FlightSense Multi-Zone Distance Sensor with Ultra-Wide 90° Field of View for Presence Detection

STMicroelectronics has revealed a new FlightSense multi-zone distance sensor VL53L7CX that has native 64-zone (8 x 8) sensing and can measure distance to multiple objects in each zone, up to 350cm. These optical sensors bring lifelike situational awareness to applications like home automation, domestic appliances, computers, robots, and smart equipment used in stores, factories, and more. This sensor extends the field of view to an unprecedented 90° (diagonal) for enhanced peripheral sensing, almost equivalent to that of a camera.

This new sensor enhances the performance of applications like smart waste-management for tracking full and empty bins. It can also improve floor sensing, cliff prediction, obstacle avoidance, and small-object detection for robots. Further applications include keystone correction in projectors and extended hand tracking for gesture recognition using the STGesture™ software pack.

In low-power mode, the sensor consumes just 5.4mW. In addition, the VL53L7CX sensor can operate in autonomous mode that allows the host system to power down and wake only when a threshold value is reached. Thresholds include distance to nearest object, signal rate, and detection of motion. The new sensor is pin-to-pin and driver compatible with the previous-generation device, VL53L5CX.

Features

• 60° x 60° square field of view (FoV) (90° diagonal)

• Multizone ranging output with either 4x4 or 8x8 separate zones

• Autonomous low-power mode with interrupt programmable threshold to wake up the host

• Up to 350 cm ranging

• Multitarget detection and distance measurement in each zone

• 60 Hz frame rate capability

• Emitter: 940 nm invisible light vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and integrated analog driver

• Diffractive optical elements (DOE) on both transmitter and receiver enabling square FoV

• Receiving array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs)

• Low-power microcontroller running firmware

• Size: 6.4 x 3.0 x 1.6 mm

• Easy integration

Applications

• Ultrawide FoV and multizone scanning allows content management (load in trucks, tanks, waste bins)

• Applications requiring ultrawide FoV, like smart speakers, vacuum cleaners (three sensors can cover 180° x 60° FoV)

• Gesture recognition with wide field of detection

• Devices requiring ultrawide FoV for user detection to wake-up devices (smart buildings, smart lighting)

• Keystone correction for video projectors

• Robotics applications (SLAM, wall tracking, small object detection, cliff prediction, floor type recognition)

• Augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) enhancement. Dual camera stereoscopy and 3D depth assistance thanks to multizone distance measurement

• IoT (user and object detection)

• Video focus tracking. 60 Hz ranging allows optimization of continuous focus algorithm.