New product: VL53L4CD Time-of-Flight Distance Sensor Carrier

We are pleased to announce the release of our new low-cost time-of-flight distance sensor featuring ST’s VL53L4CD. The VL53L4CD has a detection range of 1 mm to 120 cm (4 ft) with a resolution of 1 mm and an update rate of up to 100 Hz. This distance sensor is notable for being able to accurately measure the distances to objects even as they are almost touching the sensor face.

One interesting feature of the VL53L4CD is its Ultra-Low Power mode, which allows it to act as a basic proximity detector with greatly reduced average current consumption (less than 100 μA in some cases). In this mode, the sensor does not output distance and other data as usual; it simply raises an interrupt when a target is detected. This functionality is enabled with ST’s VL53L4CD ULP API (application programming interface), and the ULP and standard drivers can be used together to let the VL53L4CD switch from low-power proximity detection to accurate ranging once it sees a target. (ULP drivers are now available from ST for the VL53L1X and VL53L3CX as well.)

Introductory special discount! With the release of the VL53L4CD carrier, we are also bringing back introductory special discounts, which was how we celebrated the release of new products prior to the pandemic and ensuing parts shortages. The first hundred customers to use coupon code VL53L4CDINTRO can get up to five units for just $8.88 each!

The VL53L4CD is the new lowest-cost member of the ST FlightSense ToF sensor family, which includes higher-performance alternatives with longer ranges and capable of multi-target detection:

	VL6180X carrier	VL53L4CD carrier	VL53L0X carrier	VL53L1X carrier	VL53L3CX carrier	VL53L5CX carrier	VL53L7CX carrier	VL53L8CX carrier
Maximum range:(1)	60 cm	120 cm	200 cm	400 cm	500 cm	400 cm	350 cm	400 cm
Minimum range:	~10 mm	1 mm	~30 mm	40 mm	10 mm	20 mm
Field of view:	25°	18°	25°	15° to 27° diagonal, program­mable	25°	65° diagonal, up to 8×8 zones	90° diagonal, up to 8×8 zones	65° diagonal, up to 8×8 zones
Other features:	ambient light sensing, low memory footprint(2)	low memory footprint(2), ultra-low power mode	low memory footprint(2)	low memory footprint(2), ultra-low power mode	multi-target detection, ultra-low power mode	multi-target detection	multi-target detection	multi-target detection, improved performance in ambient light
Maximum update rate:(1)	~150 Hz	100 Hz	50 Hz	100 Hz	125 Hz	60 Hz
Operating voltage range:	2.6 V to 5.5 V					2.5 V to 5.5 V		3.2 V to 5.5 V
Regulator voltage:	2.8 V					3.3 V		1.8 V and 3.3 V
Typical active-ranging supply current:	25 mA	25 mA	20 mA	20 mA	20 mA	100 mA
Peak supply current:	40 mA					150 mA
Interface:	I²C							I²C, SPI
Dimensions:	0.5″ × 0.7″							0.5″ × 0.9″
1-piece price:	$13.49	$12.95	$14.95	$18.95	$16.95	$19.95	$19.95	$24.95
1 Effective range and update rate depend on configuration, target, and environment. 2 Suitable for use with typical 8-bit MCUs.

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VL53L4CD Time-of-Flight Distance Sensor Carrier with Voltage Regulator, 120cm Max