Cypress introduces CapSense™ technology, a new capacitive touch sensor interface based on a single PSoC™, which replaces dozens of interference-prone mechanical switches and controls.

Capacitive sensing is becoming state of the art for front-panel display and media control applications. Increased reliability, decreased costs and a clean, simple look make this interface attractive to a wide range of designs. The PSoC™ within the CapSense™ technology translates data from the sensors into various system control functions (e.g. brightness, loudness, speed). These applications can be used for consumer, industrial and white goods, automotive and medical area and anywhere durability, ease of use and price are major considerations.

Cypress's CapSense™ solution offers designers various advantages: increased flexibility, reduced board space and lower cost. Because of the unique PSoC™ architecture multiple functions (e.g., LED drivers and LCD displays) can be integrated, in addition to touch sensing, easy serial communications using either I2C or SPI interfaces, the ability to implement both trackpad (x-y matrix) and linear slider applications with the same device, and the possibility to make quick design changes using the flash-based PSoC™ architecture.

CapSense™ is built around Cypress's CY8C21x34 PSoC™ family with it's versatile analog mux feature from any GPIO pin.

In addition to PSoC™, Cypress provides designers with CapSense™ application notes (AN2233a and AN2277), source code, example designs, a Front-Panel Display Demonstration Kit (CY3220-FPD), a Slider Demonstration Kit (CY3220-Slider) and design software and support.

Availability and Packages for CY8C21x34 ( 8 Kb Flash, 512 byte SRAM, up to 24 MHz ):

CY8C21234-24SXI	16-pin SOIC
CY8C21334-24PVXI	20-pin SSOP
CY8C21434-24LFXI	32-pin MLF
CY8C21534-24PVXI	28-pin SSOP

The CY8C21x34 and the fitting Front Panel Display Demonstration Kit (CY3220-FPD) is available now.

For more information mail to: cypress-support@msc-ge.com

Download PDF:MSC Cypress Info Letter 24/05 [154KB]