Garmin LIDAR-Lite v4 LED - Distance Measurement Sensor (Qwiic)

The Garmin LIDAR-Lite v4 Qwiic is a compact, high-performance optical distance measurement sensor that is perfect for drone, robot, IoT, or unmanned vehicle operations. It offers a 10-meter range, 1cm resolution, and requires 85mA during data acquisition. The sensor can be easily operated using the I²C protocol, making the addition of the SparkFun Qwiic system highly beneficial. It requires 5V to operate but runs on 3.3V logic. Thanks to a 5V boost circuit and a user-friendly Qwiic connector, the sensor can be powered and distance measurements can be taken over Qwiic with just a single piece of hardware.

The LIDAR sensor operates by emitting an infrared beam and then measuring the time it takes for that beam to be reflected back. The LIDAR-Lite v4 uses LEDs instead of a laser, making it safe for the eyes under normal usage. The built-in nRF52840 microcontroller runs a pre-loaded application to calculate the distance between the sensor and an object in front of it. The same microcontroller allows developers to create custom applications to expand on the pre-loaded functionality or connect to an external micro-controller running a custom user application.

The SparkFun LIDAR Lite v4 Arduino library simplifies data collection, making it as easy as calling the getDistance() function. The library also allows for changing the I²C address of each LIDAR and provides an example of how to do so. This sensor's low power-consumption and I²C address configuration allow for up to 10 of these sensors to be daisy-chained on a single microcontroller platform.

Please note that the I²C address of the Qwiic LIDAR-Lite v4 is 0x62 and can be configured to any address through software. A multiplexer/Mux is required to communicate with multiple Qwiic LIDAR-Lite v4 sensors on a single bus. If you need to use more than one Qwiic LIDAR-Lite v4 sensor, consider using the Qwiic Mux Breakout.

The SparkFun Qwiic Connect System is a comprehensive ecosystem of I²C sensors, actuators, shields, and cables that make prototyping faster and less error-prone. All Qwiic-enabled boards use a common 1mm pitch, 4-pin JST connector, reducing the amount of required PCB space. The polarized connections also ensure that you can't hook it up incorrectly.

Features:

• Resolution: 1cm
• Measurement repeatability: 1cm (equivalent to one standard deviation in "high accuracy" mode, with averaging)
• Range: 5 cm to 10 meters (as measured from back of unit)
• Update rate: I²C = >200Hz typical
• Interface: I²C or ANT; user configurable for SPI using the Nordic SDK
• Power (operating voltage): 3.3VDC
• Operating temperature: -20 to 60° C
• LED wavelength: 940nm
• Beam divergence: 4.77°
• Optical aperture: 14.9mm
• Unit size (LxWxH): 7.11cm x 2.54cm x 2.29cm