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VL53L5CX 8x8 Time of Flight (ToF) Array Sensor Breakout
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A sophisticated distance sensor with 8x8 multizone ranging and a wide field of view - great for robots and advanced motion sensing. This sensor measures di...
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A sophisticated distance sensor with 8x8 multizone ranging and a wide field of view - great for robots and advanced motion sensing.
This sensor measures distance by beaming low powered infrared lasers at a target (pew pew pew). It has great accuracy and sampling frequency (up to 60 Hz) and a large range of detection (from 2cm to 4 metres).
What's especially exciting about this sensor (after the lasers) is that it can return an 8x8 grid of readings as an array. This means you could detect movement coming from a specific direction (for smart security systems) or mount it on your robot for object tracking or superior collision avoidance without the need for lots of separate sensors.
It's compatible with our fancy Breakout Garden system, where using breakouts is easy as popping it into one of the slots and starting to grow your project, create, and code. It's also Qw/ST compatible so it can be plugged into a whole range of different microcontrollers and HATs with Qwiic or STEMMA QT connectors.
Features
- VL53L5CX Time of Flight (ToF) sensor (datasheet)
- 8x8 multizone ranging
- Wide field of view (63° diagonal)
- 2-400cm range
- Up to 60Hz ranging frequency
- I2C interface, with address: 0x52
- 3-6V compatible
- Reverse polarity protection (on Breakout Garden connector)
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi (Python library)
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico (C++/MicroPython libraries)
- Schematic
Includes
- VL53L5CX breakout
- 1x5 pin header
- 1x5 right-angle socket header
We've designed this breakout board so that you can solder on the piece of right-angle socket header and pop it straight onto the bottom left 5 pins on your Raspberry Pi's GPIO header (pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9).
Software
There's a Python library for using this sensor with a Raspberry Pi, with examples showing how to read distance, reflectance and motion (and how to display the grid of readings graphically on an LCD breakout).
You can also use this breakout with Raspberry Pi Pico and other RP2040 boards, using C++ or Pirate brand MicroPython. Due to its size, we've not included ST's firmware in our batteries included MicroPython build - you'll need to copy it to the root directory of your board using Thonny:
- MicroPython and VL53L5CX - learn how to use this breakout with Raspberry Pi Pico (and other RP2040 boards)
Notes
- Dimensions: 19x19x4.6mm (LxWxH). The mounting holes are M2.5 and 13.6mm apart (centre to centre).
- We've mounted the Qw/ST connector and other components on the back of the breakout, so you can mount the front side flush with the inside wall of your robot's chassis.
- If you want to use multiple VL53L5CX breakouts together you can (temporarily) change the I2C addresses using this Python script. Addresses changed like this won't persist after a reboot.
- When using multiple breakouts, the LP pad on the rear lets you put each one to sleep in turn to set the I2C address.
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- 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.
- I2C address
- An I2C address is the number a device uses so a microcontroller can tell it apart from other devices on the same I2C bus. It matters because two devices with the same fixed address may conflict if used together.
- LCD
- LCD stands for liquid crystal display, a screen technology that uses a backlight and liquid crystals to show images or text. It matters because LCD modules usually need a display driver and enough controller pins or a bus interface to send image data.
- M2.5
- A metric screw thread size with a 2.5 mm nominal diameter. It matters for mounting because screws, standoffs, and holes must use the same size to fit securely without damaging the board.
- MicroPython
- A version of the Python programming language made to run on microcontrollers. It matters because it lets beginners write readable code to control LEDs, sensors, motors and displays without needing to start with lower-level languages.
- 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.
- reverse polarity protection
- A circuit feature that helps protect the board if power is connected the wrong way around. It matters because it can reduce the chance of damaging the breakout during wiring mistakes, especially in classroom or prototyping use.
- RP2040
- A microcontroller chip used on many maker boards, with enough speed and flexible I/O for some camera and display projects. Compatibility with RP2040 matters because camera modules often need many pins and careful timing to read image data successfully.
- 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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