The Boardoza VL53L7CX-4 Time-of-Flight Breakout Board is built around the STMicroelectronics VL53L7CX multizone Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging sensor. The sensor combines a 940 nm invisible VCSEL emitter and a SPAD receiving array to deliver accurate distance measurements across a configurable 4×4 or 8×8 ranging zone matrix, providing up to 64 independent zones.
Designed for systems powered from a 3.3V to 5V supply rail, the board integrates an onboard 3.3V LDO regulator to provide the required operating voltage for the sensor. In addition to standard I²C communication, the board provides useful control functions such as interrupt output (INT), communication enable control (LPn), and I²C interface reset (RST). Its dual-connector layout also allows multiple boards to be connected in a cascade connection, making it easier to use more than one VL53L7CX board on the same I²C bus. This makes the board suitable for robotics, occupancy detection, gesture recognition, obstacle avoidance, smart appliances, industrial automation, and other embedded sensing applications.
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- Multizone Distance Sensing: Supports both 4×4 and 8×8 ranging configurations, providing up to 64 independent measurement zones.
- Ultra-Wide Field of View: Provides a 60° × 60° square detection FoV with a 90° diagonal field of view.
- 5V Input with Onboard Regulation: Integrated LDO regulator converts the 5V input supply to the sensor's required 3.3V operating voltage.
- Native 3.3V Logic Interface: SDA, SCL, INT, RST, and LPn operate at 3.3V logic level.
- Direct I²C Connectivity: Provides standard I²C communication for integration with 3.3V microcontrollers and embedded systems.
- Eye-Safe Operation: Integrated Class 1 invisible 940nm VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) emitter is safe for the eyes and enables safe operation in consumer and industrial products.
- Multitarget Detection: Capable of detecting and measuring multiple targets within each ranging zone.
- Autonomous Low-Power Mode: Supports autonomous operation with programmable interrupt thresholds for host wake-up applications.
- Power Status Indicator: Integrated LED provides visual confirmation of power availability.
Model: VL53L7CX-4
Manufacturer: Boardoza
Manufacturer IC: STMicroelectronics
Function: Multizone Time-of-Flight Distance Sensor
Supply Voltage: 3.3V to 5V
Onboard Regulation: 5V to 3.3V LDO
Logic Voltage: 3.3V
Communication Interface: I²C
I²C Address: 0x52 (8-bit address)
Maximum I²C Speed: 1 Mbit/s
Ranging Zones: 4 × 4 or 8 × 8, up to 64 zones
Maximum Sample Rate: Up to 60Hz
Measurement Range: 2cm to 350cm per zone
Field of View: 60° × 60° detection FoV, 90° diagonal
Emitter Type: 940nm invisible VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser)
Detector Type: SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode) receiving array
Safety Classification: Class 1 Eye-Safe
Operating Temperature: -30°C to +85°C
Board Dimensions: 20mm × 20mm
All four boards use the same STMicroelectronics VL53L7CX multizone Time-of-Flight sensor and provide the same core ranging capabilities. The main differences between the models are their supply voltage requirements and the signals on which logic-level shifting is provided.
| Model | Board Supply Input | Onboard 3.3V Regulator | 5V-Compatible Signals | Native 3.3V Signals | Practical Difference | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VL53L7CX-1 | 3.3V | No | None | SDA, SCL, INT, RST, LPn | The entire board operates directly from 3.3V. No voltage regulation or logic-level shifting is included. All connected signals must remain at 3.3V. | Best for systems in which both the power supply and the microcontroller logic operate at 3.3V. |
| VL53L7CX-2 | 3.3V to 5V | Yes | SDA, SCL | INT, RST, LPn | The board can be powered from either 3.3V or 5V. The I²C communication lines are level-shifted, allowing SDA and SCL to communicate with both 3.3V and 5V hosts. The control signals remain at 3.3V logic level. | Best when the host uses 5V I²C communication but the INT, RST, and LPn control pins can be handled at 3.3V. |
| VL53L7CX-3 | 3.3V to 5V | Yes | SDA, SCL, INT | RST, LPn | In addition to the I²C lines, the interrupt output is also level-shifted. This allows the host to receive the INT signal at its own logic voltage. RST and LPn still operate at 3.3V. | Best when both I²C communication and the interrupt signal need to be compatible with a 5V microcontroller. |
| VL53L7CX-4 | 3.3V to 5V | Yes | None | SDA, SCL, INT, RST, LPn | The board is powered from 3.3V or 5V, but all communication and control signals remain at native 3.3V logic levels. The connected host must therefore use 3.3V-compatible I/O signals. | Best for systems that provide a 5V power rail but use a 3.3V microcontroller or 3.3V host interface. |
- Choose VL53L7CX-1 when the complete system operates at 3.3V.
- Choose VL53L7CX-2 when you need 3.3V–5V compatible I²C communication, but the control pins can remain at 3.3V.
- Choose VL53L7CX-3 when both the I²C lines and the INT output must be compatible with a 5V host.
- Choose VL53L7CX-4 when the board will be powered from 3.3V-5V, but the connected microcontroller uses 3.3V logic.
Important Note: A board being powered from 5V does not automatically mean that all of its communication and control pins can accept 5V logic signals. Always check the logic-level compatibility of SDA, SCL, INT, RST, and LPn before connecting the board to a host system.
The following features are identical across all four models:
- STMicroelectronics VL53L7CX multizone Time-of-Flight sensor
- 4×4 or 8×8 ranging configurations
- Up to 64 independent measurement zones
- 60° × 60° square detection field of view
- 90° diagonal field of view
- Up to 60Hz ranging frequency
- Multitarget detection within each zone
- I²C communication
- INT, RST, and LPn control functions
- Class 1 eye-safe 940nm VCSEL emitter
- Dual-connector layout for easier multi-board connection
| Pin Number | Pin Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground |
| 2 | SCL | I²C Serial Clock, 3.3V logic level |
| 3 | SDA | I²C Serial Data, 3.3V logic level |
| 4 | 5V | Power Input |
| Pin Number | Pin Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5V | Power Input |
| 2 | GND | Ground |
| 3 | SDA | I²C Serial Data, 3.3V logic level |
| 4 | SCL | I²C Serial Clock, 3.3V logic level |
| 5 | RST | I²C interface reset input, active high. Toggle from Low to High and back to Low to reset the I²C target interface only. Operates at 3.3V logic level. |
| 6 | INT | Interrupt output. Used to notify the host when ranging data or threshold events are available. Operates at 3.3V logic level. |
| 7 | LPn | Communication enable input. Pulled up to 3.3V for normal operation; drive Low to disable I²C communication. |
- V1.0.0 - Initial Release
- If you have any questions or need support, please contact support@boardoza.com
This repository contains both hardware and software components:
All hardware design files are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
All software and firmware are licensed under BSD 3-Clause License.