company blog about Supply ST Imaging Evaluation Board:CMOS Image Sensor Evaluation Board,ToF Evaluation Board

Supply ST Imaging Evaluation Board:CMOS Image Sensor Evaluation Board,ToF Evaluation Board

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd. is a renowned distributor of electronic components, offering a comprehensive range of electronic products. We guarantee all supplied components originate from legitimate channels and are of reliable quality. The company consistently upholds the principle of ‘serving customers and benefiting customers’, providing clients with high-quality, diverse electronic components.

Supply Advantages:

Genuine Product Assurance: All products are procured directly from original manufacturers or authorised distributors, with traceable origins

Adequate Stock Levels: Maintains readily available inventory to ensure prompt dispatch

Competitive Pricing: Achieves market-competitive rates through large-scale procurement

Professional Support: Provides comprehensive technical documentation and product selection guidance

Flexible Procurement: Accommodates both small-batch sample orders and large-volume procurement

Integrated Services: Covers end-to-end support including invoicing and logistics tracking

I. ST CMOS Image Sensor Evaluation Boards

ST CMOS image sensor evaluation boards are built around the ST BrightSense series sensors, establishing a multi-tiered evaluation system ranging from core modules to complete development kits. This approach balances ease of entry with professional scalability, making them suitable for image sensing solution development across multiple fields including machine vision, consumer electronics, and industrial inspection.

1. Core Products and Hardware Configuration

This series of evaluation boards includes various hardware solutions to meet different development scenarios:

- Integrated Camera Modules (ProModules): Represented by the CAM series, including models such as CAM-16GZ, CAM-55G0, CAM-55G1, CAM-56G3, and CAM-66GY. These incorporate ST BrightSense CMOS sensors including VD16GZ, VD55G0, VD55G1, VD56G3, and VD66GY respectively. These modules integrate sensors, lens mounts, lenses, and plug-and-play flexible connectors within compact dimensions ranging from 5×5mm to 9×9mm, enabling direct embedding into prototype equipment for rapid testing.

- Development Boards (P-Board/S-Board): The P-Board provides an embedded processing platform interface compatible with any ST BrightSense ProModule; The S-Board employs a soldered sensor design with an M12 lens mount, interchangeable lenses, and flexible cables, allowing developers to fine-tune lens parameters for high-precision imaging requirements.

- Universal Evaluation Kit (EVK Main): Exemplified by the STEVAL-EVK-U0I, this multifunctional hardware kit supports PC-based evaluation of all ST BrightSense image sensors and ProModules. The kit comprises a main control board with USB-C interface and a mechanical mount. The control board features dual input interfaces: one connects to ProModules via a flexible board connector, while the other connects to the S-Board and accompanying cables via an FFC/FPC connector, enabling flexible evaluation of multiple sensor types. The mechanical mount supports three modes—desktop placement, laptop webcam installation, and tripod mounting—accommodating diverse shooting scenarios.

2. Core Technical Advantages

Leveraging the performance strengths of ST BrightSense sensors alongside optimised hardware design, the ST CMOS Image Sensor Evaluation Board delivers an exceptional imaging assessment experience: Firstly, the integrated sensors offer high dynamic range and low noise characteristics, supporting both visible and near-infrared imaging. Certain models can withstand harsh industrial environments such as high temperatures; Secondly, its modular architecture enables reuse throughout the entire development lifecycle—from initial sensor selection to final performance tuning—significantly reducing development costs. Thirdly, the USB3 interface enables plug-and-play functionality, eliminating complex hardware adaptation while facilitating rapid connection to computers for real-time image data transmission.

3. Software Ecosystem and Application Scenarios

The evaluation board comes bundled with the complimentary ST SW-IMG 501 evaluation software and SDK, supporting real-time image stream preview, manual parameter adjustment, and script-based automated testing. Developers can conveniently optimise parameters such as exposure, white balance, and gain to accurately assess image quality. Additionally, ST provides comprehensive technical documentation, reference designs, and community resources to accelerate developer onboarding. This series of evaluation boards finds extensive application in robot vision navigation, industrial defect detection, intelligent surveillance, and consumer electronics camera debugging. For instance, pairing the CAM-56G3 module with the evaluation board enables rapid deployment of a robot vision system for environmental recognition and path planning.

II. ST Time-of-Flight (ToF) Evaluation Boards

ST's ToF evaluation boards are built upon the FlightSense™ sensor series, focusing on direct time-of-flight (dToF) technology. They offer a comprehensive range of evaluation solutions, from single-zone ranging to multi-zone 3D imaging. With their high precision, low power consumption, and strong anti-interference capabilities, these boards serve as core tools for developing 3D sensing applications.

1. Core Products and Hardware Configuration

This series of evaluation boards centres on the P-NUCLEO range, covering ToF sensors of varying performance tiers to meet diverse ranging requirements:

- Single-zone/multi-zone dToF evaluation boards: including P-NUCLEO-53L0A1 (featuring VL53L0X), P-NUCLEO-53L1A1 (featuring VL53L1X), P-NUCLEO-53L3A2 (featuring VL53L3CX), and P-NUCLEO-53L5A1 (featuring VL53L5CX). Specifically, the VL53L5CX supports 8×8 multi-zone ranging, enabling 3D spatial perception and target tracking; the VL53L3CX offers extended ranging distance and enhanced accuracy, suitable for medium-to-long-range detection scenarios. Additionally, the 53L0-SATEL-I1 evaluation board also incorporates the VL53L0X sensor, specifically designed for performance validation prior to mass production.

- Integrated Modules: Certain evaluation boards integrate light-emitting, light-receiving, and processing circuits into a single device. Utilising ST's proprietary SPAD (Single-Photon Avalanche Diode) and metasurface technology, they achieve ultra-high-speed time resolution. Ranging accuracy remains unaffected by target size, colour, or reflectivity, with stable operation even in low-light conditions.

2. Core Technical Advantages

Leveraging ST's global leadership in ToF technology, the ST ToF evaluation board offers multiple technical highlights: Firstly, its fully integrated design minimises package size and power consumption, with select models achieving as low as 175μW@1Hz, making it suitable for portable device development; Secondly, it delivers rapid ranging speeds (millisecond-level response) and high precision, with a maximum range of 4 metres and support for wide-angle detection, meeting diverse distance sensing requirements across scenarios. Finally, it demonstrates excellent environmental adaptability, resisting sunlight and dust interference, with some solutions featuring waterproof designs suitable for industrial and outdoor environments.

3. Software Ecosystem and Application Scenarios

The evaluation board comes with complimentary software tools and algorithm support, including ranging algorithms, sensor fusion software, and gesture recognition/user detection solutions. Developers can rapidly implement obstacle detection, distance measurement, and 3D mapping functions. Additionally, the board is compatible with embedded processing platforms such as STM32 MCUs/MPUs, facilitating the construction of complete sensor system prototypes. This series of evaluation boards finds broad application across diverse sectors, including: - Industrial equipment and logistics (remaining quantity management, position alignment) - Robotics and drones (obstacle avoidance, 3D modelling) - Retail and commerce (inventory management, smart advertising) - Consumer electronics (laser autofocus, gesture control) - Medical wearables (breathing monitoring, fall detection) - Smart home and security (people counting, human presence detection)