STMicroelectronics latest time-of-flight ranging sensor

     STMicroelectronics has announced the VL53L1, a third-generation laser ranging sensor using its market-leading FlightSense technology. The new product is based on new silicon patented technology and module-level architecture, introducing optical lenses on modules for the first time. The addition of a lens improves sensor core performance while enabling many new features, including multi-object detection, remote glass cover crosstalk noise suppression and programmable multi-zone scanning. These advanced features bring new levels of sensor performance to robots, user detection, drones, iot, wearables and more.

     The new sensor module integrates a new lens system and the 940nm VCSEL[1] invisible light source, processor core and SPAD[2] photon detector in a 4.9 x 2.5 x 1.56mm package. The addition of an optical lens system improves the photon detection rate, thereby improving the range-finding performance of the module. The internal microcontroller manages all ranging functions, runs innovative digital algorithms, and minimizes main processor overhead and system power consumption to maximize the battery life of mobile devices.

     Eric Aussedat, General Manager of ST Imaging Products, said: "Hundreds of millions of ST time-of-flight sensors have been shipped and are used in more than 70 smartphones and consumer electronics devices. The higher performance third generation of FlightSense supports many new applications, including human presence detection, while improving sensor performance for existing applications."

     The new VL53L1 takes only 5ms to complete a single measurement operation [3] and is suitable for high-speed ranging applications. In terms of smartphone autofocus, the new sensor detects twice as fast as the previous generation. In addition, the VL53L1 doubles the sensor's maximum measurement distance to 4.5 meters, which matches the ultra-focal length of widely used 21-megapixel lenses.

     The innovative, high-performance design architecture detects multiple targets within the same scenario and enables equipment manufacturers to subdivide the SPAD sensor array into subregions. These small sensing area customer applications provide the spatial ranging information needed for dual camera stereo vision calculations as well as simple depth mapping applications.

     ST's new patented algorithm and direct time of flight architecture can withstand crosstalk over longer distances than other ranging sensor technologies, making the VL53L1 fully compatible with a wider range of glass cover materials and design styles. For quick integration, the I2C-based VL53L1 module comes with a complete set of software drivers and technical documentation.