Long Range Mode using VL53L0X with Multiple Sensors

[Slyvi]

Hi,

I am trying to get multiple VL53L0X sensors to run in continuously while in the LONG_RANGE mode. I’ve set VcselPeriodPreRange and VcselPeriodFinalRange to 18 and 14 respectively for each sensor as I bring them online but once it gets into the main program, all the sensors are timed out and will not get readings.

I’ve been scratching my head over this issue for a little while now and can’t seem to find the issue.

Here is my code for the initialize procedure.

#include <Wire.h>
#include <VL53L0X.h>

VL53L0X sensor29;
VL53L0X sensor25;
VL53L0X sensor23;

//Define Wait Times
#define N_DELAY_TIME 10

// Sensor Sensor Pins
#define SEN23 12
#define SEN25 11
#define SEN29 10

void setup(){

  Serial.begin(9600); 
  Wire.begin();

  pinMode(SEN23, OUTPUT); //Setting pin modes for XSHDN pins on sensor.
  pinMode(SEN25, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(SEN29, OUTPUT);
  Serial.println("Start");
  Serial.println("Shutting Down Sensors");
  //Bring sensors to shutdown mode
  digitalWrite(SEN23, LOW);
  digitalWrite(SEN25, LOW);
  digitalWrite(SEN29, LOW);
  delay(N_DELAY_TIME);
  Serial.println("Turning on sensor 1 and setting to 0x23");
  digitalWrite(SEN23, HIGH); //Bring sensor 0x23 out of shutdown
  delay(100);
  sensor23.setAddress(0x23); // Setting sensor 0x23 to address 0x23
  delay(10);
  digitalWrite(SEN25, HIGH); // Bringing sensor 0x25 out of shutdown
  delay(100);
  sensor25.setAddress(0x25); // Setting sensor 0x25 to address 0x25
  delay(10);
  digitalWrite(SEN29, HIGH); // Turning on sensor 0x29 and leaving at default address (0x29)
  delay(100);
  Serial.println("Sensor1 INIT");
  sensor23.init();
  sensor23.setTimeout(500);
  sensor23.startContinuous();
  Serial.println("Sensor2 INIT");
  sensor25.init();
  sensor25.setTimeout(500);
  sensor25.startContinuous();
  Serial.println("Sensor3 INIT");
  sensor29.init();
  sensor29.setTimeout(500);
  sensor29.startContinuous();
  Serial.println("Set Sensor to Long Range Mode");
  sensor29.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodPreRange, 18);
  sensor29.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodFinalRange, 14);
  sensor25.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodPreRange, 18);
  sensor25.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodFinalRange, 14);
  sensor23.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodPreRange, 18);
  sensor23.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodFinalRange, 14);
  Serial.println("Initialization done! Moving to loop steps!"); 
  delay(500);
}

[nathanb]

Does that code work OK if you don’t use long range mode? Do the sensors work individually? There are no level shifters on the XSHUT line, so instead of driving those lines high (5V, presumably), you should set them to inputs. You might try looking at this example:

VL53L0X -- maximum sensors on I2C arduino bus

Here is my ArduinoCode I used with ProMini and Nano I could have saved my time by reading this earlier, which should be highlighted I suppose: The sensor’s 7-bit slave address defaults to 0101001b on power-up. It can be changed to any other value by writing one of the device configuration registers, but the new address only applies until the sensor is reset or powered off. I suggest to add this white paper also to the product page #include <Wire.h> #include <VL53L0X.h> //#define XSHUT_pin6 …

If that doesn’t work, can you post pictures of your sensors and all of your connections here?

-Nathan