Microchip expands capabilities of mTouch capacitive touch-sensing technology

CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc. has announced the first and only technology in the industry to enable capacitive touch sensing with a metal front panel.

Building upon the success of the initial release of mTouch capacitive touch-sensing technology, the royalty-free, robust technology now works through gloves and on surfaces that contain liquids, and it enables Braille to be used on capacitive touch-sensing interfaces.

Designers can integrate mTouch capacitive touch-sensing functionality with their existing application code in an 8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU), thus reducing total system costs. Information on how to implement these new capabilities is available for download, now, from Microchip’s online Touch Sensing Design Center.

Touch sensing continues to gain traction as an alternative to traditional push-button user interfaces, because it enables a completely sealed, modern-looking design. Major applications for mTouch capacitive touch-sensing user interfaces include those in the appliance market, because of the possibility of a stainless-steel front panel; the industrial market, because of the technology’s robustness; and the automotive market, because of the technology’s sleek aesthetics. Low-power mTouch capacitive touch-sensing technology features an active current of less than 5 micro Amperes, helping to reduce overall power consumption.

“mTouch capacitive touch-sensing technology enables customers to easily and inexpensively add touch-sensing interfaces to their designs,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. “Designers can implement our royalty-free technology using their existing hardware and software in applications with metal front panels, where liquids are present, and for users wearing thick gloves.”