected color.
You also can use other display module to display the detected color by Grove - I2C Color
Sensor.
#include <Wire.h>
#include <GroveColorSensor.h>
#include <ChainableLED.h>
#define CLK_PIN 7
#define DATA_PIN 8
#define NUM_LEDS 1 //The number of Chainable RGB LED

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ChainableLED leds(CLK_PIN, DATA_PIN, NUM_LEDS);
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
Wire.begin();
}
void loop()
{
int red, green, blue;
GroveColorSensor colorSensor;
colorSensor.ledStatus = 1; // When turn on the color sensor LED, ledStatus = 1; When
turn off the color sensor LED, ledStatus = 0.
while(1)
{
colorSensor.readRGB(&red, &green, &blue); //Read RGB values to variables.
delay(300);
Serial.print("The RGB value are: RGB( ");
Serial.print(red,DEC);
Serial.print(", ");
Serial.print(green,DEC);
Serial.print(", ");
Serial.print(blue,DEC);
Serial.println(" )");
colorSensor.clearInterrupt();
for(int i = 0; i<NUM_LEDS; i++)
{
leds.setColorRGB(i, red, green, blue);
}
}
}
Upload the code to the development board.
Then Grove_-_Chainable_RGB_LED would display the color which is detected.

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5. Resources
Library Grove - I2C Color Sensor
Grove-I2C Color Sensor Eagle File
TCS3414-A Datasheet

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6. Other Reference
This module is based on the color sensor TCS3414CS. The TCS3414CS digital color sensor
returns data from four channels: red(R), green(G), blue(B) and clear(C)(non-filtered). The
response from the red, green and blue channels (RGB) can be used to determine a particular
source’s chromaticity coordinates (x, y). These standards are set by the Commission
Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE). The CIE is the main international organization concerned
with color and color measurement.In order to acquire the color of a given object using
TCS3414CS, we must first map the sensor response (RGB) to the CIE tristimulus values (XYZ).
It is then necessary to calculate the chromaticity coordinates (x, y).
Chromaticity Calculation Process Overview
The equations to do the transformation:
Transformation Equations
When we get coordinates (x, y), please reference the below figure so as to get the
recommended color.

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