New Touch Sensing Platform for both Capacitive and Resistive Touch

A simpler, faster way to enrich medical, consumer and automotive applications with interface functionality

Freescale Semiconductor (now part of NXP) has released the industry's first solution that combines gesture recognition on resistive screen technology and capacitive touch sensing in a single integrated circuit. This addition to the Xtrinsic sensing portfolio is ideal for applications involving control panels, human machine interface (HMI), keyboard replacement, automotive, point of sale terminals, signature capture devices and kiosks.

In addition to providing capacitive touch capability, the new Xtrinsic touch sensing platform adds gesture recognition to resistive screens for markets and situations in which capacitive screens are not a viable option. Resistive touch screens are inexpensive to implement and therefore an excellent option to upgrade the user experience for many applications. Its proven capability allows the detection of different gestures, such as slide, touch rotate and two pinch for zooming in and out. Resistive touch screens are also a good alternative when the use of gloves is necessary due to medical, weather or security reasons.

The Xtrinsic touch sensing platform also expands Freescale’s Ready Play solutions portfolio. Freescale Ready Play solutions integrate certified application functionality, allowing customers to add features while reducing development cost, simplifying design cycles and enabling scalability in applications and systems. By implementing capacitive and resistive technologies in a single, turnkey device, customers can reduce software development costs, board space and time to market while adding additional features to their products.

“Freescale’s Xtrinsic capacitive and resistive touch sensing platform is the first device to integrate gesture recognition without the need for complex hardware or screen modifications,” said Geoff Lees, vice president of Freescale's Industrial and Multi-Market MCU business. “It offers a quick and inexpensive solution for customers to develop advanced user interfaces for markets that haven't previously incorporated touch sensing technologies and should have a strong impact on mobile health care applications, automobiles, netbooks and smart mobile devices.”

The Xtrinsic touch sensing platform enables the addition of up to four capacitive electrodes to a customer’s system - all packaged in a 5x5 mm, 32-pin QFN. The platform includes standard X-Y resistive touch screen detection with optional calibration and pressure detection on resistive screens. Gesture detection includes slide, two-touch pinch and expand, and two-touch rotate with four capacitive electrodes independent from the touch screen utilizing I2C and UART communications protocols, as well as a user-configurable screen resolution.

The NXP website address is www.nxp.com
[Reprinted with kind permission from Freescale]