New sensing controllers make it easy to replace mechanical buttons with a touch

Microchip has announced the expansion of its MTCH10x mTouch sensing portfolio with the turnkey MTCH102-5-8 capacitive touch controllers. In a hardware-only configuration, the 2, 5 and 8-channel controllers replace mechanical buttons with a simple digital output, making it easy to add proximity and touch detection to any application that is constrained by size, power or cost. To achieve high reliability and more sensitive touch performance, including operation through a glove, the MTCH102-5-8 capacitive touch controllers come with advanced multi-stage noise filtering algorithms. The MTCH102-5-8 controllers support a wide range of touch-sensor shapes and sizes, feature automatic compensation for environmental conditions, and provide reliable operation in the presence of water. Moreover, active guarding increases proximity-sensing sensitivity and makes the electronic design robust, even with long board traces to the touch sensors. The MTCH102-5-8 low power touch controllers create robust, ready-to-go touch solutions to serve the rapid growth of capacitive human interfaces for industrial applications such as light switches; home-automation products including security control panels, thermostats and lighting controls; office equipment such as printers, copiers and fax machines; and consumer products including toys, white goods and appliances; in addition to applications in other markets. To enable the easy evaluation and configuration of capacitive-touch interfaces, the MTCH102-5-8 is supported by Microchip's new compact DM160229 demonstration board. The new MTCH102 mTouch sensing, low-power, two-channel capacitive touch controller comes in a MSOP or uDFN package, the MTCH105 low-power, five-channel capacitive touch controller comes in a QFN or TSSOP package, and the MTCH108 low-power, eight-channel capacitive touch controller comes in a uQFN or SSOP package. All are available now for sampling and volume production.