Notebook PCs aspire to touch sensing

Touch-sensitive buttons, sliders and shuffle controls provide Acer PC users with a stylish, convenient way to access and control a rich array of multimedia capabilities.

The PSoC CapSense touch sensing solution from Cypress Semiconductor has been used for the touch-sensitive CineDash media console inside Acer's new Aspire 6920 and 8920G notebook PCs.

The single-chip Cypress CapSense solution enables touch-sensitive buttons, sliders and shuffle controls that provide users with a stylish, convenient way to access and control a rich array of multimedia capabilities.

The CapSense device also controls LED indicator lights on the new laptops.

The CapSense device offered Acer a programmable, flexible solution for the CineDash media console, a key feature in the new Aspire models.

The CapSense solution allows designers to make last-minute changes, add features and control additional functions beyond the capacitive touch interface - capabilities that are not available from other capacitive sensing products.

"The Aspire Notebooks offer an excellent example of the benefits of CapSense", says Steve Gerber, Director of Marketing for Cypress's CapSense products.

"They combine a stylish industrial design with a rich feature set into a small, convenient area on the laptop".

"We are pleased to add differentiating value to these outstanding products".

"The CineDash media console is an integral part of the Aspire notebooks' user experience", says Johnny Shyy, Director of Product Management for Acer.

"It provides the clean, sophisticated appearance and functionality preferred by today's consumer, and is less prone to everyday wear and tear than exposed buttons".

"We were able to implement this design quickly and efficiently using the CapSense solution and therefore were able to bring this line to market ahead of the competition".

Back to top