VL53L7CX performance issues in enclosed ceramic environment (toilet bowl) - "Low Confidence" during object drop

[Wjx0702]

Hi,

I am developing an object detection system using the sensor, integrated inside the inner wall of a toilet bowl to detect falling waste. I am experiencing persistent "Low Confidence" issues, and I am looking for expert advice on whether this is an inherent physical limitation or a configuration issue.

Current Setup & Environment:

• Environment: Actual toilet bowl (highly reflective curved ceramic surfaces).

• Hardware Integration: The sensor is mounted behind a cover glass, and an active NIR/Visible fill light is installed inside the bowl to assist a separate camera system.

• Configuration: VL53L7CX_RANGING_MODE_AUTONOMOUS @ 60Hz.

The Phenomenon:

• Static/Idle State: Even in this real-world environment (with cover glass and fill light), the sensor produces some "Low Confidence" data points even when nothing is happening.

• Dynamic Event (Object Drop): When an object is dropped, the frequency of "Low Confidence" reports increases significantly, often rendering the detection logic unreliable.

My Technical Questions:

1. Root Cause Analysis: Given that "Low Confidence" exists even in the static state, is it likely that the cover glass (internal cross-talk) and fill light (optical saturation/background noise) have already pushed the sensor to its SNR limit? Does the dynamic drop event simply saturate the already compromised signal?

2. Software Mitigation: With a 60Hz capture rate, is there any software-level optimization possible? Can adjusting the Timing Budget or Sharpener threshold help recover signal integrity in this high-noise environment?

3. Feasibility: Is the VL53L7CX fundamentally unsuitable for this specific application (high-reflectivity ceramic enclosure + active fill light interference)? Or is there a more robust way to process the data (e.g., histogram analysis) to differentiate the object reflection from the background noise?

4. Hardware Best Practices: Are there any recommended hardware modifications for such confined spaces, such as specific optical filters (e.g., 940nm bandpass) or mechanical sealing techniques to isolate the sensor from the fill light?

I would appreciate any guidance on whether to continue optimizing the firmware parameters or if this application exceeds the physical capabilities of the current hardware setup.