Laser Range
It measures distance and checks the chip is genuine
Page 44 uses a VL53L0X (I2C 0x29) to measure distance: centimetres in large digits, a zone label (very close / close / mid / far / very far), a reverse bar that fills as you get closer, and the raw millimetre value.
This is the only peripheral here that can verify its own chip: register 0xC0 must read 0xEE. That lets the health score say βID=0xXX, not 0xEE β this is not a VL53L0Xβ, which immediately separates a mislabelled module from a wiring problem.
On-screen interface
A recreation of this page on the 2.41-inch AMOLED display (600 Γ 450). Actual interaction and layout follow the latest firmware.
Key capabilities
Centimetres
Large distance plus five zones, and the raw millimetres.
ID check
Reads 0xC0 and expects 0xEE, so counterfeits are obvious.
Correct sequence
Start, poll, read, clear interrupt β none of the four steps skipped.
Typed diagnostics
βID right but ranging failedβ means wiring is not the problem.
Technical specs
Typical scenarios
Bin level
Mounted at the top of a container, looking down at the contents.
Obstacle sensing
Front-facing range sensing alongside the RC car on page 29.
Related commands
page 44 Open laser range vl Read distance and zone once vl on | off Start or stop periodic ranging
- One measurement must follow the sequence: write 0x00=0x01, poll bit0 of 0x13, read 0x1E/0x1F, then write 0x0B=0x01 to clear the interrupt. Reading 0x1E directly returns stale values or zero.
- Only the standard-mode minimum initialisation is done, so expect Β±3β5 % β this is not a measuring instrument.
- Black felt, clear glass and direct sunlight all weaken the return; jumping readings are normal.