Microchip Technology has expanded its capacitive-touch controller portfolio with the MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P, designed to simplify the development of display-free human-machine interfaces (HMIs) while reducing system costs and design complexity. The controllers introduce parallel sensing for buttons, sliders and wheels, supporting fast response times, high signal-to-noise ratios and reliable touch detection in noisy environments. The MTCH3380P, which has 12 parallel analog-to-digital converters, can support 38 sensors in self-capacitance mode and 64 sensors in mutual capacitance mode, while the MTCH3240P can support 24 sensors in self-capacitance mode and 32 sensors in mutual capacitance mode. The two devices can work in up to 105°C temperatures and can be certified to customer requirements as IEC/UL 60730 Class B Functional Safety.
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Due to their improved sensitivity and noise immunity, they can detect touch even with thick covering materials and when using gloves. “Manufacturers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce system cost while still delivering intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces. As display-free HMIs incorporate more touch controls, maintaining responsive and reliable touch performance becomes increasingly challenging,” said Giovanni Fontana, senior director of Microchip’s human machine interface division. “Our MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P controllers address the touch-sensing challenges associated with display-free interfaces by delivering fast touch acquisition and high signal-to-noise ratio, helping enable responsive, reliable operation even in demanding applications.” Microchip also provides development support through its mTouch Studio environment, evaluation hardware and Linux and Zephyr host drivers.
