Skip to main content
Visitor II
January 6, 2017
Question

VL53L0X Close range

  • January 6, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 944 views
Posted on January 06, 2017 at 08:53

Hi, I want to use VL53L0X for an application that will detect objects in close range, as close as possible in the order of a few cm.

How to configure the sensor to get maximum performance at close range using the API?

Can we use smaller VCSEL pulses?

#vl53l0x
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    ST Employee
    January 2, 2018
    Posted on January 02, 2018 at 20:15

    For close ranges we recommend the VL6180. It's cheaper and less complex.

    But if you really want to use the VL53, move the sensor back a bit so you can guarantee the target will come no closer than a few cm. Closer than that the range tends to go up as the light bounces from target to sensor, back to target and senor. The 6180 has this problem but to a smaller degree.

    Lowering the power to the VCSEL or using a smaller duration doesn't work well. Less power, and the VCSEL doesn't turn on reliably and shortening the duration causes other issues.

    - john