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gaurav patni
Associate II
September 24, 2020
Solved

1. Can VL53L series sensors used in outdoor environment light? What will be the issue? 2. Can VL53L series sensors used in dark condition i.e. very low light? 3. Is there any effect of indoor light on the performance of VL53L series sensors?

  • September 24, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 1127 views

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Best answer by John E KVAM

The ToF sensors from ST really don't work very well outdoors. The issue is that the laser light is really faint. We do this for eye-safety and power constraints. But there is a awful lot of 940nm light from the sun. The sun acts as a huge source of noise and the signal to noise ratio becomes unfavorable. That being said they work fine in the shade. And if you wanted something like a touchless button where the user's hand would block the sun and the distances were short, it would work well.

The sensors work best in ZERO light. The device generates it's own light and in dark conditions there is no interference.

Indoor lights do not generate much 940nm light. LEDs generate none, Incandescent light have a little bit, Fluorescents none, although huge Halogens do limit the max ranging distance.

Oddly, cheap birthday candles generate a lot of 940nm light. But they are small.

1 reply

John E KVAM
John E KVAMBest answer
ST Employee
September 24, 2020

The ToF sensors from ST really don't work very well outdoors. The issue is that the laser light is really faint. We do this for eye-safety and power constraints. But there is a awful lot of 940nm light from the sun. The sun acts as a huge source of noise and the signal to noise ratio becomes unfavorable. That being said they work fine in the shade. And if you wanted something like a touchless button where the user's hand would block the sun and the distances were short, it would work well.

The sensors work best in ZERO light. The device generates it's own light and in dark conditions there is no interference.

Indoor lights do not generate much 940nm light. LEDs generate none, Incandescent light have a little bit, Fluorescents none, although huge Halogens do limit the max ranging distance.

Oddly, cheap birthday candles generate a lot of 940nm light. But they are small.

gaurav patni
Associate II
September 25, 2020

Thanks @John E KVAM​