Stmicro launches 8x8 range ranging time-of-flight sensor to enable innovative applications

     Stmicroelectronics has released the FlightSense time-of-flight sensor for universal multizone ranging, bringing precision ranging solutions to a wide range of consumer electronics and industrial products. The VL53L5CX sensor can provide up to 64 ranging zones for multi-target detection applications, with a maximum measuring distance of 4 meters per zone and a wide rectangular field of view with a 63° diagonal field of view. The new sensors are suitable for gesture recognition, complex scene analysis (3D scan imaging of robots in the room), tank level monitoring to improve inventory management efficiency, level monitoring, and smart bin overflow monitoring to improve collection efficiency.

     In public devices such as self-service payment terminals, consumer electronic products and household appliances, the VL53L5CX can realize a touch free safe wake-up system by supporting gesture recognition and automatic detection of human presence, and help the devices save power significantly. The new sensor adopts the market tested histogram processing technology of STC, which greatly reduces the impact of cover plate crosstalk, and can be easily integrated and hidden behind various panels. The new innovative function of motion indication also allows the sensor to detect whether the target has moved.

     The number of sensor arrays can be set. In the 16 zone (4x4) mode, the sensor ranging speed is up to 60 frames per second, realizing the fast ranging mode. The high resolution of 8x8 area can be achieved with a simple configuration of software. The VL53L5CX also helps to correct the trapezoidal distortion of the video projector, and provides an accurate micro depth map solution for augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications.

     The VL53L5CX is integrated with a low-power microcontroller, which can intelligently range and save power. All components required for range measurement are integrated in a 6.4mm x 3.0mm x 1.5mm module, including a VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) infrared transmitter and receiver. The receiver is equipped with a SPAD (single photon avalanche diode) and a histogram based ToF processing engine.

     There are a large number of development tool chains supporting VL53L5CX on the market. Developers can quickly develop prototypes through easy-to-use evaluation and calibration tools, and can also buy development boards that can easily integrate VL53L5CX into larger prototype systems. In addition, P-NUCLEO-53L5A1 evaluation kit and X-CUBE-TOF1 software expansion package enable developers to develop time of flight applications using the STM32 ecosystem.