STMicroelectronics P-NUCLEO-53L1A2

Overview

P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 from STMicroelectronics is a complete evaluation kit comprising the NUCLEO-F401RE STM32F401RE development board and the X-NUCLEO-53L1A2 expansion board with dual VL53L1 Time-of-Flight laser-ranging sensors, supporting multi-object detection, field-of-view programming, and I²C-based ranging up to 4 m with ±3% accuracy under ambient light.

For engineers reviewing the P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 datasheet, P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 pinout, P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 application, or P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 equivalent, this kit enables rapid prototyping of proximity, gesture, and occupancy sensing in embedded systems using Arduino UNO R3–compatible headers, pre-integrated 2.8 V regulation, level-shifted I/O, and full software support including X-CUBE-53L1A2 middleware and GUI tools.

Technical Context

The kit integrates two independent VL53L1 ToF sensors-each featuring a 940 nm Class 1 laser emitter, SPAD array, integrated IR filter, and optics-enabling simultaneous ranging with configurable FoV and multi-target resolution. The NUCLEO-F401RE provides an ARM Cortex-M4F MCU running at 84 MHz, 512 KB Flash, and 96 KB RAM for real-time sensor control and data processing.

Hardware interconnection uses four Arduino UNO R3–compatible connectors (CN5, CN6, CN8, CN9) with dedicated I²C (PB8/PB9), interrupt (PA4, PC1, PA5, PB5, PA10), GPIO (PA0, PB0, PB6, PA7, PB4), and power (3.3 V, GND) signals; level shifters ensure compatibility between the 3.3 V nucleo board and VL53L1's 2.8 V logic interface.

Key Specifications

Availability

P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation commissioning, smart home occupancy detection, robotics proximity mapping, and consumer electronics gesture interface development requiring stable component supply and rapid evaluation-to-deployment capability.

Supply support for P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, sensors, power ICs, and analog components for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 belongs to ST's Nucleo ecosystem-a family of low-cost, Arduino-compatible evaluation platforms built to accelerate prototyping with STM32 MCUs and ST sensor/actuator expansion boards.

FAQ

Does the P-NUCLEO-53L1A2 support simultaneous operation of both VL53L1 sensors?

Yes. The X-NUCLEO-53L1A2 expansion board connects two VL53L1 sensors via separate I²C addresses (default 0x29 and configurable), enabling concurrent ranging measurements. The included X-CUBE-53L1A2 software provides multi-sensor initialization, synchronization, and data aggregation APIs for coordinated use cases like stereo depth mapping.

What mechanical accessories are included for optical calibration?

The kit includes three precision spacers (0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm) and two distinct cover windows to simulate air gaps and material interfaces between the VL53L1 sensor and external enclosures. These allow engineers to validate ranging accuracy, crosstalk immunity, and FoV behavior under realistic mechanical integration conditions before final product design.

Is the NUCLEO-F401RE board pre-flashed with firmware?

No. The NUCLEO-F401RE arrives unprogrammed. Users must load the X-CUBE-53L1A2 firmware-available as downloadable binaries and source code from st.com-using STM32CubeIDE or ST-LINK utility. The kit includes no pre-installed application; full control over sensor configuration, timing, and data output is retained by the developer.

Can the VL53L1 breakout boards be used independently of the expansion board?

Yes. Each VL53L1 breakout board features a 10-pin header compatible with flying-lead connection or direct mounting. The "VL53L1 mini PCB" variant (separable from the full breakout) supports standalone integration into customer end-products, retaining all core functionality including I²C interface, interrupt signaling, and 2.8 V supply requirements.