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Associate II
May 3, 2024
Solved

Asking the illumination mode of VL53L8CH.

  • May 3, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 994 views

As far as I know, dToF has two illumination modes. One is spot dToF (iPhone) and the other is flood illumination. Which one is VL53L8CH? Thanks.

Best answer by John E KVAM

All the DToF chips from ST use a flood-type illumination. The VL53L8CH uses a VCSEL with a native output of a 27-degree cone, and a diffuser that spreads the light into a 45-degree pyramid of light.  

2 replies

John E KVAM
John E KVAMBest answer
ST Employee
May 3, 2024

All the DToF chips from ST use a flood-type illumination. The VL53L8CH uses a VCSEL with a native output of a 27-degree cone, and a diffuser that spreads the light into a 45-degree pyramid of light.  

JscAuthor
Associate II
May 29, 2024

Sorry about late reply. Thanks for your answer. I have another question that "a VCSEL" means single VCSEL unit or a VSCEL array? Thanks.

John E KVAM
ST Employee
May 29, 2024

Let's try to open a new topic once an answer has been accepted.  

But to answer your question the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser is a chip that consists of several cells and each cell emits light. On the VL53L0, L1 and L3 there are 4 such cells. On the VL53L4 which uses a different (single stage) cell there are almost a dozen. I don't know how many cells there are on the L8 though. But the answer is one tiny chip with multiple cells on it integrated into the module.

- john