Touch sensors provide notebook interface

CapSense is used to enable the touch sensing interface inside several HP Compaq Notebook PC models.

The Cypress Semiconductor PSoC CapSense is used to enable the touch sensing interface inside several HP Compaq Notebook PC models.

The Cypress CapSense solution not only provides the interface for a smooth, glitch-free user experience, but it also controls LED indicator lights on the notebooks, saving board space and reducing costs.

"We are pleased to provide the CapSense solution to HP, a world leader in notebook computers", said Carl Brasek, Business Unit Director for Cypress's CapSense products.

"This usage model highlights one of the CapSense customer benefits - the ability to perform additional functions on top of capacitive sensing".

"Given HP's focus on delivering easy-to-use and reliable notebook PCs to our business customers, HP is pleased to integrate the CapSense solution, which provides an excellent user experience and is less prone to every day wear and tear than exposed buttons", said Carol Hess-Nickels, Director of Worldwide Business Notebook Marketing in the Personal Systems Group at HP.

"In addition, the CapSense solution enhances the sleek design and superb functionality we're providing to customers".

A single CapSense device can replace dozens of mechanical switches and controls with a simple, touch-sensitive interface.

CapSense-based "button" and "slider" controls are more reliable than their mechanical counterparts because they are not prone to the environmental wear-and-tear that affects exposed buttons and switches.

Cypress has garnered well over 100 CapSense design wins worldwide in applications that include mobile handsets, portable media players, white goods, computers, printers and automotive, among others.

Capacitive sensing is fast becoming the solution of choice for front-panel display and media control applications.

Increased durability, decreased bill of materials (BOM) and a clean, minimalist appearance make this elegant interface attractive to a wide range of designs.

With Cypress's CapSense interface, a finger on the interface forms an electrical connection with embedded sensors, which work with the PSoC device to translate data about the finger's presence into various system control functions.

The sensor itself is only a copper pad on the PCB, not an actual component.

All of the circuitry for controlling the sensor is inside the PSoC device.

Cypress's CapSense solution offers system designers numerous advantages over capacitive sensing products built around modules and subassemblies, including increased flexibility, reduced board space and lower cost.

Because of the unique PSoC architecture, designers can easily integrate multiple functions (eg LED drivers and LCDs), in addition to capacitive sensing.

The PSoC CapSense solution also delivers benefits such as easy communications using either I2C, SPI or USB interfaces, the ability to implement both trackpad (x-y matrix) and linear slider applications with the same device, and the ability to make quick design changes using the flash-based PSoC architecture.

In addition, users can complete CapSense designs quickly and easily using pre-configured and verified "user modules" within Cypress's PSoC Designer 4.4 integrated design environment (IDE).

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