Time-of-Flight sensor detects at up to 400cm

9th May 2018

Rutronik

Mick Elliott

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Datasheet

The VL53L1CXV0FY/1 from STMicroelectronics is a state-of-the-art, Time-of-Flight (ToF), laser-ranging sensor, enhancing the FlightSense product family, now available from Rutronik. It is claimed to be the fastest miniature ToF sensor on the market with long-distance accurate ranging up to 400cm and fast ranging frequency up to 50Hz.

The sensor is particularly well suited for applications where user detection is required, e.g. smart home, smart lighting and sanitary.

Target applications include autonomous devices like service robots, drones, smart shelves and vending machines as well as gesture recognition and laser assisted autofocus systems.

Within its dimensions of 4.9×2.5×1.56mm, the VL53L1CXV0FY/1 sensor integrates a SPAD receiving array, a 940nm invisible Class1 laser emitter, physical infrared filters, and optics to achieve the best ranging performance in various ambient lighting conditions with a range of cover window options. Unlike conventional IR sensors, the VL53L1CXV0FY/1 uses ST’s latest generation ToF technology that allows absolute distance measurement whatever the target colour and reflectance.

It is possible to program the size of the region-of-interest (ROI) on the receiving array, allowing the sensor Field-of-View of 27° to be customised.

Setting a specific ROI position can provide multizone operation control from the host. Additionally, the VL53L1CXV0FY/1 is pin-to-pin compatible with the VL53L0X FlightSense ranging sensor.

The VL53L1CXV0FY/1 can be hidden behind various cover window materials and colours allowing designers an easy and creative integration into devices.

The sensor provides a standard 2-wire I²C interface with up to 400 kHz and works with a single power supply (2v8).

To enable a fast design-in process, ST offers a software driver and code examples for turnkey ranging.