With high accuracy, compact size, and advanced software support, it offers reliable measurement and power-saving features for industrial applications.
STMicroelectronics has unveiled the VL53L4ED single-zone Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor, featuring an operating temperature range of -40°C to 105°C. The sensor is designed for use in demanding environments and enhances proximity detection and range in high ambient light conditions. It is applicable in industrial tools, smart-factory equipment, robot guidance systems, outdoor lighting controls, and security systems.
The main features include:
- High accuracy proximity ranging
- Fully integrated miniature module
- I²C interface (up to 1 MHz)
- Package dimensions: 4.4mm x 2.4mm x 1mm-high LGA
It expands the company’s VL53L4 family of direct-ToF sensors, incorporating a laser emitter and a single-photon avalanche-diode (SPAD) detector array within a single module. This design ensures reliable measurement in extreme temperature conditions. The next-generation laser improves performance in high ambient light environments and short-distance ranging accuracy. The sensors feature an embedded processor for power-saving autonomous operation and reduced demand on host-system resources.
It offers high-accuracy distance measurement to objects up to 1150mm away, across the entire field of view and temperature range. Special settings allow accurate measurement up to 800mm under strong ambient light. The VL53L4ED maintains distance-measurement linearity down to 1mm and supports a ranging frequency up to 100Hz.
Developers can use the X-CUBE-TOF1 expansion software package for the ecosystem to accelerate projects with the VL53L4 sensor family. The ready-to-use software includes the STSW-IMG034 driver, enabling an interrupt command to turn the sensor into an ultra-low-power proximity detector for user detection, system activation, and touchless control. The STSW-IMG039 software pack provides code examples for liquid-level monitoring. Hardware support includes the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board for the NUCLEO-F401RE microcontroller board, facilitating code execution and application development, and the SATEL-VL53L4ED breakout board for prototyping.
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