Quick Start Guide
Ranging and gesture detection sensor expansion board based on VL53L0X for STM32 Nucleo (X-NUCLEO-53L0A1)
Version 1.0 (May 30, 2016)
An image shows the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board with a 4-digit display, connected to a STM32 Nucleo board. The STMicroelectronics logo 'life.augmented' is also visible.
Quick Start Guide Contents
- X-NUCLEO-53L0A1: Ranging and gesture detection sensor expansion board - Hardware and Software overview
- Setup & Demo Examples
- Documents & Related Resources
- STM32 Open Development Environment: Overview
Hardware Overview (1/2)
X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 Hardware Description
- The X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 is a ranging and gesture detection sensor evaluation and development board system, designed around VL53L0X, a device based on ST's FlightSense™, Time-of-Flight technology.
- The VL53L0X communicates with STM32 Nucleo developer board host microcontroller through an I2C link available on the Arduino UNO R3 connector.
Key Products on board
- VL53L0X proximity and gesture detection sensor module.
- 4-digit display, displaying the distance of a target from the ranging sensor.
- 0.25, 0.5 and 1mm spacers to simulate air gaps.
- Cover glass
- 2x VL53L0X satellite boards
Diagram showing the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 board connected to Arduino UNO R3 connectors. Labels indicate GND, SDA, SCL, 2V8 pins. A legend shows 'Holder for spacers and cover glass' and 'VL53L0X satellites'.
Order Code: X-NUCLEO-53L0A1
Latest info available at www.st.com/x-nucleo-53l0a1
Hardware Overview (2/2)
X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board
- In order to easily integrate multiple VL53L0X's into customer devices, up to 2 external satellite VL53L0X boards can be connected to the expansion board.
- These satellites are delivered with the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1.
X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 also available as a Nucleo pack (P-NUCLEO-53L0A1)
- The X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board can also be ordered on www.st.com as a Nucleo pack, combining the expansion board and the STM32 Nucleo board:
- Order code: P-NUCLEO-53L0A1: X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board and NUCLEO-F401RE full features board.
Two images show the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 board, one with satellite boards attached, and another showing the P-NUCLEO-53L0A1 pack which includes the expansion board and a Nucleo board.
STM32Cube Software Overview
X-CUBE-53L0A1 Software Description
- The X-CUBE-53L0A1 software package is an expansion for STM32Cube, associated with the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board for STM32. The source code of this package is based on STM32Cube to ease portability and code sharing across different STM32 MCU families. Implementation examples are available for the STM32 Nucleo ranging and gesture detection sensor expansion board (X-NUCLEO-53L0A1) plugged on top of an STM32 Nucleo development board (NUCLEO-F401RE or NUCLEO-L476RG).
Key features
- Driver layer (VL53L0X API) for complete management of the VL53L0X ranging and gesture detection sensor integrated in the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board.
- Easy portability across different MCU families, thanks to STM32Cube.
- Free, user-friendly license terms.
- Example code for ranging measurement.
- Example code for ranging with multiple VL53L0X sensors.
- Up to 3x VL53L0X devices can be controlled using the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board.
- Tap ans swipe examples code of gesture detection with one or two VL53L0X sensors.
A block diagram illustrates the X-CUBE-53L0A1 package structure, showing categories like Utilities, Applications, Middlewares, Drivers, HW Components, and their sub-components such as Gesture Detect, GestureDetect Lib, RangingWithSatellites, Examples, Hardware Abstraction Layer API, STM32, VL53L0X, Boards Support Packages, STM32 Nucleo Board, and X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 Expansion Board.
Latest SW available at www.st.com/x-cube-53l0a1
Setup & Demo Examples
HW prerequisites
- 1x Ranging and gesture detection expansion board based on VL53L0X (X-NUCLEO-53L0A1).
- 1x STM32 Nucleo development board (NUCLEO-F401RE or NUCLEO-L476RG).
- 1x Laptop/PC with MS Windows supported.
- 1x USB type A to Mini-B USB cable.
- If user has no STM32 Nucleo development board, it is possible to order the Nucleo pack.
- P-NUCLEO-53L0A1: X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 expansion board and NUCLEO-F401RE full features board.
Images show the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 board, the NUCLEO-F401RE or NUCLEO-L476RG board, and the P-NUCLEO-53L0A1 pack.
SW prerequisites
- STSW-LINK009: ST-LINKV2-1 USB driver
- STSW-LINK007: ST-LINKV2-1 firmware upgrade
- X-CUBE-53L0A1: P-NUCLEO-53L0A1 software expansion. Copy the .zip file content into a folder on your PC. The package will contain source code examples (Keil, IAR, System Workbench) based on NUCLEO-F401RE or NUCLEO-L476RG for STM32Cube.
- STSW-IMG006: P-NUCLEO-53L0A1 Graphical User Interface (GUI) on Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Start coding with X-CUBE-53L0A1 in six steps
A six-step process diagram illustrates how to start coding.
- Go to www.st.com/x-nucleo
- Select X-NUCLEO-53L0A1
- Download & unpack X-CUBE-53L0A1. A list of package contents is shown: _htmresc, Documentation, Drivers, Middlewares, Projects, Release_Notes.html, Generic Nucleo & package docs, VL53L0X API driver, Gesture detection library, VL53L0X examples projects.
- Download & install STM32 Nucleo ST-LINK/V2-1 USB driver (STSW-LINK009 and STSW-LINK007).
- Open project example: RangingWithSatellites or GestureDetect.
- Modify, build application.
The diagram includes icons for STMicroelectronics, Keil, IAR, STM32, and a USB symbol ?.
Evaluate using X-CUBE-53L0A1 and a NUCLEO board
A diagram shows the evaluation process.
- A file explorer view of the STM32Cube Expansion_VL53L0X_Vx.y.z folder structure is displayed, including _htmresc, Documentation, Drivers, Middlewares, Projects, Multi, Applications (VL53L0X, GestureDetect, Binary with VL53L0X_GestureDetect_F401.bin and VL53L0X_GestureDetect_L476.bin), and Examples (VL53L0X, RangingWithSatellites, Binary with VL53L0X_Ranging_F401.bin and VL53L0X_Ranging_L476.bin).
- Instruction to Open: UM2046: Getting started with VL53L0X ranging, gesture detection sensor software expansion for STM32Cube and follow the instructions.
- Instruction to Drag and drop to a computer's file system view showing a USB drive labeled 'NUCLEO (F:)'.
An image of the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1 board connected to a Nucleo board is shown.
Documents & Related Resources
All documents are available in the DESIGN tab of the related products webpage
X-NUCLEO-53L0A1: Product Folder
- BOM and schematic included in UM2047
- DB2901: Ranging and gesture detection sensor expansion board based on VL53L0X for STM32 Nucleo – data brief
- UM2047: Getting started with the X-NUCLEO-53L0A1; ranging and gesture detection sensor expansion board based on VL53L0X for STM32 Nucleo – user manual
X-CUBE-53L0A1: Product Folder
- DB2902: VL53L0X Time-of-Flight (TOF) ranging and gesture detection sensor software expansion for STM32Cube – data brief
- UM2046: Getting started with X-CUBE-53L0A1; ranging and gesture detection sensor software expansion for STM32Cube – user manual
- Software setup file
STSW-IMG006: Product Folder
- DB2904: P-NUCLEO-53L0A1 pack PC graphical user interface (GUI) – data brief
- Software setup file
Consult www.st.com for the complete list
STM32 Open Development Environment
Fast, affordable Prototyping and Development
- The STM32 Open Development Environment (ODE) consists of a set of stackable boards and a modular open SW environment designed around the STM32 microcontroller family.
A diagram shows the components of the STM32 Open Development Environment. It includes STM32Cube development software, STM32 Nucleo expansion boards (X-NUCLEO), STM32 Nucleo development boards, STM32Cube expansion software (X-CUBE), and Function Packs (FP). The central element is the 'STM32 Open Development Environment' logo.
www.st.com/stm32ode
STM32 Nucleo Development Boards (NUCLEO)
- A comprehensive range of affordable development boards for all the STM32 microcontroller series, with unlimited unified expansion capabilities and integrated debugger/programmer functionality.
A diagram shows a typical STM32 Nucleo board. Labels indicate 'Power supply through USB or external source' and 'Integrated debugging and programming ST-LINK probe'. A section shows various STM32 microcontroller families (STM32 F0, F1, F2, F3, F4, F7, L0, L1). Other labels point to 'Complete product range from ultra-low power to high-performance', 'ST morpho extension header', and 'Arduino™ UNO R3 extension headers'.
www.st.com/stm32nucleo
STM32 Nucleo Expansion Boards (X-NUCLEO)
- Boards with additional functionality that can be plugged directly on top of the STM32 Nucleo development board directly or stacked on another expansion board.
A diagram shows categories of expansion boards with icons: 'Sense' (stylized sensor), 'Connect' (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth symbol ?), 'Power' (battery icon ?), 'Move/Actuate' (motor icon ⚙️), 'Interact' (speaker icon ?). An example expansion board (X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1) is shown with labels 'Motion MEMS sensors' and 'Environmental sensors'. 'DIL24 support for new devices' is also indicated.
www.st.com/x-nucleo
STM32 Open Development Environment
Software components
- STM32Cube software (CUBE) - A set of free tools and embedded software bricks to enable fast and easy development on the STM32, including a Hardware Abstraction Layer and middleware bricks.
- STM32Cube expansion software (X-CUBE) - Expansion software provided free for use with the STM32 Nucleo expansion board and fully compatible with the STM32Cube software framework. It provides abstracted access to expansion board functionality through high-level APIs and sample applications.
- Compatibility with multiple Development Environments - The STM32 Open Development Environment is compatible with a number of IDEs including IAR EWARM, Keil MDK, and GCC-based environments. Users can choose from three IDEs from leading vendors, which are free of charge and deployed in close cooperation with ST. These include Eclipse-based IDEs such as Ac6 System Workbench for STM32 and the MDK-ARM environment.
A table-like structure shows software components. 'Tools & IDEs' lists IAR EWARM, Keil MDK-ARM, GCC-based IDEs. 'Applications' lists Sample applications and Application examples. 'Middleware' lists STM32Cube middleware and STM32Cube expansion middleware. 'Hardware Abstraction' lists STM32Cube Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). 'Hardware' lists STM32 Nucleo expansion boards (X-NUCLEO) and STM32 Nucleo developer boards.
OPEN LICENSE MODELS: STM32Cube software and sample applications are covered by a mix of fully open source BSD license and ST licenses with very permissive terms.
www.st.com/stm32cube
www.st.com/x-cube
STM32 Open Development Environment
Building block approach
A diagram illustrates the 'Building block approach'. It has three columns: 'The building blocks', 'Your need', and 'Our answer'.
- 'The building blocks' lists categories: Sense (e.g., Accelerometer, gyroscope, Pressure, temperature, humidity, Proximity, microphone), Connect (e.g., Bluetooth LE, Sub-GHz radio, NFC, Wi-Fi, GNSS ?), Translate (e.g., Audio amplifier, Touch controller, Operation Amplifier), Move/Actuate (e.g., Stepper motor driver, DC & BLDC motor driver, Industrial input/output ⚙️), Power (e.g., Energy management & battery ?), Process (e.g., General-purpose microcontrollers, Secure microcontrollers), Software.
- 'Your need' lists corresponding actions: COLLECT, TRANSMIT, ACCESS, CREATE, POWER, PROCESS.
- 'Our answer' shows the 'STM32 Open Development Environment' logo and images of connected boards, with 'STM32 Cube' and 'STM32 Nucleo' labels.
