Atmel and Corning collaborate on next-gen touch

Atmel and Corning have teamed up to develop ultra-thin capacitive touchscreens with superior multi-touch performance for next-gen applications.

More specifically, the collaboration combines Atmel’s XSense flexible touch sensors with 0.4mm damage-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. Together, they deliver optimized capacitive touch performance via thinner flat or curved cover glass.

Additionally, the unique circuit design of Atmel’s XSense enables narrower device borders, allowing for a more optimal viewing area. The combination allows industrial designers to create phones, tablets, notebooks and other multi-touch devices with sleeker, lighter and more contemporary touch interfaces without sacrificing reliability or performance.

It should be noted that touch modules using cover glass thinner than 0.5 mm with relatively low conductive materials and non-optimal microcontrollers have been difficult to implement due to low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and aliased touch events – resulting in unsatisfactory multi-touch performance. 

XSense, combined with 0.4mm or curved Corning Gorilla Glass, enables exceptional multi-touch sensor panels that are thin, light, and damage-resistant.

“Our collaboration with Atmel accelerates the move toward thinner cover glass and enables the use of curved touchscreens for our customers designing next-generation applications,” said James Nagel, division vice president, Program Development, Corning Gorilla Glass, Corning Specialty Materials. “The toughness of 0.4mm and curved Gorilla Glass, coupled with the remarkable touch performance and flexibility of XSense enables the most exciting consumer experience in the market today.”

Jalil Shaikh, vice president and general manager of Touch Materials, Atmel Corporation, expressed similar sentiments.

“Designers are demanding thinner and lighter touchscreens but cannot compromise on multi-touch performance,” he explained. 

“The combination of Corning’s Gorilla Glass with Atmel’s XSense, flexible touch sensor delivers industry-leading, multi-touch performance while enabling thinner mobile devices with cutting-edge curved surfaces for tomorrow’s consumer applications.”

A sample device that pairs Atmel XSense flexible touch sensors with 0.4mm Gorilla Glass will be on display at Computex Taipei in Taiwan, June 3-7.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s XSense? You can check out our Bits & Pieces article archive on the subject here.

EasyPlug is an Arduino sensor shield

EasyPlug — designed by InXus Interactive — is a versatile sensor shield for Arduino boards. According to a company rep, the EasyPlug allows Makers to connect a plethora of sensors to their board in just seconds.

Key shield specs include:

• 

6 analog sensor inputs
• Compatible with VERVE sensors
• Supports standard “analogRead(pin#)” command
• Uses any 3.5mm stereo cable
• Equipped with mounting holes
• Includes 6 unique colored cables (so sensors aren’t confused)
• Stackable with other shields
• No soldering required

“All of our sensors are designed to be easy to use, right out of the box. Plug in a cable (provided) and the sensor is ready to go,” InXus rep Jordan Linford explained in a recent Kickstarter post.

“We’ve picked the most useful and fun sensors for you. But we’re adding more all the time, so you should be able to find a sensor to fit your needs.”

Current EasyPlug sensors include those to measure/monitor force, touch, light, turns, pushbuttons, motion, magnets, sound and temperature.

“Last but not least is the DIY sensor. This sensor is meant for people who already have some background in electronics and want an easy way to connect their sensors to an Arduino,” said Jordan.

“The DIY sensor contains 0.1” spacing GND, signal, and 3.3V pins. It also has on-board pull-up and pull-down breakout pins that accept through-hole resistors. If you need more room or have more complicated analog sensors, you can plug the DIY sensor into your breakout bread.”

Interested in learning more? You can check out the project’s official Kickstarter page here.