Atmel releases touch sensor IC for mobile devices
PLX Technology
touch sensor IC
Atmel has released the AT42QT1040, a touch sensor IC that brings capacitive user interfaces to price-sensitive consumer and mobile devices.
This AT42QT1040 device is available in a 3 x 3mm VQFN 20-pin package, making it ideal for use in mobile phones and other handheld devices where PCB space is at a premium.
In low-power mode the AT42QT1040 draws only 31uA from a 1.8V DC supply, allowing capacitive sensing to be added with minimal impact on battery lifetime.
The AT42QT1040 is the latest solution from Atmel's touch sensor division, which develops capacitive touch-button, slider, wheel and touch-screen controllers.
The AT42QT1040 includes four digital-output channels, enabling per-channel indication on touch detection.
The IC can also be configured using one channel as a proximity sensor, enabling 'hidden-until-lit' user interfaces where the device detects the presence of a finger some distance away from the keypad.
The AT42QT1040 is based on Atmel's QTouch charge-transfer sensing method.
This robust technology uses spread-spectrum modulation to achieve immunity to electrical noise.
Atmel's Adjacent Key Suppression (AKS) technology, essential for tight-pitched keys, ensures that only the intended key is activated by the touch of a finger.
The device automatically calibrates on power-up and always stays calibrated even if there is a build-up of moisture or other contaminants on the touch surface or if the system ages.
Individual key sensitivity can be configured to support a range of front-panel thicknesses and materials, including glass or plastic up to several millimetres thick.
Electrodes can be made from copper, silver, carbon, indium tin oxide (ITO) or any other conductive material.
Widely different electrode sizes and shapes are possible, giving the product designer the flexibility to tailor the user interface.
The device has two power modes: a low-power mode, which is ideal for small battery-driven devices; and a fast-response mode, which provides minimum response time for applications where low touch latency is essential.
To aid product development the AT42QT1040 has a debug mode in which internal data from the chip can be accessed.
The ability to monitor the behaviour of the device in this way means that designs can quickly be evaluated and tuned, resulting in a shorter product-design time frame.
The AT42QT1040 is available in a space-saving 3 x 3 x 0.85mm package.
An evaluation kit, the EVK1040A, is also available.
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