VL53L0X Purple Laser Distance Sensor Module

GY-53 VL53L0X Laser ToF Flight Time Ranging Sensor Module can be used for easy integration into your devices and basic gesture detection applications. Thanks to its 2.8V regulator and level shifters, the VL53L0X satellite board can be used in any application with a 2.8 to 5V supply.

The VL53L0X is a Time of Flight distance sensor like no other you’ve used! The sensor contains a very tiny invisible laser source and a matching sensor. The VL53L0X can detect the “time of flight”, or how long the light has taken to bounce back to the sensor. Since it uses a very narrow light source, it is good for determining the distance of only the surface directly in front of it.

Unlike sonars that bounce ultrasonic waves, the ‘cone’ of sense is very narrow. Unlike IR distance sensors that try to measure the amount of light bounced, the VL53L0x is much more precise and doesn’t have linearity problems or ‘double imaging’ where you can’t tell if an object is very far or very close.

The PCB section supporting the VL53L0X module is perforated so that developers can break off the mini PCB for use in a 2.8V supply application using flying leads. This makes it easier to integrate into development and evaluation devices due to its small form factor.

The module is designed for low-power operation. Ranging measurements can be automatically performed at user-defined intervals. Multiple thresholds and interrupt schemes are supported to minimize host operations. Serial port and PWM to read the data code: STM32, Arduino, 51 MCU.

Note that due to the infrared will be affected by the outside light, in the light will affect the maximum range of measurement, will not affect the measurement accuracy. Default configuration: serial baud rate 9600, automatic output, high precision mode. When using, please remove the sensor film.

VL53L0X Overview:

The VL53L0X is the latest product based on ST’s patented FlightSense™ technology. This is a ground-breaking technology allowing absolute distance to be measured independent of target reflectance. Instead of estimating the distance by measuring the amount of light reflected back from the object (which is significantly influenced by color and surface), the VL53L0X precisely measures the time the light takes to travel to the nearest object and reflect back to the sensor (Time-of-Flight). Combining an IR emitter and a range sensor, the VL53L0X is easy to integrate and saves OEMs long and costly optical and mechanical design optimizations.

Note: The VL53L0X is delivered with a liner, in order to prevent potential foreign material to penetrate inside the modules holes during the assembly process. It must be removed at the latest possible step during final assembly, and anyway before module calibration.

Features:

1. VL53L0X 3-in-1 ranging and gesture detection sensor
2. Regulator: 5 to 2.8V range input voltage (output voltage: 2.8V)
3. VL53L0X signal interface level shifter
4. Serial Port PWM Output
5. True distance measurement independent of target size and reflectance
6. Able to function in multi-module applications
7. Small size mini-PCB
8. Breakout board, easy to integrate into the customer device
9. Allows basic gesture recognition use case.

Package Includes:

1 x GY-53 VL53L0X Laser ToF Flight Time Ranging Sensor Module.

1 x Jumper Connector (without soldered).

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_VL53L0X.h>

Adafruit_VL53L0X lox = Adafruit_VL53L0X();

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  
  // Wait until serial port opens (for native USB devices)
  while (!Serial) {
    delay(1);
  }
  
  Serial.println("VL53L0X Test");
  
  if (!lox.begin()) {
    Serial.println("Failed to boot VL53L0X");
    while (1);
  }
  
  Serial.println("VL53L0X sensor ready!");
}

void loop() {
  VL53L0X_RangingMeasurementData_t measure;
  
  lox.rangingTest(&measure, false); // Pass 'true' for debug printout
  
  if (measure.RangeStatus != 4) { // Phase failures have incorrect data
    Serial.print("Distance (mm): ");
    Serial.println(measure.RangeMilliMeter);
  } else {
    Serial.println("Out of range or error");
  }
  
  delay(100); // Adjust delay for your application
}