Ultrasonic ToF sensor targets IoT and robotics

TDK Corp. has announced distribution availability of its second-generation InvenSense SmartSonic ICU-10201 ultrasonic time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for IoT and robotics applications. With improved on-chip processing, the ultrasonic ToF offers greater computing power in a smaller package.

(Source: TDK Corp.)

Enabling low-power IoT and robotics products, the ICU-10201 ultrasonic ToF offers the sensitivity needed for accurate obstacle avoidance or proximity sensing in applications such as robotics, drones and robot vacuum cleaner (RVC) devices. The sensor also can be used in applications that require level sensing, such as in a liquid dispenser or coffee machine.

The SmartSonic family of ToF sensors integrate a MEMS piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) with a low-power system on chip (SoC) in an ultra-compact 3.5 × 3.5 × 1.26 mm, 8-pin LGA package. The embedded on-chip processor offers higher computational power than previous solutions and the enhanced processing capabilities can run a range of application algorithms on-chip, which offloads the system microcontroller (MCU) completely, TDK said.

The ToF sensors also offer high sensitivity. Based on ultrasonic pulse-echo or pitch-catch measurements, the ICU-10201 provides millimeter-accurate and range measurements to targets at distances up to 1.7 m, in any lighting condition including full sunlight. It also can detect any color and optical transparency, like glass walls or mirrors.

Other features include a customizable field of view (FoV) up to 180° and sample rate of 250 samples per second at 0.3 meters, and 130 samples per second at 1 meter. The sensor also offers ultra-low-power consumption of 17µA to 320 µA depending on the number of samples per second.

TDK said the ToF sensor is highly flexible thanks to a large amount of embedded program and data memory.

The ICU-10201 is available from multiple distributors worldwide. A development kit is available. TDK InvenSense is exhibiting at Embedded World 2024, April 9-11, at hall 1, stand 223.