STMicro Unveils the "Camera-Like" FlightSense VL53L7CX Distance Sensor, with 90 Degree FoV
With on-device triggers and a low power draw, STMicro's hoping to see its new distance sensor in everything from parking systems to robots.
STMicroelectronics has announced the launch of a new multi-zone distance sensor with what it describes as a "camera-like" 90 degree field of view (FoV): the FlightSense VL53L7CX.
"Our FlightSense technology inside Time-of-Flight multi-zone sensors enables sophisticated scene understanding with low demands on system power and processing," explains STMicro's Alexandre Balmefrezol of the meaning behind the part's branding. "Extending the field of view now gives users even greater flexibility while maintaining accuracy, resolution, and simplicity."
The FlightSense VL53L7CX, designed for what the company calls "lifelike situational awareness," offers a 90 degree field of view — considerably higher than its predecessors and approaching that of a camera-based system, the company says, without the privacy concerns surrounding capturing and processing video footage.
The sensor offers a 64-zone 8×8 sensing grid with multiple object detection per zone and a maximum range of 350cm (around 138"). STMicro is positioning the part as ideal for people detection and tracking, over-shoulder warning, occupancy detection, storage and parking management, and even robotics where it can be used for floor sensing, cliff prediction, obstacle avoidance, and small-object detection.
Key to the sensor's applicability in many of these proposed use-cases is its power draw: operating in its low-power mode, STMicro claims the VL53L7CX draws just 5.4mW. In addition, the on-device FlightSense processing system allows the host to power down completely until woken by a customizable trigger — including distance to nearest object, motion detection, and signal rate.
The new part is pin-compatible with the previous-generation VL53L5CX, STMicro has confirmed, while those who haven't yet bought into the ecosystem can purchase the sensor as an add-on board for the STM32F401 Nucleo development board at $33.08 direct; the sensor itself is priced from $8.91 in single-digit quantities, dropping as low as $3.60 in sufficient volume.
More information is available on the VL53L7CX product page, while STMicro has also published an on-demand webinar detailing the sensor and its new features.