Suitable for various applications such as display color management and power LED control.

ams announced the launch of a new XYZ 'tristimulus' color sensor, the AS73211.

The new product offers higher sensitivity and a wider range of conversion times to suit a wider range of operating conditions than any other device of its type. The AS73211 extends ams' existing portfolio of true color sensors, including the TCS3430 and AS7261, and addresses the color sensor requirements of high-end displays, spotlights, and colorimeters.

The AS73211, a member of the ams JENCOLOR family of color sensors, features enhanced optical characteristics thanks to ams' filter-on-glass technology. It detects light and color very closely matching the human eye's perception of color, as defined by the industry-standard CIE 1931 tristimulus model, which is based on how humans perceive color.

The new sensor accurately detects color across light levels from 0.4 lux up to 208 klux and a wide dynamic range of 250,000,000:1. This allows it to operate effectively in a wide range of lighting conditions, from dim light like moonlight to bright sunlight.

The AS73211 is highly sensitive and well suited for precise detection of dark objects or materials, such as black pixels on display screens, dark skin tones, black paint or dirt, and even in low-light environments. This sensor integrates a 24-bit light-to-digital converter and offers a configurable conversion time between 125 microseconds (µs) and 16 seconds. This allows users to tune the sensor's operation to find the optimal balance between measurement speed and accuracy.


The AS73211 supports low-power mode and automatic power-down mode, making it suitable for use in compact or low-energy applications.

The AS73211 integrates a silicon interference filter. This provides highly stable performance over time and temperature in the applications described above and beyond, requiring no further calibration over the life of the end product.

The AS73211 features an unusually large sensing area, which contributes to its exceptional performance. While a large sensing area presents challenges for compact packaging, ams's advanced electrical and optical design allowed it to be integrated into a compact 16-pin QFN package that is highly resistant to UV radiation.

“With the introduction of the AS73211, ams is extending its portfolio of XYZ sensors to address the needs of high-end consumer and industrial devices,” said Markus Busz, marketing manager at ams. “Through its unique design featuring a large detector area and an integrated 24-bit light-to-digital converter, ams has created a sensor with the highest sensitivity and widest dynamic range of any XYZ device on the market.”