Quick Start Guide
Time-of-Flight 8x8 multizone ranging sensor
with 90° FoV VL53L7CX expansion board for
STM32 Nucleo
October 2022
Quick Start Guide Contents
Hardware Overview
Setup & Demo Examples
Documents & Related Resources
STM32 Open Development Environment: Overview
2
VL53L7CX - 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
Hardware Overview (1/2)
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 Hardware Description
•
The X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 is a 8x8 multizone
ranging sensor with 90° FoV and development
board designed around the VL53L7CX sensor
based on ST FlightSense™ patented technology
•
The VL53L7CX communicates with the STM32
Nucleo developer board host microcontroller
through an I2C link available on the Arduino UNO
R3 connector.
Key Products on board
VL53L7CX 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
0.25, 0.5 and 1mm spacers to simulate air gaps, with
the cover glasses
VL53L7CX
Breakout boards
Spacers
SATEL-VL53L7CX breakout boards can be purchased
separately
Cover glass
Breakout boards
connectors
Arduino UNO
R3 connectors
Order Code: X-NUCLEO-53L7A1
Latest info available at www.st.com
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1
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VL53L7CX - 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
Hardware Overview (2/2)
• X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 expansion board
•
VL53L7CX devices in custom applications can be integrated with
expansion board, or external VL53L7CX breakout.
•
The breakout boards are delivered separately.
• X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 is also available as a NUCLEO Pack
(P-NUCLEO-53L7A1)
•
The X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 expansion board can also be ordered
on www.st.com as part of a NUCLEO Pack with expansion board
and STM32 NUCLEO board.
•
Order code: P-NUCLEO-53L7A1:
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 expansion board and NUCLEO-F401RE full
features board.
• VL53L7CX breakout boards can be ordered separately
•
Order code: SATEL-VL53L7CX
•
The pack carry two breakout boards
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Time-of-Flight sensors Software Environment
STM32Cube Software Overview
X-CUBE-TOF1 software description
• The X-CUBE-TOF1 software package is a STM32Cube
expansion for the expansion boards of the Time-ofFlight product family (including the X-NUCLEO-53L7A1)
for STM32. The source code is based on STM32Cube
to ease portability and code sharing across different
STM32 MCU families. A sample implementation is
available for the STM32 Nucleo ranging sensor
expansion board (X-NUCLEO-53L7A1) plugged on top
of an STM32 Nucleo development board (NUCLEOF401RE or NUCLEO-L476RG).
Application
Ranging measurement example
Hardware
Abstraction
STM32Cube Hardware Abstraction Layer
(HAL)
STM32 Nucleo expansion board
Key features
• Driver layer (VL53L7CX ULD) for complete
management of the VL53L7CX High accuracy ranging
sensor integrated in the X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 expansion
board.
• Easy portability across different MCU families,
thanks to STM32Cube.
• Free, user-friendly license terms.
• Sample code for ranging measurement.
Hardware
X-NUCLEO-53L1A2 (sense)
X-NUCLEO-53L3A2 (sense)
X-NUCLEO-53L4A1 (sense)
X-NUCLEO-53L4A2 (sense
X-NUCLEO-53L5A1 (sense)
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 (sense)
STM32 Nucleo development board
Latest SW available at www.st.com
X-CUBE-TOF1
5
Quick Start Guide Contents
Hardware Overview
Setup & Demo Examples
Documents & Related Resources
STM32 Open Development Environment: Overview
6
Setup & Demo Examples
HW prerequisites
• 1x High accuracy ToF sensor expansion board
based on VL53L7CX (X-NUCLEO-53L7A1).
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1
• 1x STM32 Nucleo development board
(NUCLEO-F401RE for example)
• 1x Laptop/PC with Windows
NUCLEO-F401RE
• 1x USB type A to Mini-B USB cable
• If you don’t have an STM32 Nucleo development board,
you can order a Nucleo pack (P-NUCLEO-53L7A1):
•
P-NUCLEO-53L7A1
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 expansion board and NUCLEO-F401RE
full features board delivered together.
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Setup & Demo Examples
SW prerequisites
• STSW-IMG036: Ultra Lite Driver (ULD) for VL53L7CX
• STSW-IMG037: P-NUCLEO-53L7A1 Graphical User Interface (GUI) on Windows 7 and 10
• STSW-IMG038: Linux driver for VL53L7CX
• X-CUBE-TOF1: Time-of-Flight sensors software expansion for STM32Cube.
•
When you install the X-CUBE-TOF1 the installer install also the directory containing the example projects here for instance :
•
C:\Users\<user_name>\STM32Cube\Repository\Packs\STMicroelectronics\X-CUBE-TOF1\<version of the X-Cube-TOF1>\Projects\NUCLEOF401RE\Examples\53L7A1\53L7A1_SimpleRanging.
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Setup & Demo Examples
NUCLEO Kit driver installation
1. Connect the P-NUCLEO to the PC through USB
•
Wait for the board to be recognized;
the drivers are installed automatically)
•
If Windows cannot install automatically the
STLINK driver, please follow step 2
2. Install the PC USB port driver to detect the Nucleo board
•
Download STSW-LINK009 from www.st.com
•
Unzip and double click on “stlink_winusb_install.bat” to install the driver
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Setup & Demo Examples
VL53L7CX GUI software installation
GUI is generally the first and easy tool to evaluate the device
• Perform HW installation and connect the VL53L7CX expansion board + Nucleo F401RE to the PC
• Install the GUI SW for VL53L7CX Demo and configuration settings
•
STSW-IMG037, downloaded from www.st.com
•
Run the installer with Admin privileges
The Graphical User Interface can:
• Perform the offset and Xtalk calibration and visualize calibration data
• Change key parameters of VL53L7CX
• Display real time the data (distance, signal, ambient rate)
• Get data logging and replay a datalog (.csv file)
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Setup & Demo Examples
VL53L7CX GUI software installation
11
Setup & Demo Examples
X-CUBE-TOF1 software installation
• Perform HW installation and connect the NUCLEO kit ( P-NUCLEO-53L7A1) to the PC
• Install the X-CUBE-TOF1 SW package
•
X-CUBE-TOF1 rev 3.2.0 or newer, downloaded from www.st.com
•
The X-CUBE-TOF1 is installed through STM32CubeMx, manage software installation section.
•
Once the X-CUBE-TOF1 is installed. Go to
•
C:\Users\<user_name>\STM32Cube\Repository\Packs\STMicroelectronics\X-CUBE-TOF1\<version of the X-CubeTOF1>\Projects\NUCLEO-F401RE\Examples\53L7A1\53L7A1_SimpleRanging
X-CUBE software package contents: API SW + SW examples
Compiled HTLM file generated from the source code
VL53L7CX ULD
There is the same folder for STM32L476RG-Nucleo
VL53L7CX project examples
VL53L7CX project examples for Multi Sensor Ranging, Simple Ranging & Threshold Detection:
- pre-compiled binary files to evaluate the sensor
- Pre-compiled projects for STM32CubeIDE, Keil and IAR
12
VL53L7CX - 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
Evaluation code example (.bin) using X-CUBE-TOF1 and a NUCLEO Pack
Follow the instructions from the UM3108 (How to use the VL53L7CX with
STMicroelectronics' X-CUBE-TOF1 Time-of-Flight sensor software
packages for STM32CubeMX) that can be found on st.com
Drag and
Drop .bin files
from the directory
to
13
VL53L7CX - 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
Start programming with code examples using
X-CUBE-TOF1 and a NUCLEO Pack
Follow the instructions from the UM3108 (How to use the VL53L7CX with
STMicroelectronics' X-CUBE-TOF1 Time-of-Flight sensor software
packages for STM32CubeMX) that can be found on st.com
Open project example for Simple Ranging
And modify, build application SW
•
•
Same folders exist for Multi Sensor
Ranging and Threshold Detection projects
Same folders exist for L476RG board
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Quick Start Guide Contents
Hardware Overview
Setup & Demo Examples
Documents & Related Resources
STM32 Open Development Environment: Overview
15
Documents & Related Resources
1/2
All documents are available in the Documentation tab of the related products webpage
X-NUCLEO-53L7A1:
• Data Brief DB4808: Time-of-Flight 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV expansion board based on the VL53L7CX for STM32 Nucleo
• User Manual UM3067: Getting started with X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 High accuracy Time-of-Flight sensor based on the VL53L7CX for STM32 Nucleo
• X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 SCHEMATICS
• X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 GERBER
P-NUCLEO-53L7A1:
• Data Brief DB4871: VL53L7CX Nucleo pack with X-NUCLEO-53L7A1 expansion board and STM32F401RE Nucleo board
SATEL-VL53L7CX:
• Data Brief DB4809: VL53L7CX breakout board High accuracy Time-of-Flight Sensor
• SATEL-VL53L7CX SCHEMATIC
• SATEL-VL53L7CX GERBER
X-CUBE-TOF1: Software package for STM32Cube
• Data Brief DB4449: Time-of-Flight sensors software expansion for STM32Cube
• User Manual UM3108: Getting started with the STMicroelectronics X-CUBE-TOF1, Time-of-Flight sensors, software package for STM32CubeMX
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Documents & Related Resources
2/2
All documents are available in the Documentation tab of the related products webpage
VL53L7CX:
• Datasheet DS13865: Time-of-Flight 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
• Data Brief DB4796: Time-of-Flight 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
STSW-IMG036:
• Data Brief DB4810: Ultra lite driver (ULD) application programming interface (API) for the VL53L7CX Time-of-Flight 8x8 multizone ranging sensor with 90° FoV
STSW-IMG037:
• Data Brief DB4811: P-NUCLEO-53L7A1 pack graphical user interface (GUI)
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Quick Start Guide Contents
Hardware Overview
Setup & Demo Examples
Documents & Related Resources
STM32 Open Development Environment: Overview
18
STM32 ODE Ecosystem
FAST, AFFORDABLE PROTOTYPING AND
DEVELOPMENT
The STM32 Open Development Environment (ODE) is an open, flexible, easy and affordable way to
develop innovative devices and applications based on the STM32 32-bit microcontroller family combined
with other state-of-the-art ST components connected via expansion boards. It enables fast prototyping
with leading-edge components that can quickly be transformed into final designs.
The STM32 ODE includes the following five elements:
o STM32 Nucleo development boards. A comprehensive range of affordable development boards for all
STM32 microcontroller series, with unlimited unified expansion capability, and with integrated
debugger/programmer
o STM32 Nucleo expansion boards. Boards with additional functionality to add sensing, control,
connectivity, power, audio or other functions as needed. The expansion boards are plugged on top of
the STM32 Nucleo development boards. More complex functionalities can be achieved by stacking
additional expansion boards
o STM32Cube software. A set of free-of-charge tools and embedded software bricks to enable fast and
easy development on the STM32, including a Hardware Abstraction Layer, middleware and the
STM32CubeMX PC-based configurator and code generator
o STM32Cube expansion software. Expansion software provided free of charge for use with STM32
Nucleo expansion boards, and compatible with the STM32Cube software framework
o STM32Cube Function Packs. Set of function examples for some of the most common application
cases built by leveraging the modularity and interoperability of STM32 Nucleo development boards
and expansions, with STM32Cube software and expansions.
The STM32 Open Development Environment is compatible with a wide range of development
environments including STM32CubeIDE, IAR EWARM, Keil MDK-ARM, and GCC/LLVM-based IDEs,
with the possibility to integrate the various components such as STM32CubeMX,
STM32CubeProgrammer or STM32CubeMonitor.
STM32 Nucleo
development boards
STM32Cube
development boards
STM32 Nucleo
expansion boards (X-NUCLEO)
STM32Cube
expansion software (X-CUBE)
Function Packs
STM32 Open Development Environment:
all that you need
The combination of a broad range of expandable boards based
on leading-edge commercial products and modular software,
from driver to application level, enables fast prototyping of ideas
that can be smoothly transformed into final designs.
To start your design:
•
•
•
•
•
Choose the appropriate STM32 Nucleo development board
(NUCLEO) and expansion (X-NUCLEO) boards (sensors,
connectivity, audio, motor control etc.) for the functionality you need.
Select your development environment (IAR EWARM, Keil MDK and
GCC/LLVM-based IDEs) and use the free STM32Cube tools and
software such as STM32CubeMX, STM32CubeProgrammer,
STM32CubeMonitor or STM32CubeIDE.
Download all the necessary software to run the functionality on the
selected STM32 Nucleo expansion boards.
Compile your design and upload it to the STM32 Nucleo
development board.
The building blocks
Your need
Our answer
Accelerometer, gyroscope
Inertial modules, magnetometer
Pressure, temperature, humidity
Proximity, microphone
Bluetooth LE
Sub-GHz radio
NFC, GNSS
IO-Link
Touch controller
LED drivers
Stepper motor driver
DC & BLDC motor driver
Sense
Connect
HMI
Move
Industrial input / output
Energy management & battery
USB
General-purpose microcontrollers
Secure microcontrollers
Power
Process
COLLECT
TRANSMIT
ACCESS
ACTUATE
POWER
PROCESS
Software
Then start developing and testing your application.
Software developed on the STM32 Open Development
Environment prototyping hardware can be directly used in an
advanced prototyping board or in an end product design using
the same commercial ST components, or components from
the same family as those found on the STM32 Nucleo boards.
Power supply
through USB
or external
source
STM32
microcontroller
Integrated
debugging and
programming
ST-LINK probe
Complete product range
from ultra-low power to
high-performance
ST morpho extension header
Arduino™ UNO R3 extension
headers
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