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Carriers for ST Time-of-Flight (ToF) Distance Sensors
These range finder modules are pin-compatible carriers/breakout boards for ST’s VLxxx time-of-flight (ToF) ranging sensors, which are effectively tiny, self-contained lidar systems featuring an integrated 940 nm Class 1 (i.e. invisible and eye-safe) laser. They use ST’s FlightSense technology to precisely measure how long it takes for emitted pulses of infrared laser light to reach the objects and be reflected back to a detector. This approach ensures absolute distance measurements independent of ambient lighting conditions and target characteristics (e.g. color, shape, texture, and reflectivity), though these external conditions do affect the maximum range of the sensor. These sensors are all capable of 1 mm resolution, with some limitations on some versions.
These carriers are all pin-compatible and work in 3.3 – 5 V systems (thanks to their integrated linear regulators and level-shifters), and they are all controllable through an I²C interface. However, they have different APIs and memory requirements, so software will generally need to be rewritten when switching between sensors in an application, and versions with higher memory requirements are generally not suitable for use with typical 8-bit microcontrollers.
The following table shows the key differences among them. (See the individual product pages and datasheets for more information as many of these specifications depend on environmental conditions and configuration settings.)
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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Products in category “Carriers for ST Time-of-Flight (ToF) Distance Sensors”
Pololu item #: 3419 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L8CX laser-ranging sensor, which offers fast and accurate ranging up to 4 m through a digital I²C or SPI interface. It can measure absolute distances to multiple targets simultaneously across multiple zones, providing enough data for a depth map with up to 8×8 resolution, and has improved performance in ambient light compared to previous sensors. The board includes voltage regulators and level shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 3.2 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards. Note: This is not recommended for use with 8-bit MCUs; for such applications, consider the VL53L1X, VL53L0X carrier, or VL6180X carrier.
Pololu item #: 3418 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L7CX laser-ranging sensor, which offers fast and accurate ranging up to 3.5 m through a digital I²C interface. It has an extra-wide 60°×60° square field of view (FOV) (90° diagonal), and it can measure absolute distances to multiple targets simultaneously across multiple zones, providing enough data for a depth map with up to 8×8 resolution. The board includes a 3.3 V linear regulator and level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.5 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards. Note: This is not recommended for use with 8-bit MCUs; for such applications, consider the VL53L1X, VL53L0X carrier, or VL6180X carrier.
Pololu item #: 3417 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L5CX laser-ranging sensor, which offers fast and accurate ranging up to 4 m through a digital I²C interface. It can measure absolute distances to multiple targets simultaneously across multiple zones, providing enough data for a depth map with up to 8×8 resolution. The board includes a 3.3 V linear regulator and level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.5 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards. Note: This is not recommended for use with 8-bit MCUs; for such applications, consider the VL53L1X, VL53L0X carrier, or VL6180X carrier.
Pololu item #: 3416 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L3CX laser-ranging sensor, which offers fast and accurate ranging up to 5 m. It uses the time of flight (ToF) of invisible, eye-safe laser pulses to measure absolute distances to multiple targets simultaneously, independent of ambient lighting conditions and target characteristics like color, shape, and texture (though these things will affect the maximum range). Distance measurements can be read through a digital I²C interface. The board includes a 2.8 V linear regulator and level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.6 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards. Note: This is not recommended for use with 8-bit MCUs; for such applications, consider the VL53L1X, VL53L0X carrier, or VL6180X carrier.
Pololu item #: 3415 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L1X laser-ranging sensor, which offers fast and accurate ranging up to 4 m. It uses the time of flight (ToF) of invisible, eye-safe laser pulses to measure absolute distances independent of ambient lighting conditions and target characteristics like color, shape, and texture (though these things will affect the maximum range). The VL53L1X also features a programmable region of interest (ROI), so the full field of view can be reduced or divided into multiple zones. Distance measurements can be read through a digital I²C interface. The board includes a 2.8 V linear regulator and level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.6 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards.
Pololu item #: 2490 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L0X laser-ranging sensor, which measures the range to a target object up to 2 m away. The VL53L0X uses time-of-flight measurements of infrared pulses for ranging, allowing it to give accurate results independent of the target’s color and surface. Distance measurements can be read through a digital I²C interface. The board has a 2.8 V linear regulator and integrated level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.6 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards.
Pololu item #: 3692 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL53L4CD laser-ranging sensor, which offers fast (up to 100 Hz) and accurate ranging from 1 mm to 1200 mm. It uses the time of flight (ToF) of invisible, eye-safe laser pulses to measure absolute distances independent of ambient lighting conditions and target characteristics like color, shape, and texture (though these things will affect the maximum range). Distance measurements can be read through a digital I²C interface. The board includes a 2.8 V linear regulator and level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.6 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards.
Pololu item #: 2489 | |
Brand: Pololu | supply outlook |
Status: Active and Preferred | |
This sensor is a carrier/breakout board for ST’s VL6180X proximity and ambient light sensor, which measures the range to a target object up to 20 cm away (or 60 cm with reduced resolution). The VL6180X uses time-of-flight measurements of infrared pulses for ranging, allowing it to give accurate results independent of the target’s color and surface. Distance and ambient light level measurements can be read through a digital I²C interface. The board has a 2.8 V linear regulator and integrated level-shifters that allow it to work over an input voltage range of 2.6 V to 5.5 V, and the 0.1″ pin spacing makes it easy to use with standard solderless breadboards and 0.1″ perfboards.