ST FlightSense time-of-flight proximity and detection sensors to help innovate social distance-sensing applications

     STMicroelectronics uses its high-precision proximity detection and ranging sensors to help customers develop innovative infectious disease protection equipment to meet the challenges posed by global outbreaks. Amsterdam-based startup Aura Aware has developed a portable smart social distance-sensing device using ST's FlightSense time-of-flight (ToF) technology. The device, suitable for retail counters and checkout counters, is simple to install and normally lights up with a green signal that changes from green to red if someone crosses a minimum safe distance.

     David Maucotel, Business Director, Imaging Products, ST, said: "This innovative product from Aura Aware is an excellent innovative use case for our FlightSense technology. ST's ToF sensors can help protect people's health in many ways, both by ensuring compliance with social distancing regulations and by contactless handling of the various products we use every day."

     The Aura Aware product integrates ST's VL53L1CX compact ToF sensor with a maximum range of four meters and very low power consumption. The sensor has signal processing inside, which simplifies product design and provides advanced features such as crosstalk compensation to maintain normal measurement accuracy even if the sensor window is obscured by foreign objects.

     The time-of-flight sensor emits photons and then calculates the distance from the sensor to the target based on the time it takes for the reflected photons to return to the sensor. In addition, ranging accuracy is not affected by the surface characteristics of the object, for example, the color of the ranging object's clothing or the reflectivity of its skin, which makes FlightSense ideal for helping people maintain social distancing.

     These sensors can also help users avoid touching the surfaces of devices installed in areas with high traffic, including touch-screen self-service machines, smart faucets and push-button access switches. The ToF's sensing speed and precision enable the FlightSense sensor to handle basic switching functions, and to detect and understand gestures such as tapping and scanning for non-contact intelligent human-computer interaction.

     Good response linearity in short distance measurements is another advantage of ST's ToF sensors, which allows the ToF sensor to detect the level of hand sanitizer or the amount of personal protective equipment such as masks inside the vending machine.