How to configure and access histogram data in VL53L1

[vishnusf]

HI,

Could somebody tell me how to configure and access VL53L1 histogram data in detail.

Thank you

[John E KVAM · Accepted solution]

It's easy - buy and use the VL53L1CB. There is a VL53L1CX which is the same chip (almost) but it does not use histograms.

So just do a range with the VL453L1CB and get the result. Under the covers, the histogram is read from the sensor and the answer is obtained. 

There is a call - something like GetAdditionalData() that is in the API

VL53L1_Error VL53L1_GetAdditionalData(VL53L1_DEV Dev,

        VL53L1_AdditionalData_t *pAdditionalData)

it calls (in the core.c)

status = VL53L1_get_histogram_bin_data(

                        Dev,

                        &(pdev->hist_data));

The trick is to know that during the A range you will get 24 historam bins, During the B range you get 4 ambient light levels and 20 bin values. Or maybe its the other way around. I always forget.  

But it's obvious. 

Good luck, 

- john