VL53L0X Laser Ranging Module

Description

This laser ranging module is a development board for the VL53L0X from ST Microelectronics which uses time-of-flight principles to measure distance.

The VL53L0X uses ST’s FlightSense technology to precisely measure how long it takes for emitted pulses of infrared laser light to reach the nearest object and be reflected back to a detector, so it can be considered a tiny, self-contained Lidar system. This time-of-flight (TOF) measurement enables it to accurately determine the absolute distance to a target without the object’s reflectance greatly influencing the measurement. The sensor can report distances of up to 2 metres, but its effective range and accuracy depend heavily on ambient conditions and target characteristics like reflectance and size, as well as the sensor configuration. Ranging measurements are available through the sensor’s I2C interface, which is also used to configure sensor settings.

Features / Specs

• Model: GY-530
• Sensor: ST Micro VL53L0X
• Operating Voltage: 2.8 – 5VDC
• Maximum Absolute Range: 2 Metres
• Accuracy: From ±3% at best to over ±10% in less optimal conditions
• Communication Protocol: I2C (3 – 5VDC Level compatible)

Pin Description

• VIN-> Supply Voltage (2.8 – 5VDC)
• GND-> Ground
• SCL-> I2C Clock
• SDA-> I2C Data
• X (XSHUT)-> Active low shutdown input (On-board 10k pull up) (Not level shifted)
• G (GPIO1)-> Interrupt output (On-board 10k pull up) (Not level shifted)

Resources

• ST Micro VL53L0X Datasheet