VL53L0X type sensor,but narrower cone? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Infraviolet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2024, 04:05:39 pm
content: I'm considering a project involving making a crude 3d scanner to take point clouds of objects. To this end I'd been looking up about time-of-flight sensors, but they all seem to have rather wide filed of view cones.The VL53L0X is a commonly used one, but it has a field of view of 25 degrees, whereas I'm after something much narrower.My specification for what I'd need would be:Range: 10cm to 40cm, 5cm to 40cm would be even better, but not essentialRange precision: +/-5mmSize of "spot": <1cm diameter at maximum (40cm) range, ideally <5mm at maximum range, anything thinner than 1cm right down to a pinpoint laser line is fineCan be IR or visible wavelength, or even a non-optical method like ultrasound if they can be collimated enough, but if it is laser based it needs to be low enough power to be eye safe.Interfacing must be via I2C, SPI, or something else easy to use with most 3V3 or 5V microcontrollers, via bit banging if necessary, but not CAN requiring differential 12V signalling and not the likes of something Ethernet based.I'd be expecting the price to be broadly similar to a VL53L0X carrier board, within a factor of 2 or 3 atleast. So I'm not thinking about true LIDAR ranges and accuracy.And I'd hope the chip, unles it comes in a fairly easy to solder SMD package (SOIC, TSSOP, something with outward legs not underside pads/balls), would be available on carrier board modules.Any suggestions for options? I'd tried filtering lists on various seller websites, but there wasn't an option to filter or order by field of view angle.Thanks

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2024, 05:32:20 pm
content: I've had very good result recently with photogrammetry... take 25 photos around a small object, throw then in some free software, and you get a really precise 3d model of your object, in a few minutes... you will not get a precise 3d scan with a time-of-flight sensor.

author: aliarifat794
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2024, 05:36:04 pm
content: Sharp GP2Y0E03 seems to be a good match to your specifications in terms of range, precision, and narrow beam.

author: Infraviolet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2024, 06:04:06 pm
content: That SHARP sensor is one which avoids the situation where physically large objects give a larger reading? That is to say it always gives an actual distance rather than a "what proportion of light is being reflected" reading?

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2024, 08:52:05 pm
content: I have not looked at that particular Sharp sensor, but they used to make sensors that send out a light beam (laser diode?) put the reflected image though a lens, and then measure it's location with a linear array.The principle is similar to structured light There are also DIY 3D scanners which use a laser pointer (dot, or line is more common I think), at a fixed distance and angle from a webcam, and then the webcam measures the distortion in the reflection of the reflected laser on the object.