Extended Temperature Range for Single-Zone Direct ToF Sensor

STMicroelectronics has recently unveiled a new single-zone Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor, the ST VL53L4ED, designed for industrial and harsh environments with an extended operating temperature range from -40°C to 105°C.

The ST VL53L4ED ToF sensor is capable of proximity detection and ranging up to 1150mm even under high ambient light conditions. This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications including industrial tools, smart-factory equipment, robot guidance systems, outdoor lighting controls, and security systems.

One of the key features of the VL53L4ED sensor is its integration of a laser emitter and a single-photon avalanche-diode (SPAD) detector array in a module. This integration ensures reliable measurement performance even in extended temperature conditions where traditional photonics sensors may be vulnerable.

All sensors in the VL53L4 series are pin-compatible and come in a compact 4.4mm x 2.4mm x 1mm-high LGA package. The next-generation laser technology used in the sensor provides enhanced performance in high ambient light environments and offers excellent short-distance ranging accuracy.

Moreover, the sensor is equipped with a processor that enables power-saving autonomous operation, reducing the demand for host-system resources. Special settings in the sensor allow for accurate distance measurement up to 800mm even under strong ambient light conditions, while maintaining distance-measurement linearity down to 1mm and supporting a ranging frequency of up to 100Hz.

Developers looking to leverage the capabilities of the VL53L4 sensor family can make use of the X-CUBE-TOF1 expansion software package within the STM32Cube ecosystem. This software package accelerates project development and includes the STSW-IMG034 driver, which enables an interrupt command to turn the VL53L4ED or VL53L4CD into an ultra-low-power proximity detector for user detection, system activation, and touchless control.

Additionally, the STSW-IMG039 software pack contains code examples for liquid-level monitoring. Hardware support includes the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board for the NUCLEO-F401RE microcontroller board, facilitating the running of code examples and building applications, as well as the SATEL-VL53L4ED breakout board for prototyping purposes.

The VL53L4ED ToF sensor is currently in production and is priced starting from $2.30 for 4500 pieces. For more information, visit STMicroelectronics website.