Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Wacom Components Europe | Subject: W8002
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 29 September 2004
Single-chip solution brings pen sensing
onboard
A new mixed-signal IC allows the easy integration of Wacom's proven inductive pen sensing technology into mobile devices such as smartphones and personal digital assistants.
A new mixed-signal IC allows the easy integration of Wacom's proven inductive pen sensing technology into mobile devices such as smartphones and personal digital assistants With the W8002 single-chip solution, Wacom's inductive pen sensing technology will for the first time help developers overcome the limitations of increasingly complex mobile device user interfaces
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 23 Aug 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Wacom's cordless, battery free pen with flight point feature (the ability to hover without touching the screen) and pressure sensing capability has the potential to accelerate the development and adoption of a range of new "killer" mobile applications.
The W8002 is an integral part of Wacom's Penabled inductive pen sensing solution.
This is made up of the W8002, embedded sensor and an ultraslim cordless and battery free pen.
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The W8002 will be sampled to customers in Q3 2004.
"The Wacom W8002 sensor controller will help mobile device manufacturers take the functionality of mobile phones to the next level".
"Service adoption to increase mobile operator revenue will rely as much on the interface as on the applications and computing performance of the device".
"The capability to integrate Wacom's Penabled technology into a single chip removes the device usability restrictions imposed by existing technologies to make input and navigation simple for the consumer," said Justin Staines, Sales and Marketing Director, Wacom Components.
Wacom's Penabled technology is an inductive pen sensing system, which offers numerous advantages over standard incumbent technologies based on resistive touch systems.
The sensor is embedded behind the display, which ensures that the display is more durable, achieves 100% luminous light transmission and eliminates colour wash.
Additional advantages include the flight point feature, increased pressure sensitivity, increased input area and more accurate input control.
To date mobile device manufacturers have been held back by the limitations of increasingly complex user interfaces caused by the limitations of key pad and simple touch screen interfaces.
The Wacom W8002 sensor controller provides a richer feature set and enables a three dimensional interface that introduces a new concept in user interface and application solutions.
The W8002's advanced feature set enables new interface functions such as application zooming, flight point feature and digital signature recognition.
It also enables the easy manipulation of different applications and the ability to switch smoothly between them.
The W8002 is available in either 64- or 84-pin BGA packages depending on the sensor board size and the form factor of the display.
It contains all the functions required of a high-resolution inductive pen sensing solution.
It has been engineered to operate under a wide operational temperature range from -30 to + 85C, and power consumption has been optimised to support extended battery life capabilities in portable devices.
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