Date: 26/05/2010

Dev. Kit and 8-bit MCU from Microchip with new capacitive touch screen tech

Microchip has announced the availability of mTouch Projected Capacitive Touch-Screen Sensing Technology, which it says is the first in a series of patent-pending releases supporting projected capacitive touch-screen solutions across the company's portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit PIC MCUs. Microchip has also introduced the mTouch Projected Capacitive Development Kit as well as the PIC16F707 8-bit microcontroller (MCU), featuring two 16-channel Capacitive Sensing Modules (CSMs) that can run in parallel for increased sampling speed. These modules are designed to enable designers to easily integrate projected capacitive touch-sensing functionality into their application with a single MCU.

The mTouch projected capacitive touch-screen technology enable development of glass-front user interfaces supporting user interaction such as gestures. Typical applications include global positioning systems, thermostats, mobile handheld units and other devices that use smaller displays with a finger input.

"Microchip continues to make it easy for designers to integrate touch-sensing interfaces, with inexpensive, no-hassle solutions," said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip's Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. "Our projected-capacitive offering gives customers access to this exciting technology with a minimal learning curve, for fast time to market. The technology and development kit are easily accessible, highly flexible and user-oriented, to enable low-cost and fast implementations of projected-capacitive touch."

mTouch Projected Capacitive Development Kit: The mTouch Projected Capacitive Development Kit includes a 3.5" sensor mounted on a sensor board, a projected-capacitive board with the PIC16F707 MCU and fully functional firmware. The kit enables users to connect sensors to up to 24 channels. The open source code supports sensors with up to 32 channels and the kit includes a GUI tool that enables customers to easily adjust key parameters that are important to their design.

Price: mTouch Projected Capacitive Development Kit is priced at US$119.99
Availability: Now

PIC16F707 Microcontroller: The low-power PIC16F707 8-bit MCU has a wide operating voltage range of 1.8 - 5.5V, with a typical projected-capacitive sensor application operating current of approximately 1.5 mA at 5V.

Package and availability:
44-pin, 8 mm x 8 mm QFN and TQFP is available now.
40-pin, 5 mm x 5 mm micro QFN (µQFN) will be available in the 3rd quarter of 2010.

Price: US$0.99 each

For more information visit: http://www.microchip.com