SparkFun
SparkFun Tristimulus Color Sensor - OPT4048DTSR (Qwiic)
The SparkFun Tristimulus Color Sensor is built around the Texas Instruments OPT4048DTSR — a high-speed, high-precision four-channel colour sensor. Three chan...
The SparkFun Tristimulus Color Sensor is built around the Texas Instruments OPT4048DTSR — a high-speed, high-precision four-channel colour sensor. Three channels closely match the CIE 1931 tristimulus XYZ spectra with excellent IR rejection, while a fourth wide-band channel provides broad spectral response.
From these measurements, you can extract light intensity (lux), colour coordinates (CIE XY, LUV), and correlated colour temperature (CCT). Two Qwiic connectors and broken-out 0.1″ headers provide flexible I2C connectivity. An Arduino library is available via the Library Manager (search "SparkFun OPT4048").
Key Features
- OPT4048DTSR Sensor – Four-channel tristimulus colour sensor matching CIE 1931 spectra
- 26-Bit Dynamic Range – 2.15 mlux to 144 klux with semi-logarithmic output
- High Precision – 12 configurable conversion times from 600 μs to 800 ms per channel
- Qwiic / I2C Interface – Two horizontal Qwiic connectors, plus 0.1″ headers
- Selectable I2C Address – 0x44 (default), 0x45, or 0x46
- Ultra-Low Power – 24 μA operating, 2 μA standby
- Hardware Interrupt – External pin for synchronised triggers
- Automatic Range Selection – Seven binary logarithmic full-scale ranges with excellent gain matching
Specifications
- Sensor – OPT4048DTSR (Texas Instruments)
- Channels – 4 (XYZ tristimulus + wide-band)
- Dynamic Range – 2.15 mlux to 144 klux
- Supply Voltage – 1.71–3.6 V
- Operating Current – 24 μA (2 μA standby)
- I2C Address – 0x44 (default), 0x45, 0x46
- Board Size – 1″ × 1″ (standard SparkFun footprint)
- Operating Temperature – -40°C to +85°C
Ideal For
- Display brightness and colour temperature adjustment
- Camera colour temperature correction
- True colour recognition and sorting
- Ambient light measurement and lux sensing
- Medical and scientific colour analysis
Package Contents
- 1× SparkFun Tristimulus Color Sensor – OPT4048DTSR (Qwiic)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- dynamic range
- Dynamic range describes how wide a span of values a sensor can measure, from very low to very high. For a light sensor, a wide dynamic range means it can work in dim indoor settings as well as bright sunlight without changing hardware.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- I2C address
- An I2C address is the number a device uses so a microcontroller can tell it apart from other devices on the same I2C bus. It matters because two devices with the same fixed address may conflict if used together.
- lux
- Lux is the standard unit for measuring how much light falls on a surface, similar to how a light meter reports brightness. A sensor that outputs lux gives readings that are easier to compare between rooms, outdoor conditions, and different projects.
- 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.
Find this product in
Sensors & Input
Tristimulus Color Sensor OPT4048 Schematic
Schematic · 91.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
OPT4048 Datasheet
Datasheet · 1.6 MB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 766.4 KB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
