SparkFun
SparkFun Spectral Sensor Breakout - AS7263 NIR (Qwiic)
The SparkFun AS7263 breakout brings near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to your microcontroller projects. The sensor measures six discrete NIR wavelengths, allo...
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The SparkFun AS7263 breakout brings near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to your microcontroller projects. The sensor measures six discrete NIR wavelengths, allowing you to characterise how different materials absorb and reflect light — useful for material identification, agricultural sensing, and colour analysis beyond the visible spectrum.
The board communicates over I²C or serial (AT commands) and includes a Qwiic connector for quick hookup. An onboard illumination LED helps produce consistent readings, and two additional pads allow you to solder your own LED for specialised applications.
Key Features
- 6-Channel NIR Sensor – Detects 610, 680, 730, 760, 810, and 860 nm (20 nm FWHM each)
- Dual Interface – I²C and serial (AT command) communication
- Qwiic Connector – Polarised, solderless I²C connection
- Onboard Illumination LED – Built-in light source for consistent measurements
- Custom LED Pads – Two solder pads for adding your own illumination source
Specifications
- Sensor: ams AS7263
- Channels: 6 NIR (610–860 nm)
- FWHM: 20 nm per channel
- Interface: I²C / Serial (AT commands)
- Supply Voltage: 3.3 V
Ideal For
- Material identification and sorting
- Agricultural and plant health monitoring
- Colour and quality analysis
- Science and education experiments
Package Contents
- 1× SparkFun AS7263 NIR Spectral Sensor Breakout
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- Torque
- A twisting force that causes something to rotate, usually measured in newton-metres or kilogram-centimetres. It matters when choosing motors, servos, gears, and tools because higher torque is needed to lift heavier loads, turn larger wheels, or move mechanisms without stalling.
Find this product in
Sensors & Input
AS726x Spectral Sensor Breakout Schematic
Schematic · 63.2 KB · Click any page to view full size
AS7263 Datasheet
Datasheet · 778.5 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 708.1 KB · Click any page to view full size
AS7262 Datasheet
Datasheet · 671.5 KB · Click any page to view full size
AS7263 Datasheet
Datasheet · 950.5 KB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
