Boardoza_VL53L7CX-2_Multizone_Time-of-Flight_Distance_Sensor_Breakout_Board
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Boardoza VL53L7CX-2 Time-of-Flight Breakout Board
The Boardoza VL53L7CX-2 Time-of-Flight Breakout Board is a compact distance sensing solution built around the STMicroelectronics VL53L7CX multizone Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor. Designed specifically for systems powered from a 3.3V to 5V supply, the board integrates an onboard LDO regulator and bidirectional I²C level shifters, allowing safe 3.3V–5V-compatible I²C communication.
With its advanced 4×4 or 8×8 multizone ranging capability, ultra-wide 90° diagonal field of view, and support for communication and control functions such as interrupt-based operation, communication enable control, and I²C interface reset (INT, LPn and RST), the board is ideal for robotics, obstacle detection, occupancy sensing, gesture recognition, smart appliances, industrial automation, and other embedded applications where accurate distance measurement and compact size are important. 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.
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| Front Side | Back Side |
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Key Features
- 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.
- 3.3V–5V Power and I²C Compatible: Supports 3.3V to 5V supply input and includes bidirectional level shifters on the SDA and SCL lines for 3.3V–5V-compatible I²C communication.
- 3.3V Control Signals: RST, INT, and LPn pins operate at 3.3V logic level and should not be driven with 5V signals.
- Built-In Voltage Regulation: The onboard LDO provides the required operating voltage for the sensor across the supported 3.3V to 5V input range.
- 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.
Technical Specifications
Sensor Model: VL53L7CX-2
Manufacturer: Boardoza
Manufacturer IC: STMicroelectronics
Functions: Multizone Time-of-Flight Distance Sensor
Supply Voltage: 3.3V ~ 5V
Internal Operating Voltage: 3.3V (generated via onboard LDO regulator)
Communication Interface: I²C
I²C Address: 0x52 (8-bit address)
Maximum I²C Speed: 1 Mbit/s
I²C Logic Level: 3.3V and 5V Compatible (SDA/SCL via bidirectional level shifters)
Control Signal Levels: 3.3V (RST, INT, LPn)
Ranging Zones: 4 × 4 or 8 × 8, up to 64 zones
Maximum Sample Rate: Up to 60Hz
Measurement Range: 2cm to 350cm per zone
Emitter Type: 940nm invisible VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser)
Safety Classification: Class 1 Eye-Safe
Detector Type: SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode) receiving array
Field of View: 60° × 60° detection FoV, 90° diagonal
Operating Temperature: -30°C to +85°C
Board Dimensions: 20mm × 20mm
Model Comparison
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 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. |
How to Select the Right Model
- 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.
Common Features of All Four Models
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
Board Pinout
( J1 ) Power & I²C Connector
| Pin Number | Pin Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground |
| 2 | SCL | I²C Serial Clock |
| 3 | SDA | I²C Serial Data |
| 4 | 5V | Positive Power Supply |
( J2 ) Power, I²C & Control Connector
| Pin Number | Pin Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5V | Positive Power Supply |
| 2 | GND | Ground |
| 3 | SDA | I²C Serial Data |
| 4 | SCL | I²C Serial Clock |
| 5 | RST | I²C interface reset input, active high. Toggle from Low to High and back to Low to reset the I²C target interface only. |
| 6 | INT | Interrupt output. Used to notify the host when ranging data or threshold events are available. |
| 7 | LPn | Communication enable input. Pulled up to 3.3V for normal operation; drive Low to disable I²C communication. |
Board Dimensions
Step Files
Datasheet
Version History
- V1.0.0 - Initial Release
Support
- If you have any questions or need support, please contact [email protected]
License
This repository contains both hardware and software components:
Hardware Design
All hardware design files are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Software/Firmware
All software and firmware are licensed under BSD 3-Clause License.
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