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VL53L0X Purple Laser Distance Sensor Module

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Ekostra Electronics

On April 7, 2025

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VL53L0X Laser Distance Sensor Module

High-Speed, High-Precision Time-of-Flight Distance Measurement

Introduction

The VL53L0X is a state-of-the-art Time-of-Flight (ToF) laser-ranging sensor that provides accurate distance measurement up to 2 meters. Using an invisible 940nm laser, it offers millimeter precision with fast response times, making it ideal for applications requiring reliable proximity and distance sensing.

Key Features

📏 High Precision

±3% accuracy with millimeter resolution

⚡ Fast Response

Measurement time as low as 30ms

👁️ Small Form Factor

Compact 4.9 × 2.5 × 1.56mm package

🔌 I2C Interface

Simple connection with 2.6V-3.5V microcontrollers

Technical Specifications

Measurement Range	30mm – 2000mm (2m)
Accuracy	±3% (typical)
Laser Wavelength	940nm (invisible to human eye)
Interface	I2C (0x29 default address)
Supply Voltage	2.6V – 3.5V (5V tolerant I/O)
Current Consumption	19mA active, 5μA standby
Field of View	25° (typical)
Measurement Time	30ms (typical)

Pin Configuration

Pin	Label	Description	Arduino Connection
1	VCC	Power (2.6V-3.5V)	3.3V
2	GND	Ground	GND
3	SCL	I2C Clock	A5 (Uno) or SCL
4	SDA	I2C Data	A4 (Uno) or SDA
5	GPIO1	Interrupt output (optional)	Digital pin (optional)
6	XSHUT	Shutdown control (optional)	Digital pin (optional)

Note: The sensor requires proper power supply (2.6V-3.5V) for accurate measurements

Wiring with Arduino

// Basic I2C Connections:
// VCC → 3.3V
// GND → GND
// SCL → A5 (Uno) or SCL
// SDA → A4 (Uno) or SDA

// Optional connections:
// GPIO1 → Digital pin (for interrupt functionality)
// XSHUT → Digital pin (for sensor reset)

// Requires Pololu VL53L0X library

// Basic I2C Connections:

// VCC → 3.3V

// GND → GND

// SCL → A5 (Uno) or SCL

// SDA → A4 (Uno) or SDA

// Optional connections:

// GPIO1 → Digital pin (for interrupt functionality)

// XSHUT → Digital pin (for sensor reset)

// Requires Pololu VL53L0X library

Important: Use proper voltage level shifting if connecting to 5V Arduino boards

Basic Distance Measurement Example

// VL53L0X Distance Sensor Basic Example
#include <Wire.h>
#include <VL53L0X.h>

VL53L0X sensor;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Wire.begin();
  
  sensor.init();
  sensor.setTimeout(500);

  // Start continuous back-to-back mode
  sensor.startContinuous();
}

void loop() {
  int distance = sensor.readRangeContinuousMillimeters();
  
  if (sensor.timeoutOccurred()) {
    Serial.println("Timeout");
  } else {
    Serial.print("Distance: ");
    Serial.print(distance);
    Serial.println(" mm");
  }
  
  delay(100);
}

// VL53L0X Distance Sensor Basic Example

#include <Wire.h>

#include <VL53L0X.h>

VL53L0X sensor;

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

Wire.begin();

sensor.init();

sensor.setTimeout(500);

// Start continuous back-to-back mode

sensor.startContinuous();

}

void loop() {

int distance = sensor.readRangeContinuousMillimeters();

if (sensor.timeoutOccurred()) {

Serial.println("Timeout");

} else {

Serial.print("Distance: ");

Serial.print(distance);

Serial.println(" mm");

}

delay(100);

}

Advanced Features

High Speed Mode

// Set high speed measurement mode
sensor.setMeasurementTimingBudget(20000); // 20ms timing budget
sensor.startContinuous();

// Set high speed measurement mode

sensor.setMeasurementTimingBudget(20000); // 20ms timing budget

sensor.startContinuous();

Long Range Mode

// Configure for longer range
sensor.setSignalRateLimit(0.1);
sensor.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodPreRange, 18);
sensor.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodFinalRange, 14);

// Configure for longer range

sensor.setSignalRateLimit(0.1);

sensor.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodPreRange, 18);

sensor.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodFinalRange, 14);

Interrupt Function

// Configure interrupt threshold
sensor.setInterMeasurementPeriod(100);
sensor.setInterruptThresholds(100, 200, false); // mm thresholds
// Connect GPIO1 pin to handle interrupts

// Configure interrupt threshold

sensor.setInterMeasurementPeriod(100);

sensor.setInterruptThresholds(100, 200, false); // mm thresholds

// Connect GPIO1 pin to handle interrupts

Multiple Sensors

// Use XSHUT to change I2C addresses
digitalWrite(XSHUT_PIN1, LOW);
digitalWrite(XSHUT_PIN2, LOW);
// Initialize sensors with different addresses
sensor1.setAddress(0x30);
sensor2.setAddress(0x31);

// Use XSHUT to change I2C addresses

digitalWrite(XSHUT_PIN1, LOW);

digitalWrite(XSHUT_PIN2, LOW);

// Initialize sensors with different addresses

sensor1.setAddress(0x30);

sensor2.setAddress(0x31);