Does STM offers a laser sensor with FOV laser angle less than 10°

[DMårt]

Hi!

I wrote a Unscented Kalman Filter for the VL6180x sensor

https://github.com/DanielMartensson/Unscented-Kalman-Filter

It works great! Better accuarcy. I have customers that want STM time of flight sensors but they telling me that "The angle is too big and the laser light is too weak, can you find ToF laser sensors that have FOV angle less than 10° and a little bit stronger laser light for darker places".

So I'm asking the STM support if STM have laser sensors that have the same accuracy as VL6180 and range (0-60cm) or VL6180 with the range (0-20cm) but with lower FOV-angle?

FOV angle at 25 is too much if I want to measure small objects at a distance.

[John E KVAM]

Well there is a new sensor due out at end of year 2021. It has a more narrow FoV. But it's closer to 20 degrees than the 10 you asked for.

There are markets that want a more narrow FoV, but to get that one has to focus the light.

But there are 2 problems with focusing the light:

1) lenses are expensive

2) Focusing the light will make the laser light dangerous.

The only safe way to make a focused beam is to use a visible light - so one knows to avert one's eyes.

And that's not really ST's market.

• john

[DMårt]

Thank you. I'm looking forward to that sensor.