Microchip introduces parallel-sensing touch controllers for buttons, sliders and wheels

Microchip has introduced two turnkey capacitive-touch controllers using 12 parallel analogue-to-digital converters to sense buttons, sliders and wheels.

Announced on 8 October, the MTCH3380P supports up to 38 self-capacitance or 64 mutual-capacitance keys. The smaller MTCH3240P supports up to 24 self-capacitance or 32 mutual-capacitance keys. Microchip describes them as its first turnkey controllers for these control types to use parallel sensing.

The MTCH3380P supports up to eight sliders or wheels, while the MTCH3240P supports up to six. Both include adjacent-key suppression to help distinguish an intended touch from simultaneous activation of neighbouring electrodes.

Their datasheets specify operation through glass up to 6mm thick or plastic up to 3mm thick, subject to the touch size, screen dimensions and configuration of the cover stack. Both devices operate from −40°C to 105°C. The MTCH3380P is supplied in a 56-pin XQFN package measuring 6 × 6mm; the MTCH3240P uses a 38-pin XQFN package measuring 4 × 4mm.

Microchip is targeting interfaces in appliances, industrial equipment and outdoor installations, including EV chargers, parking meters and kiosks. The company says the controllers support operation with gloves and in the presence of moisture, alongside measures for electrically noisy environments.

Both controllers provide automatic sensor-failure diagnostics and self-test functions. They communicate with a host over I²C and include PWM support for backlighting, buzzers and haptic feedback.

The development package includes Microchip’s mTouch Studio, evaluation hardware and host drivers for Linux and Zephyr. Microchip says the devices support customer-led IEC/UL 60730 Class B certification work.

Published pricing starts at $1.06 for the MTCH3380P and $0.80 for the MTCH3240P in quantities of 10,000 units.

Sources

Microchip announcement; MTCH3380P datasheet; MTCH3240P datasheet.