STMicroelectronics X-NUCLEO-53L4A2-

Overview

X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- from STMicroelectronics is an STM32 Nucleo-compatible expansion board integrating the VL53L4CX Time-of-Flight sensor for extended-range (up to 6 m), reflectance-independent absolute distance measurement with multiobject detection, histogram-based ranging, and immunity to cover-glass crosstalk beyond 80 cm - used in AR/VR headsets, drone obstacle avoidance, and wearable gesture interfaces.

For engineers reviewing the X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- datasheet, X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- pinout, X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- application, or X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- equivalent, this board delivers production-ready ToF evaluation with Arduino UNO R3 connectivity, dual satellite breakout headers, I²C interface mapping (SDA/SCL/XSHUT/GPIO1), and full STM32Cube software support including GUI and code examples.

Technical Context

The board implements the VL53L4CX as a standalone I²C slave device, with dedicated pull-up resistors (2.2 kΩ) on SDA/SCL, configurable XSHUT for sensor reset and address selection, and GPIO1 for interrupt signaling. It supports both direct Nucleo connection and remote satellite operation via two 6-pin headers (J4_Left/J4_Right).

Hardware design includes selectable air-gap simulation using 0.25/0.5/1 mm spacers under the included oval cover glass, plus optional SSD1306 OLED display support via CN6 header (LCD_SCL/LCD_SDA), all powered from the host Nucleo's 3.3 V rail and compatible with STM32F401RE and other Nucleo-64 boards.

Key Specifications

Availability

X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for AR/VR headset development, drone proximity sensing, and wearable gesture control requiring stable component supply, rapid prototyping turnaround, and seamless STM32 ecosystem integration.

Supply support for X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- 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 management, and analog products for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

This board belongs to ST's X-NUCLEO series of STM32 Nucleo expansion boards, engineered to accelerate evaluation and application development of ST's intelligent sensors - specifically targeting time-of-flight, environmental, and motion-sensing use cases.

FAQ

Does X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- require external power or operate solely from the Nucleo board?

No external power supply is needed. The board draws 3.3 V exclusively from the host STM32 Nucleo board via the Arduino R3 connectors. All VL53L4CX supply rails (AVDD, AVDDVCSEL) are internally regulated from this source, and no USB or auxiliary power input is provided.

Can multiple X-NUCLEO-53L4A2- boards be used simultaneously on one Nucleo?

Yes - each board supports independent I²C addressing via its XSHUT pin, allowing up to two boards per Nucleo (using default and alternate addresses). For more than two, external multiplexing or separate I²C buses are required due to hardware address limitations of the VL53L4CX.

What cover-glass configurations are supported, and how do spacers affect performance?

The board ships with one oval cover glass and three silicone spacers (0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm) to simulate air gaps between sensor and cover. Larger spacers reduce optical crosstalk but increase minimum measurable distance; 0.25 mm enables reliable 10 mm linearity as specified in VL53L4CX datasheet.

Is laser safety certification documented for this board?

Yes - the integrated VL53L4CX emitter complies with IEC 60825-1:2014 Class 1 laser safety requirements under all specified operating conditions. The board carries appropriate labeling and requires no additional user safety measures when used per ST's recommended settings and ambient temperature limits.