STMicroelectronics VL53L4ED High Accuracy Proximity Sensor User Guide

STMicroelectronics VL53L4ED High Accuracy Proximity Sensor

Product Information

Specifications

• High-accuracy proximity sensor with extended temperature capability expansion board
• Based on VL53L4ED for STM32 Nucleo
• Sensor: VL53L4ED ToF
• Spacers: 0.25mm, 0.5mm, and 1mm to simulate air gaps
• Breakout boards: SATEL-VL53L4ED breakout boards available separately
• Connectors: Arduino UNO R3 connectors

Product Usage Instructions

The X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 is equipped with the VL53L4ED sensor, spacers, breakout boards, and connectors. It is designed for high-accuracy proximity sensing with extended temperature range capabilities.

• Required boards: X-NUCLEO-53L4A3, NUCLEO-F401RE, P-NUCLEO-53L4A3
• Connect the P-NUCLEO to the PC through USB.
• Install the PC USB port driver to detect the Nucleo board.
• Install the VL53L4ED GUI software for device evaluation.
• Install X-CUBE-TOF1 software package for API SW and examples.

Follow the instructions provided in UM3108 on st.com for using the VL53L4ED with X-CUBE-TOF1 software packages. Drag and drop .bin files for installation.

FAQ

• Where can I find additional documentation and resources?
• You can access all related documents and additional resources at https://www.st.com/en/imaging-and-photonics-solutions/VL53L4ED. All documents are available in the Documentation tab on the product’s webpage.

Hardware Overview

X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 Hardware Description

• The X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 is a development board designed around the VL53L4ED ToF high accuracy proximity and extended temperature range sensor based on ST FlightSense patented technology
• The VL53L4ED communicates with the STM32 Nucleo developer board host microcontroller through an I2C link available on the Arduino UNO R3 connector.

Key Products on board

• VL53L4ED ToF high accuracy proximity and extended temperature range sensor
• 0.25, 0.5 and 1mm spacers to simulate air gaps, with the cover glasses

Breakout boards connectors

• SATEL-VL53L4ED breakout boards can be purchased separately

• X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board

  • VL53L4ED devices in custom applications can be integrated with an expansion board or external VL53L4ED breakout.
  • The breakout boards are delivered separately.

• X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 is also available as a NUCLEO Pack (P-NUCLEO-53L4A3)

  • The X-NUCLEO-53L4E3 expansion board can also be ordered on www.st.com as part of a NUCLEO Pack with an expansion board and STM32 NUCLEO board.
  • Order code: P-NUCLEO-53L4A3: X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board and NUCLEO-F401RE full features board.

• VL53L4ED breakout boards can be ordered separately

  • Order code: SATEL-VL53L4ED
  • The pack carries two breakout boards

X-CUBE-TOF1 software description

The X-CUBE-TOF1 software package is an STM32Cube expansion for the expansion boards of the Time-of- Flight product family (including the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3) for STM32. The source code is based on STM32Cube to ease portability and code sharing across different STM32 MCU families. A sample implementation is available for the STM32 Nucleo ranging sensor expansion board (X-NUCLEO- 53L4A3) plugged on top of an STM32 Nucleo development board (NUCLEOF401RE or NUCLEO-L476RG).

Key features

• Driver layer (VL53L4ED ULD) for complete management of the VL53L4ED sensor integrated in the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board.
• Easy portability across different MCU families, thanks to STM32Cube.
• Free, user-friendly license terms.
• Sample code for ranging measurement.

Time-of-Flight Sensors Software Environment STM32Cube Software Overview

Setup & Demo Examples

Setup & Demo Examples HW prerequisites

• 1x High-accuracy ToF sensor expansion board based on VL53L4ED (X-NUCLEO-53L4A3).
• 1x STM32 Nucleo development board (NUCLEO-F401RE for example)
• 1x Laptop/PC with Windows
• 1x USB type A to Mini-B USB cable
• If you don’t have an STM32 Nucleo development board, you can order a Nucleo pack (P-NUCLEO-53L4A3):
• X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board and NUCLEO-F401RE full features board delivered together.

Setup & Demo Examples SW prerequisites

• STSW-IMG044: Ultra Lite Driver (ULD) for VL53L4ED
• STSW-IMG045: Graphical User Interface (GUI) on Windows 7 and 10
• STSW-IMG046: Linux driver for VL53L4ED
• X-CUBE-TOF1: Time-of-Flight sensors software expansion for STM32Cube.
• When you install the X-CUBE-TOF1 the installer also the directory containing the example projects here for instance :
• C:\Users\\STM32Cube\Repository\Packs\STMicroelectronics\X-CUBE-TOF1\\Projects\NUCLEOF401RE\Examples\53L4A3\53L4A3_SimpleRanging.

NUCLEO Kit driver installation

1. Connect the P-NUCLEO to the PC through USB
   • Wait for the board to be recognized; the drivers are installed automatically)
   • If Windows cannot install automatically the STLINK driver, please follow step 2
2. Install the PC USB port driver to detect the Nucleo board
   • Download STSW-LINK009 from www.st.com
   • Unzip and double-click on “stlink_winusb_install.bat” to install the driver

VL53L4ED GUI software installation

GUI is generally the first and easiest tool to evaluate the device

• Perform HW installation and connect the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board + Nucleo F401RE to the PC
• Install the GUI SW for the VL53L4ED Demo and configuration settings
• STSW-IMG045, downloaded from www.st.com
• Run the installer with Admin privileges

The Graphical User Interface can

• Perform the offset and Xtalk calibration and visualize calibration data
• Change key parameters of VL53L4ED
• Display real-time the data (distance, signal, ambient rate)
• Get data logging and replay a datalog (.csv file)

X-CUBE-TOF1 software installation

• Perform HW installation and connect the NUCLEO kit ( P-NUCLEO-53L4A3) to the PC
• Install the X-CUBE-TOF1 SW package
• X-CUBE-TOF1 rev 3.4.0 or newer, downloaded from www.st.com
• The X-CUBE-TOF1 is installed through STM32CubeMx, manage software installation section.
• Once the X-CUBE-TOF1 is installed. Go to
• C:\Users\\STM32Cube\Repository\Packs\STMicroelectronics\X-CUBE-TOF1\\Projects\NUCLEO-F401RE\Examples\53L4A3\53L4A3_SimpleRanging

X-CUBE software package contents: API SW + SW examples

VL53L4ED – ToF high accuracy proximity and extended temperature range sensor

Evaluation code example (.bin) using X-CUBE-TOF1 and a NUCLEO Pack

• Follow the instructions from the UM3108 (How to use the VL53L4ED with STMicroelectronics’ X-CUBE-TOF1 Time-of-Flight sensor software packages for STM32CubeMX) that can be found on st.com

• VL53L4ED – ToF high accuracy proximity and extended temperature range sensor

Start programming with code examples using X-CUBE-TOF1 and a NUCLEO Pack

• Follow the instructions from the UM3108 (How to use the VL53L4ED with STMicroelectronics’ X-CUBE-TOF1 Time-of-Flight sensor software packages for STM32CubeMX) that can be found on st.com

Documents & Related Resources

• Go to https://www.st.com/en/imaging-and-photonics-solutions/VL53L4ED
• All documents are available in the Documentation tab of the related products webpage

VL53L4ED: Product Folder

• DS14256: Time-of-Flight high accuracy proximity sensor with extended temperature capability – datasheet
• DB5003: Time-of-Flight high-accuracy proximity sensor expansion board based on the VL53L4ED for STM32 Nucleo – data brief

X-NUCLEO-53L4A3: Product Folder

• DB5074: High accuracy proximity sensor with extended temperature capability expansion board based on VL53L4ED for STM32 Nucleo – data brief
• UM3222: Getting started with the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board for STM32 Nucleo based on the VL53L4ED – user manual

P-NUCLEO-53L4A3: Product Folder

• DB5122: VL53L4ED Nucleo pack with X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board and STM32F401RE Nucleo board– data brief
• UM3222: Getting started with the X-NUCLEO-53L4A3 expansion board for STM32 Nucleo based on the VL53L4ED – user manual

SATEL-VL53L4ED: Product Folder

• DB5080: VL53L4ED breakout board High accuracy proximity sensor with extended temperature capability – data brief

STSW-IMG044: Ultra Lite Driver (ULD) for VL53L4ED folder

• DB5182: Ultra lite driver (ULD) application programming interface (API) for the VL53L4ED – data brief

STSW-IMG045: Graphical User Interface (GUI) Folder

• DB5183: P-NUCLEO-53L4A3 pack graphical user interface (GUI) – data brief

X-CUBE-TOF1: Software package for STM32Cube

• DB4449: Time-of-Flight sensors software expansion for STM32Cube – data brief
• UM3108: Getting started with the STMicroelectronics X-CUBE-TOF1, Time-of-Flight sensors, software package for STM32CubeMX – user manual

STM32 ODE Ecosystem

FAST, AFFORDABLE PROTOTYPING AND DEVELOPMENT

The STM32 Open Development Environment (ODE) is an open, flexible, easy and affordable way to develop innovative devices and applications based on the STM32 32-bit microcontroller family combined with other state-of-the-art ST components connected via expansion boards. It enables fast prototyping with leading-edge components that can quickly be transformed into final designs.
The STM32 ODE includes the following five elements:

• STM32 Nucleo development boards. A comprehensive range of affordable development boards for all STM32 microcontroller series, with unlimited unified expansion capability, and with integrated debugger/programmer
• STM32 Nucleo expansion boards. Boards with additional functionality to add sensing, control, connectivity, power, audio or other functions as needed. The expansion boards are plugged on top of the STM32 Nucleo development boards. More complex functionalities can be achieved by stacking additional expansion boards
• STM32Cube software. A set of free-of-charge tools and embedded software bricks to enable fast and easy development on the STM32, including a Hardware Abstraction Layer, middleware and the STM32CubeMX PC-based configurator and code generator
• STM32Cube expansion software. Expansion software is provided free of charge for use with STM32 Nucleo expansion boards and is compatible with the STM32Cube software framework
• STM32Cube Function Packs. Set of function examples for some of the most common application cases built by leveraging the modularity and interoperability of STM32 Nucleo development boards and expansions, with STM32Cube software and expansions.

STM32 Open Development Environment: all that you need

The combination of a broad range of expandable boards based on leading-edge commercial products and modular software, from driver to application level, enables fast prototyping of ideas that can be smoothly transformed into final designs.

To start your design

• Choose the appropriate STM32 Nucleo development board (NUCLEO) and expansion (X-NUCLEO) boards (sensors, connectivity, audio, motor control etc.) for the functionality you need.
• Select your development environment (IAR EWARM, Keil MDK and GCC/LLVM-based IDEs) and use the free STM32Cube tools and software such as STM32CubeMX, STM32CubeProgrammer, STM32CubeMonitor or STM32CubeIDE.
• Download all the necessary software to run the functionality on the selected STM32 Nucleo expansion boards.
• Compile your design and upload it to the STM32 Nucleo development board.
• Then start developing and testing your application.

Software developed on the STM32 Open Development Environment prototyping hardware can be directly used in an advanced prototyping board or in an end product design using the same commercial ST components, or components from the same family as those found on the STM32 Nucleo boards.

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