Create a revolutionary range-finding and distance-sensing solution with VL6180X and STM32F091RC
Automate actions based on distance
Published Feb 26, 2024
Click board™
LightRanger Click
Dev. board
Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
STM32F091RC
Achieve precise distance measurements to enhance decision-making and control.
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
LightRanger Click is based on the VL6180X, a time-of-flight distance-ranging sensor from STMicroelectronics that combines proximity-ranging and ambient light-level measurement capabilities into a single package. The VL6180X is based on ST’s patented FlightSense™ technology, which allows absolute distance to be measured independently of target reflectance. Instead of estimating the distance by measuring the amount of light reflected from the object (which is significantly influenced by color and surface), the VL6180X precisely measures the time the light takes to travel to the nearest object and reflect back to the sensor up to 10cm (ranging beyond 10cm is dependent on conditions). Combining an IR emitter, a range sensor, and an ambient light sensor in a three-in-one package, the VL6180X is
designed for low-power operation and saves the end-user optical and mechanical design optimizations. This board can also measure the intensity of light with which it is illuminated up to 100klux. The VL6180X does not need a specific Power-Up sequence but requires a voltage of 2.8V for its VCSEL and power supply block to work correctly. Therefore, a small regulating LDO, the AP7331, provides a 2.8V out of chosen mikroBUS™ power rail. LightRanger Click communicates with MCU using the standard I2C 2-Wire interface with a maximum clock frequency of 400kHz, which is fully adjustable through software registers. Since the sensor for operation requires a power supply of 2.8V, this Click board™ also features the PCA9306 and SN74LVC1T45 voltage-level translators. The I2C interface bus lines are routed to the voltage-level
translators, allowing this Click board™ to work properly with both 3.3V and 5V MCUs. Also, it can be turned ON or OFF through the EN pin routed to the CS pin of the mikroBUS™ socket; hence, offering a switch operation to place the VL6180X in a hardware standby state and uses an interrupt pin, the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, used for measurement ready and threshold interrupts. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the LOGIC SEL jumper. Therefore, both 3.3V and 5V MCUs can use the communication lines. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.
Features overview
Development board
Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU offers a cost-effective and adaptable platform for developers to explore new ideas and prototype their designs. This board harnesses the versatility of the STM32 microcontroller, enabling users to select the optimal balance of performance and power consumption for their projects. It accommodates the STM32 microcontroller in the LQFP64 package and includes essential components such as a user LED, which doubles as an ARDUINO® signal, alongside user and reset push-buttons, and a 32.768kHz crystal oscillator for precise timing operations. Designed with expansion and flexibility in mind, the Nucleo-64 board features an ARDUINO® Uno V3 expansion connector and ST morpho extension pin
headers, granting complete access to the STM32's I/Os for comprehensive project integration. Power supply options are adaptable, supporting ST-LINK USB VBUS or external power sources, ensuring adaptability in various development environments. The board also has an on-board ST-LINK debugger/programmer with USB re-enumeration capability, simplifying the programming and debugging process. Moreover, the board is designed to simplify advanced development with its external SMPS for efficient Vcore logic supply, support for USB Device full speed or USB SNK/UFP full speed, and built-in cryptographic features, enhancing both the power efficiency and security of projects. Additional connectivity is
provided through dedicated connectors for external SMPS experimentation, a USB connector for the ST-LINK, and a MIPI® debug connector, expanding the possibilities for hardware interfacing and experimentation. Developers will find extensive support through comprehensive free software libraries and examples, courtesy of the STM32Cube MCU Package. This, combined with compatibility with a wide array of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), including IAR Embedded Workbench®, MDK-ARM, and STM32CubeIDE, ensures a smooth and efficient development experience, allowing users to fully leverage the capabilities of the Nucleo-64 board in their projects.
Microcontroller Overview
MCU Card / MCU
Architecture
ARM Cortex-M0
MCU Memory (KB)
256
Silicon Vendor
STMicroelectronics
Pin count
64
RAM (Bytes)
32768
You complete me!
Accessories
Click Shield for Nucleo-64 comes equipped with two proprietary mikroBUS™ sockets, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the STM32 Nucleo-64 board with no effort. This way, Mikroe allows its users to add any functionality from our ever-growing range of Click boards™, such as WiFi, GSM, GPS, Bluetooth, ZigBee, environmental sensors, LEDs, speech recognition, motor control, movement sensors, and many more. More than 1537 Click boards™, which can be stacked and integrated, are at your disposal. The STM32 Nucleo-64 boards are based on the microcontrollers in 64-pin packages, a 32-bit MCU with an ARM Cortex M4 processor operating at 84MHz, 512Kb Flash, and 96KB SRAM, divided into two regions where the top section represents the ST-Link/V2 debugger and programmer while the bottom section of the board is an actual development board. These boards are controlled and powered conveniently through a USB connection to program and efficiently debug the Nucleo-64 board out of the box, with an additional USB cable connected to the USB mini port on the board. Most of the STM32 microcontroller pins are brought to the IO pins on the left and right edge of the board, which are then connected to two existing mikroBUS™ sockets. This Click Shield also has several switches that perform functions such as selecting the logic levels of analog signals on mikroBUS™ sockets and selecting logic voltage levels of the mikroBUS™ sockets themselves. Besides, the user is offered the possibility of using any Click board™ with the help of existing bidirectional level-shifting voltage translators, regardless of whether the Click board™ operates at a 3.3V or 5V logic voltage level. Once you connect the STM32 Nucleo-64 board with our Click Shield for Nucleo-64, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.
Used MCU Pins
mikroBUS™ mapper
Take a closer look
Click board™ Schematic
Step by step
Project assembly
Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU as your development board.
Software Support
Library Description
This library contains API for LightRanger Click driver.
Key functions:
lightranger_write_byte- This function writes a byte of data to given addresslightranger_get_ambiant_light- This function reads register and calculates the light level in luxlightranger_get_distance- This function reads range result from register.
Open Source
Code example
The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.
/*!
* \file
* \brief LightRanger Click example
*
* # Description
* This application measures and calculates ambient light intensity and distance
* from the sensor, and then logs the results.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initialization driver for sensor Vl6180X and stars logging to terminal.
*
* ## Application Task
* Measures and calculates ambient light intensity and distance from sensor,
* when the distance is changed log is updated,
* results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
* All data logs on usb uart for approximately every 1 sec when the data value changes.
*
*
* \author MikroE Team
*
*/
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "lightranger.h"
// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES
static lightranger_t lightranger;
static log_t logger;
// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg;
lightranger_cfg_t cfg;
/**
* Logger initialization.
* Default baud rate: 115200
* Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
* @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX
* are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will
* need to define them manually for log to work.
* See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
*/
LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init ----" );
// Click initialization.
lightranger_cfg_setup( &cfg );
LIGHTRANGER_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
lightranger_init( &lightranger, &cfg );
lightranger_default_cfg( &lightranger );
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
uint8_t range_value;
float lux_value;
lightranger_start_single_shot_range_mode( &lightranger );
lightranger_poll_range( &lightranger );
lightranger_interrupts_clear( &lightranger );
range_value = lightranger_get_distance( &lightranger );
log_printf( &logger, "Proximity : %u mm\r\n", ( uint16_t ) range_value );
lux_value = lightranger_get_ambiant_light( &lightranger, LIGHTRANGER_CMD_GAIN_1X );
log_printf( &logger, "Ambient Light: %.2f lux\r\n", lux_value );
log_printf( &logger, "*******************************************\r\n" );
Delay_ms ( 500 );
}
int main ( void )
{
/* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
#ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
preinit();
#endif
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
return 0;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
Additional Support
Resources
Category:Optical
