SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-29T02:59:55-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsCustomer #363283 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #363283urn:uuid:cd6f85a9-d58c-5159-ddf8-fa7a0c4bffe52017-03-06T07:15:59-07:00<p>When they work they work well, unfortunately the library and the setup makes it rather frustrating to get working...sometimes I get range data sometimes not.. I got 4 of these and only one works.<p>Also the tutorial for the hookup with the 317 is rubbish...simply doesn't work</p></p>
scottdarch on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180scottdarchurn:uuid:dee2ed19-e732-92da-a795-1ccb9ed773952016-09-11T13:15:09-06:00<p>I've tried everything to get the GPIO1 pin to actually go low. The I2C interface is working fine and I get the expected interrupt status when I query RESULT__INTERRUPT_STATUS_GPIO but electrically the GPIO 1 pin never fluctuates. Just to review: I'm setting SYSRANGE__START to 0x03 (continuous range mode), SYSTEM__INTERRUPT_CONFIG_GPIO to 0x01 (low threshold), and I've tried both SYSTEM__MODE_GPIO1 0x10 and 0x30 (active high|low) but nothing seems to work. Again, using AtmelStudio/DebugWire I can verify the I2C interface works as expected generating the appropriate interrupt status when polled. Has anyone had any luck with this? I'd like to put my MCU into deep sleep and only wake it up on interrupt when the sensor detects something nearby.</p>
PointyOintment on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180PointyOintmenturn:uuid:8b148c28-df2b-4052-d056-6470d56752f12015-04-29T18:44:55-06:00<p>Radar modules designed for that purpose can be bought cheaply from China. I'm pretty sure I saw them on AliExpress.</p>
Customer #444741 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #444741urn:uuid:7fe3f82e-aacc-4aa1-fbf5-d535b61c2d4c2015-02-19T03:17:31-07:00<p>I think a clear fluid in a white or metallic container would have serious difficulties.
Making the container black would help, and having a fluid that was dark or densely pigmented would help too. So I doubt this works great for water or gas-tanks. Measuring distance to a white float would be needed.</p>
Customer #601055 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #601055urn:uuid:4598bf2c-6d4a-6852-afa2-8bf8901ed7442015-02-18T13:22:37-07:00<p>If you were to use this to get the fluid level of a container... would it work? or does the light just travel through the liquid and provide an inaccurate measurement?</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:b215b1c1-81bc-38d3-4a79-0b471f031ba12015-02-18T12:06:08-07:00<p>We have a second version with level shifting and voltage regulation <a href="https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12785" rel="nofollow">here</a>. We are working quickly to get it back in stock.</p>
The Kontraptionist on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180The Kontraptionisturn:uuid:0af3416f-2161-bbb6-8d10-3eb3b91bf2e52015-02-18T12:03:06-07:00<p>Adafruit would have put a 26 cent regulator and an I2C level shifter on their version of this board... Just saying. Seriously guys, the purpose of a breakout board isn't always just to solve the problem of people not being able to solder surface mount. How much does a PCA9306 cost in 250 count? 54 cents. To make the board a 'whatever you throw at it' voltage. The value of improvements like these are huge, and now you can plug it in to you Edison OR your Uno. With no extra crap!</p>
xkcdFan1011011101111 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180xkcdFan1011011101111urn:uuid:7f85cd78-e89f-9df2-a43f-34161774a4812015-02-17T11:27:11-07:00<p>The full datasheet is up now. Thanks for updating!</p>
Customer #586268 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #586268urn:uuid:92032efc-b3d1-9221-8d74-453ed53122bc2015-02-17T05:32:56-07:00<p>Wicked</p>
bentwookiee on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180bentwookieeurn:uuid:90ca8a86-5609-912f-90bc-3828521782462015-02-16T06:42:19-07:00<p>Indeed. They make the development tools cheap, so that you (or your company) are more likely to spend the big bucks when it comes to ordering components (their bread and butter) in high quantities. For SF, these types of things are their livelihood, so why shouldn't they make money on them? Even if you just look at it as a way of subsidizing the work they do in support of the maker community, it's still worth more than they charge in a lot of cases. I owe them thousands just for the time their Eagle and code libraries have saved me!</p>
purplebadger on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180purplebadgerurn:uuid:85eaac50-d39d-a183-79cf-3ff5d563023f2015-02-15T12:25:40-07:00<p>Cheers! I'll post on here if I hear back from ST</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:db5447ef-f0b8-2772-4397-4fe069f7feba2015-02-15T10:25:09-07:00<p>We had an FAE come and show it off. They might have these floating around but I don't remember where to find it.<p>Edit: Found a link to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_EzdKc9oQg" rel="nofollow">video</a> that might help?</p></p>
purplebadger on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180purplebadgerurn:uuid:65464480-94ce-fede-3bab-a985cc9027522015-02-15T08:25:22-07:00<p>Was it an ST demo? As I've just given them an email to see if they can provide some information on how to get such an accuracy</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:b977c90c-296d-0c12-4a66-7dda36c7266b2015-02-15T07:38:21-07:00<p>Unfortunately it was not a public demo. :(</p>
purplebadger on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180purplebadgerurn:uuid:0c17d35c-251d-3bf3-081b-0a5376ceb5012015-02-15T05:37:29-07:00<p>Hi, do you mind providing a link to that demo please. As I'm
very interested.<p>cheers
Chris</p></p>
xkcdFan1011011101111 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180xkcdFan1011011101111urn:uuid:1124e02d-f4aa-8775-de9b-a3521bca15952015-02-14T07:38:06-07:00<p>No, you don't have the data sheet posted. What your website claims to be a data sheet is actually the "preliminary data brief"; it is only four pages long, was written in Jan 2014, and doesn't include the register map!<p>The actual data sheet, available at http://www.st.com/st-web-ui/static/active/en/resource/technical/document/datasheet/DM00112632.pdf, was written on Aug 2014, is 74 pages long, and contains useful information not available in the data brief.</p></p>
TECH GEEK on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180TECH GEEKurn:uuid:43fd64a9-b48f-87f3-270f-c65aa6009bd52015-02-13T15:31:04-07:00<p>Ahh, but if you could use this instead of 'cheap' inductive probe, you could use any type of bed! No longer would you need to have bed of heavy metal. ;)</p>
Customer #393697 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #393697urn:uuid:15fd1009-2f95-4d29-d071-765a52b1618a2015-02-13T15:26:32-07:00<p>Depends. If the repeatability is good (e.g. switches from 2mm to 1mm at the same distance from heat bed every time) then I can just work out the actual offset and adjust the slicer/firmware accordingly. Exact same process as the inductance sensor I use. The advantage over the inductance sensor (which is just an open collector on/off switch) is that I could vary the z axis feed rate based on the distance from the bed with less concern of it smashing into the head bed if it is travelling too fast.
Of course spending extra money on this sensor over the cheap inductance sensor to save 30 seconds during bed leveling seems over the top if a print takes 5 hrs anyway.<p>There are plenty of other projects I'd like to try it out on though!</p></p>
Customer #142854 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #142854urn:uuid:bcafcba5-fad6-9e43-a886-4480b78e2d4b2015-02-13T14:17:05-07:00<p>The datasheet you linked is actually a very out-of-date preliminary data brief. Also, you can see in the official datasheet that the range value is stored in RESULT__RANGE_VAL, an unsigned 8-bit register with units of mm. An unsigned 8-bit register cannot store values exceeding 25.5cm, and I think your claim of "up to 50cm" is very misleading.</p>
Customer #142854 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Customer #142854urn:uuid:0911590e-04c0-64dc-8baa-187dfd06ed802015-02-13T14:10:50-07:00<p>Warning to everyone about to buy this: the product description makes false claims about the ranging ability of the sensor. Sparkfun is claiming that this sensor "Measures absolute range up to 50cm", however this is not physically possible under ANY conditions.<p>To obtain a range measurement you must read the value stored in the RESULT__RANGE_VAL register. This is an unsigned 8-bit register that has units of mm. Since this is an 8-bit register, the maximum possible value is 255 mm. In other words, it is impossible to read a value higher than 25.5cm from this sensor.</p><p>An old preliminary data brief (that is now out-of-date) claimed up to 50cm for proximity ranging, however, ST has since switched to storing the range value in an 8-bit register which can no longer store values higher than 25.5cm.</p></p>
CrazyMerlin on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CrazyMerlinurn:uuid:895dcf7b-ab82-09d5-452e-9dc5498852282015-02-13T11:58:48-07:00<p>That may be true, but what happened to vendor loyalty. I find many things cheaper than at SF but I like to shop at SF :)</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:4fba8e67-8d06-6769-5ff9-4d0f4ae5ec7d2015-02-13T11:01:44-07:00<p>Very soon.</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:e0789a6e-587b-56c3-1bbc-ec5ac068c3282015-02-13T11:01:14-07:00<p>We have the <a href="https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13167" rel="nofollow">LIDAR Lite</a>, but it may not be great outdoors. Outdoor laser rangefinders suitable for automobiles are still in the thousand's of dollar price range. If you just need obstable detection there is a radar unit from delphi <a href="http://www.autonomoustuff.com/delphi-automotive-radar.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I think it was $800 last time I got one (life before SparkFun). Pretty cool but maybe not what you want.</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:7c9c873e-8516-bba8-5954-2955d29c9fe32015-02-13T10:57:09-07:00<p>In the appnote there should be mention of crosstalk compensation.
<em>5.1.1 Cross talk calibration procedure</em></p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:86dee681-8ec7-82b0-4dd2-82231eadd3082015-02-13T10:54:59-07:00<p>It is, but ST subsidizes their eval kits pretty heavily.</p>
Maeth on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180Maethurn:uuid:e06a019b-7913-2d7f-ce65-5b0d4e2b84cf2015-02-13T10:45:37-07:00<p>Sparkfun, it is actually cheaper and way more flexible to go with STM's own dev kit!<p>http://ca.mouser.com/ProductDetail/STMicroelectronics/EVALKIT-VL6180X/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvfpQN6QVmrfGjb%252b49cDybCa83Lgq8kEXU%3d</p></p>
dragonet80 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180dragonet80urn:uuid:33e6f96d-b12d-0cdd-736a-3e4e24a19d6c2015-02-13T10:32:45-07:00<p>25cm also sounds good. But I am still confused. ST downgraded specifications from 50cm to 10cm? If ST only guarantees 10cm, but you get 25cm (2,5 times better), I think it will only work on very specific circumstances, is it? As nsa asked for, can you post a little video of it working at that distance?</p>
dvdnhm on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180dvdnhmurn:uuid:4a7811d5-3ad4-961b-10b1-30a8b9125bf62015-02-13T10:07:58-07:00<p>while we are in related topic; what should I use for distance around 50 meter for a car application?</p>
rxn on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180rxnurn:uuid:a90f1c43-8bac-f91a-32a5-140224248a642015-02-13T09:29:31-07:00<p>What happens when 2 of these are close by each other, do they interfere?</p>
nsa on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180nsaurn:uuid:5eb42578-bd67-70db-65d8-c5f4e7f2cb4e2015-02-13T09:14:53-07:00<p>dont you have a video of using this one?</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:04ea091b-f29f-d8bc-e463-2c125902bc382015-02-13T08:43:58-07:00<p>Datasheet and Appnotes are up now.</p>
xkcdFan1011011101111 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180xkcdFan1011011101111urn:uuid:4a0cc2e3-d677-5bed-ddfd-0150bb076aaa2015-02-13T07:51:19-07:00<p>Please consider linking to the actual data sheet, rather than just the product brief.<p>The datasheet is available here: http://www.st.com/st-web-ui/static/active/en/resource/technical/document/datasheet/DM00112632.pdf</p><p>A major point of interest that is deceptively challenging to find is how frequently the sensor may perform measurements. It seems as though there is a tradeoff as to whether one wishes to perform range measurements only, ambient light measurements only, or both.</p><p>I'm interested in just range measurements. The minimum measurement period according to the datasheet appears to be controlled by the SYSRANGE__INTERMEASUREMENT_PERIOD register. At its fastest setting (setting this register to zero), the range measurement period (when in continuous range measurement only mode) is 10 ms.</p><p>Note that this sensor's max range (according to the datasheet) is only 10 cm, but Casey (from SF) reports he can get reliable measurements out to 25 cm. Also note this sensor uses IR, so it may not work very well outdoors.</p></p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:31bc30ac-8f6c-6463-1eb3-f05606fd21612015-02-13T07:17:57-07:00<p>Sorry about the confusion, as for the 10cm Range, I am reliably measuring ranges up to 25cm on my work bench. I think there was also some confusion on which data sheet to post. ST is fairly tight lipped when it comes to advanced sensors. The data sheets I worked from were released under NDA. Now that the sensor is live I see they changed their mind on what the sensor is capable of. I will get things updated ASAP. Thanks for pointing this out.</p>
dragonet80 on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180dragonet80urn:uuid:af9b3cb5-6d10-32d9-5128-8d95347b33a22015-02-13T06:49:27-07:00<p>I first was very excited about this new sensor. But when I investigated it I discovered you are incorrectly advertising it as a 50cm sensor when it is limited to only 10cm.
This is the official web:
http://www.st.com/web/catalog/mmc/FM132/CL2136/SC1934/PF260441?s_searchtype=partnumber
And the original datasheet (79 pages), not the very limited version (only 4 pages) you posted:
http://www.st.com/st-web-ui/static/active/en/resource/technical/document/datasheet/DM00112632.pdf<p>Very disapointing to me. With a 50cm range it should have been a very usefull sensor, but a 10cm version does not make much sense to me.</p><p>Can you correct it?</p></p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:a07cf9c8-fae6-d36f-2668-5bc02cfa62a82015-02-12T19:35:37-07:00<p>I saw a demo with .1mm resolution but I have yet to find the magic settings to make that work.<p>Edit: I looked back on all my data and I remembered this incorrectly. I saw 1mm resolution from the device averaged. From the data sheet it should be able to resolve to 1mm +/- 3mm.</p></p>
TECH GEEK on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180TECH GEEKurn:uuid:6c4c76d0-f2cd-5cf2-7512-e32e9647b4e52015-02-12T19:33:46-07:00<p>So it probably wont be of much use for leveling a print bed then?</p>
CaseyTheRobot on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180CaseyTheRoboturn:uuid:6b43da9d-5f6c-89c6-bc5c-f3c0d91058782015-02-12T19:32:29-07:00<p>1mm resolution, it has been shown to be fairly accurate +/- 1mm. Accuracy improves with calibration, I'll dig up the appnote I have been working with. There are a ton of parameters you can tweak to get better performance.</p>
TECH GEEK on SEN-12784 - SparkFun ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180TECH GEEKurn:uuid:65f935fe-aa68-07d4-8449-99dea749e0de2015-02-12T19:25:55-07:00<p>What is the accuracy and resolution of this thing? Would be neat if could be used to level a 3D printer bed instead of an inductive probe.</p>