Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging sensors can measure distance accurately using laser light and are sold in a really tiny package. STMicro VL53L0X ToF sensor may be the most popular with a 2 meter range, and its ultra low cost.
The sensor got an extended range up to 4 meter with the recent launch of VL53L1X, but STMicro is not the only company providing such solution, and Broadcom has just introduced their AFBR-S50 ToF sensors for industrial applications and a range of up to 10 meters.
Two versions are offered with different laser light sources, field of view, and number of pixels:
- AFBR-S50MV680B
- 680nm laser light source
- One illuminated pixel
- FOV 1.55° x 1.55°
- Single voltage – 5V supply
- AFBR-S50MV85G
- 850nm laser light source
- 9-16 illuminated pixels
- FOV 6.2° x 6.2°
- Single voltage – 5V supply
The multipixel version of AFBR-S50 supports up to 3,000 frames per second with up to 16 illuminated pixels out of 32, and is operational under ambient light conditions up to 200k Lux. A SPI interface is used to communicate with the host.
The solutions is suitable for industrial sensors, gesture sensing, distance measurement, robotics, and automation and control.
More details can be found on the product page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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What needs to be clear is: ST focus on the coustumer market and there are safety restrictions.So the 4 meter is the best they can do under the laws. AFBR-S50 focus on the industrial market so the distance must be longer. For ST, they can also make such ToF sensors. The first two paragraphs did’t make this clear, some may get the sign that ST is not so good at ToF than boardcom. So I just..you know, make it clear but I actually not a ST fan.
Well, for most of the applications one might use for this class of sensor, 4m is not too shabby, really.
When you let business people that do not know the meaning of “accuracy” write the specs: “Accuracy < 1 percent"
Demo of the ToF sensor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWpBFAgIurA