Microchip Technology (NASDAQ:MCHP) has launched two capacitive-touch controllers, the MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P, designed to improve touch responsiveness and simplify the development of user interfaces for consumer, commercial and industrial equipment.
The company said the devices are the first in its turnkey touch-controller portfolio to incorporate parallel sensing technology for buttons, sliders and wheels.
Both controllers use 12 integrated analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) that operate simultaneously, allowing data to be collected from multiple touch sensors at the same time.
According to Microchip, this architecture is intended to provide faster touch acquisition and improved signal quality, particularly in applications that use touch-sensitive controls instead of conventional displays.
The new devices are designed for a range of applications, including household appliances, outdoor equipment, electric vehicle charging stations and industrial control systems.
The MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P incorporate parallel sensing capabilities that enable simultaneous acquisition of data from multiple capacitive sensors.
Unlike sequential sensing approaches, the technology uses 12 on-chip ADCs operating concurrently to collect touch information.
The MTCH3380P supports up to 38 sensors in self-capacitance mode and up to 64 sensors in mutual-capacitance mode.
The MTCH3240P offers support for up to 24 sensors in self-capacitance mode and 32 sensors in mutual-capacitance mode.
These configurations allow manufacturers to select a controller based on the number and type of touch inputs required for their products.
The devices support interfaces using capacitive buttons, sliders and wheels, providing alternatives to traditional mechanical controls.
Microchip said the controllers are intended to address touch-sensing challenges in display-free interfaces, where responsiveness and reliable input detection are important design considerations.
Microchip developed the controllers for use across consumer and industrial environments, including applications that may involve elevated operating temperatures.
Both devices support IEC/UL 60730 Class B functional safety certification and are capable of operating at temperatures of up to 105°C.
These characteristics make them suitable for integration into products such as ovens, cooktops and other household appliances.
The controllers are also intended for outdoor and industrial applications, including electric vehicle chargers, parking meters and self-service kiosks.
Their operating temperature capabilities and functional safety support are designed to help manufacturers meet the requirements of equipment used in demanding environments.
By incorporating capacitive-touch technology, manufacturers can develop control interfaces without relying exclusively on physical buttons or full display systems.
Giovanni Fontana, senior director of Microchip’s human machine interface division, said manufacturers are seeking more cost-effective ways to provide modern user interfaces.
“Manufacturers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce system cost while still delivering intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces,” Fontana said.
“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.”
Microchip said the controllers are designed to provide responsive touch detection while helping developers manage system complexity and component costs.
The devices are compatible with the company’s mTouch Studio development environment, which supports the configuration and development of capacitive-touch applications.
Both controllers also include host drivers for Linux and Zephyr operating systems, allowing developers to integrate the devices into systems using these software platforms.
The development tools and driver support are intended to simplify implementation and reduce the engineering effort required to introduce touch-based controls.
Microchip confirmed that both controllers are available immediately through its direct sales channels and authorised distributors.
Pricing starts at $1.06 per unit for the MTCH3380P and $0.80 per unit for the MTCH3240P, based on orders of 10,000 units.
The pricing structure provides manufacturers with two options depending on their sensor capacity requirements and application complexity.
The MTCH3380P offers higher sensor capacity, while the MTCH3240P provides a lower-cost alternative for applications requiring fewer touch inputs.
The launch expands Microchip’s capacitive-touch controller portfolio as manufacturers continue incorporating touch-sensitive controls into appliances, industrial equipment and public-facing electronic systems.
By combining parallel sensing, functional safety support and development tools, the company aims to provide manufacturers with additional options for implementing responsive, display-free user interfaces.
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