New True Color Sensor from ams and OSRAM enables near-perfect color in camera images and displays

New True Color Sensor from ams and OSRAM enables near-perfect color in camera images and displays

• The new TCS3530 is an ultra-sensitive color sensor that can match the human eye’s response to visible light;

• The sensor can measure color and illumination with high accuracy, helping the camera achieve excellent automatic white balance and advanced display color management;

• Fully integrated optical components and built-in diffuser, coupled with end-of-line calibration capabilities, simplify manufacturers' production process and optical design.

Shanghai, China, July 17, 2023 - ams OSRAM, a leading global supplier of optical solutions, today announced the launch of the TCS3530 color sensor with cutting-edge technology, enabling smartphone cameras to present near-perfect colors in any lighting conditions, achieving more natural image quality.

The TCS3530 also features a new, fully integrated optical component that simplifies design for smartphone, camera and display manufacturers.

TCS3530 product image (Image: ams-osram)

“Camera performance has become a key differentiator in the smartphone market,” said Darrell Benke, Director of Product Management for Integrated Optical Sensors at OSRAM ams. “The TCS3530 enables the camera to reproduce the colors that the human eye sees, regardless of the lighting conditions. This sensor is like having a professional photographer’s colorimeter built into your smartphone.”

The TCS3530 color sensor produces XYZ tristimulus response values, meaning its three-channel output closely approximates the response of the three sets of color-sensing photoreceptors in the average human eye. This is amsram’s most sensitive XYZ color sensor ever, enabling accurate measurement of chromaticity and illuminance in all lighting conditions, from bright sunlight to near darkness.

The sensor’s XYZ light measurements are converted to chromaticity in the chip, precisely positioned in the CiE color space coordinates. This enables ultra-precise automatic white balance of the camera, which enables natural color reproduction of objects in all lighting conditions, including:

• Images captured under distorted light sources, such as fluorescent or LED;

• Images dominated by large areas of non-white light.

In screens, monitors and TVs, the TCS3530 enables superior color management in all ambient light conditions - algorithms use the sensor's output to adjust the display's white point to match that of the ambient light, reproducing more accurate, pleasing colors and perceived high image quality.

TCS3530 product image (Image: ams-osram)

Integrated light diffuser improves performance, saves space, and reduces design complexity

The high-performance TCS3530 color sensor is the result of a series of innovations in optical technology and chip packaging by ams Osram. It includes a new 8-channel configuration consisting of XYZ channels, infrared channels and 4 reference channels. The TCS3530 also has a new high-speed light source flicker detection capability of up to 7kHz, which can eliminate interference from AC power-driven lights and LED flicker during video capture.

The new TCS3530 optical assembly includes a built-in diffuser. Therefore, end product manufacturers no longer need to consider external diffusers when designing and manufacturing optical assemblies, which greatly simplifies optical design work and manufacturing. Because the diffuser of the TCS3530 assembly is precisely positioned, the distance between the sensor and the aperture is designed to be very accurate. Combined with 100% end-of-line calibration, the integrated architecture of the TCS3530 makes the optical performance of each sensor extremely consistent. At the same time, it helps manufacturers avoid the need to carry out large and complex sensor system calibration work in the factory.

The integrated assembly is much slimmer than a discrete arrangement with an external diffuser, allowing smartphone manufacturers to easily incorporate color sensors into their extremely compact product designs.

The TCS3530 True Color Sensor is available in an OLGA package measuring 2.5mm x 1.8mm x 1.5mm. Samples are available now. For more technical information, or to request a sample, please visit the TCS3530 website.

TCS3530 application image (Image: ams-osram)