USB-based controllers ease touch integration

A 3M Touch Systems UK product story

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Apr 8, 2008

Capacitive touch sensor controllers feature enhanced RFI immunity, wake-on-touch functionality and increased MTBF specifications.

Two new capacitive touch sensor controllers from 3M Touch Systems are based on the company's industry-leading MicroTouch EX II electronics platform.

The new MicroTouch EX II 7000 series USB controllers can be combined with MicroTouch ClearTek II and ToughTouch II capacitive touch sensors to provide integrators with high-performance, easy-to-integrate touch electronics, as well as featuring enhanced immunity to conducted RFI, wake-on-touch functionality and increased MTBF specifications to greater than 700kh.

EX II 7000 series USB controllers now offer enhanced conducted RFI immunity to help reduce the chance that other system electronics, communication or power lines will impact the touch system's performance, and can help product developers shorten their design cycles and create more robust products.

Also, these controllers now support the USB suspend mode which enables wake-on-touch functionality.

When a system in suspend mode is activated by a touch, wake-on-touch restores the entire system to full power mode and operation.

This enhanced function allows developers to power manage their systems to help customers reduce energy consumption, as well as extend the life of critical system components, such as the LCD backlights.

"As a touch industry leader, 3M is committed to providing customers with the best touch components available in the market", says Francesco Fasoglio, European Business Manager, 3M Touch Systems.

"These enhanced EX II USB controllers make the industry-leading ClearTek II capacitive touch system even more robust and versatile to meet customer needs".

The EX II 7730HC USB controller features fully compliant USB HID electronics and firmware, which allow the touch system to be used without installing a touch driver.

For customers or applications that do not require the sophisticated touch mode selections and multi-monitor features of the MicroTouch MT7 software package, this HID solution is ideal for easy system integration and maintenance.

The EX II 7760UC USB controller provides integrators already using MicroTouch EX II electronics with these new robust features and is backward compatible to support existing product lines and programs.