Adafruit
Adafruit VL53L4CD Time of Flight Distance Sensor - ~1 to 1300mm
The Adafruit VL53L4CD is a Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor from ST that combines short-range and medium-range sensing in one chip. It measures from appr...
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The Adafruit VL53L4CD is a Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor from ST that combines short-range and medium-range sensing in one chip. It measures from approximately 1 mm right up to 1300 mm, bridging the gap between the close-range VL6180X and the longer-range VL53L0X — all using an invisible laser for precise, reliable distance readings.
The narrow laser beam focuses on the surface directly ahead, avoiding the wide sensing cone of ultrasonic sensors and the linearity issues of IR reflectance sensors. The breakout includes a 2.8V regulator, level shifting, and two STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors for solderless I2C wiring.
Key Features
- ~1 to 1300 mm Range – Senses from virtually touching the sensor up to 1.3 metres
- Time-of-Flight Measurement – Invisible laser ranging for precise distance data
- Narrow Sensing Cone – Focused laser measures only the surface directly ahead
- I2C Interface – Based on ST's VL53L4CD API
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Two connectors for solderless plug-and-play I2C
- 3–5V Compatible – On-board 2.8V regulator and level shifting
Compared To Other ToF Sensors
- vs VL53L0X – The VL53L0X measures ~50–1200 mm but can't sense below 50 mm; the VL53L4CD starts from ~1 mm
- vs VL53L1X – The VL53L1X extends to 4000 mm for longer-range needs
Ideal For
- Robotics obstacle detection at close and medium range
- Gesture and proximity sensing
- Level and fill measurement
- Interactive installations requiring close-range detection
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit VL53L4CD ToF Distance Sensor Breakout (assembled and tested)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- API
- An API (application programming interface) is a defined set of commands or functions that lets one piece of software interact with another, such as a library, operating system, hardware driver or online service. When something offers API support, it means you can control or query it from your own code rather than only through its built-in menus or buttons.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- STEMMA
- A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
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Sensors & Input
introducing adafruit stemma qt
Document · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
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