The ToF sensors from ST really don't work very well outdoors. The issue is that the laser light is really faint. We do this for eye-safety and power constraints. But there is a awful lot of 940nm light from the sun. The sun acts as a huge source of noise and the signal to noise ratio becomes unfavorable. That being said they work fine in the shade. And if you wanted something like a touchless button where the user's hand would block the sun and the distances were short, it would work well.
The sensors work best in ZERO light. The device generates it's own light and in dark conditions there is no interference.
Indoor lights do not generate much 940nm light. LEDs generate none, Incandescent light have a little bit, Fluorescents none, although huge Halogens do limit the max ranging distance.
Oddly, cheap birthday candles generate a lot of 940nm light. But they are small.
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