Freescale expands intelligent touch sensing options for consumer and industrial apps

AUSTIN, USA: Freescale Semiconductor is expanding its broad portfolio of touch sensing solutions with the addition of the MPR121 ultra-low-power capacitive sensor and a touch sensing software (TSS) suite compatible with more than 300 of its 8-bit microcontrollers (MCUs).

With these new offerings, Freescale enables customers to choose the best fit for their interface designs across a broad spectrum of consumer and industrial applications.

Manufacturers are rapidly migrating from resistive to capacitive touch technology to answer the demand for intuitive user interfaces that enhance interactivity and improve end-product functionality. Touch sensing technology boosts reliability by eliminating mechanical wear and tear. In addition, user interface controllers can manage multiple configurations and provide greater flexibility, helping reduce overall system cost.

Freescale’s second-generation MPR121 capacitive touch sensor provides highly reliable touch detection through increased electrode count and integration of automatic calibration and area detection systems. The 12-pad touch sensor is available in the industry’s smallest lead-free package and offers the lowest power consumption at 29 µA average supply current, helping OEMs meet aggressive power targets.

Ideal for portable, low-power consumer electronics applications, the MPR121 touch sensor has been selected to enable compelling features for the newest MP3 players from Audiovox.

“Freescale’s MPR121 sensor includes ease-of-use functionality that helped Audiovox accelerate design cycles and quickly develop our newest MP3 players,” said Tim DiGioia, general manger of the CG Group for Audiovox Electronic Corp. “Audiovox has also leveraged the accuracy, reliability and low power operation of the MPR121 sensor to create new MP3 player products that deliver exceptional experiences for end-users.”

The TSS suite provides an alternate solution by enabling the integration of touch sensing functionality into applications based on Freescale 8-bit MCUs. The suite speeds development by delivering pre-configured software that enables a range of popular features including rotary, slider and keypad functionality. The complimentary software also helps lower system cost by eliminating the need for additional sensor silicon in many designs.

“Freescale’s portfolio of touch sensing solutions allows customers to choose the best option for their designs,” said Bruno Baylac, director of industrial segment marketing for Freescale. “For specialized, low-power designs, the MPR121 provides a simple drop-in device; or by just adding software, customers can transition the MCU in their system into a touch sensing interface.”

Freescale’s touch sensing solutions enable sleek interface designs for a variety of consumer and industrial applications. Freescale’s broad portfolio of touch sensing solutions allows customers to select the option that meets their specific system requirements for power, software integration and quantity of touch points.

Samples of the MPR121 touch sensor are available now, with production quantities planned for November 2009. Suggested resale pricing in 10,000-piece quantities is $0.78.

The KITMPR121EVM Touch Sensor Kit, part of the Freescale Sensor Toolbox, provides sample electrodes with demo software and is available at a suggested resale price of $99.

The TSS Suite is available to download now, free of charge, to Freescale MCU customers. In addition, a Touch Sensing Software evaluation board (TSSEVB) is available at a suggested introductory resale price of $79. The board is designed to provide customers with the technology necessary to begin creating touch sensing applications right away with Freescale MCUs.