MaXTouch S targets larger auto touchscreens

Atmel has confirmed that two new maXTouch touchscreen controllers were recently certified for use in next-gen automobiles. The mXT1188S is optimized for touchscreens up to 12 inches, while the mXT1664S is targeted at touchscreens up to 14 inches.

Both touchscreen controllers are optimized for single-layer shieldless sensor designs in automotive center consoles, navigation systems, radio interfaces and rear-seat entertainment systems. 

Meanwhile, a single-layer shieldless sensor design eliminates additional screen layers, effectively delivering improved light transparency. This results in lower power consumption, along with an overall lower system cost for the manufacturer.

The above-mentioned maXTouch controllers are AEC-Q100 compliant and designed for high reliability in harsh environments. They also offer glove support and improved moisture resistance – two key requirements for touch screen use in vehicles.

“The new automotive-qualified maXTouch controllers further strengthen Atmel’s automotive market position enabling more touchscreens in the car to hit the streets,” said Rob Valiton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive, Aerospace and Memory Business Units.

“We are also making in-car systems with capacitive touchscreens more accessible by enabling a shieldless single-layer touch sensor, which significantly reduces the total system cost. [Simply put], Atmel’s maXTouch controllers deliver superior touch performance, multi-touch, faster response times, more precise touches, robust operation and lower power consumption for an excellent user experience.”

To help accelerate design, Atmel is currently offering the EVK-MXT1664SAT-A evaluation kit, which includes an mXT1664S touch controller that interfaces with a 10.1-inch sensor (with an aspect ratio of 16:9).

 It should be noted that samples of the mXT1664S-A and mXT1188S-A in LQFP144 packages are available now, while devices in the PPAP packages will ship in June 2014 with volume production by July 2014.

Interested in learning more about Atmel automotive-qualified touch solutions? You can check out our official product page here.

Designing the future of touch with Atmel

Atmel CEO Steve Laub probably put it best when he told the Wall Street Transcript that touch is generally considered to be the preferred method for current-gen consumers to interface and interact with electronic devices.

“For the last three years, [Atmel has] been the world’s leading provider of mobile touch solutions, so our technology and products are changing the way people use and interact with electronic [devices],” Mr. Laub explained. “Our technology is also changing how they view the world and the ability to interact with the world.”

Indeed, Atmel has achieved a number of impressive milestones in the touch space over the last 6 months including:

XSense: A high-performance, highly flexible touch sensor which allows engineers to design devices with curved surfaces and even add functionality along product edges. Atmel is now positioned to ramp volume production for this revolutionary new tech.

Facilitating an uber-thin wireless touch interface: Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) developed an uber-thin wireless touch interface. The flexible interface, measuring less than 0.5 mm thick, turns any area into a touch surface for mobile devices and even desktops. To create the ultra-thin wireless touch surface, CSR partnered with Atmel and Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT). More specifically, the device uses Atmel’s touch silicon tech to sense multiple contact points on a surface – and is therefore capable of offering a full touch surface or power optimized key detection.

Expanding the maXTouch auto lineup: In July, Atmel rolled out a new maXTouch family to facilitate single-layer shieldless designs in automotive center stacks, navigation systems, radio interfaces and rear seat entertainment platforms. The mXT336S is optimized for 7-inch touchscreens, while the mXT224S targets smaller touchscreens and tablets.

Powering the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini’s touchscreen: Samsung selected Atmel’s maXTouch mXT336S controller to power the touchscreen of its Galaxy S4 Mini.

Powering Samsung’s Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 is fitted with Atmel’s sensor hub management MCU (microcontroller unit) which collects and processes data from all connected sensors in real-time, optimizing multiple user experiences, such as gaming, navigation and virtual reality. In addition, the sensor hub MCU lowers the overall system power consumption via picoPower technology to prevent drain and enable longer battery life.

Driving Asus touchscreens: Asus selected Atmel’s mXT2952T and mXT1664T controllers to drive the touchscreens of multiple new tablets and Ultrabooks – including the Zenbook Infinity which is based on Intel’s Haswell processor.

Enabling ‘in-cell’ touch for custom LCD designs: AndersDX introduced In-Cell Touch technology custom liquid crystal display (LCD) installations targeted at low- to high-volume consumer manufacturing. Instead of a touch sensor bonded onto the LCD display, each In-Cell touch key is embedded directly into the LCD cell. The LCD ITO pattern is then designed to match individual touch key symbols. An Atmel Q Touch sensor IC integrated into the display electronics controls up to four touch keys per application.

Outdoors with Ocular: Atmel’s maXTouch S trekked to the great outdoors with Ocular LCD’s PCAP touch panels. Designed specifically for outdoor and marine applications, these Crystal Touch panels are non-birefringent and immune to false touches caused by water spray and droplets.

Atmel’s maXTouch S series heads outdoors with Ocular

Atmel’s maXTouch S is heading to the great outdoors with Ocular LCD’s PCAP touch panels. Designed specifically for outdoor and marine applications, these Crystal Touch panels are non-birefringent and immune to false touches caused by water spray and droplets.

Water droplets, especially saltwater, can cause false touches on projected capacitive touch panels, which may be dangerous in certain situations. However, Ocular’s rugged PCAP design, powered by Atmel’s maXTouch S technology, enables touch panels to identify and disregard unintended touches caused by water droplets and spray, all while maintaining accurate touch functionality.

It should probably be noted that birefringence is also an issue when it comes to using devices outdoors. Known as the “rainbow effect,” birefringence occurs most often with polarized sunglasses. As such, Ocular designs projected capacitive touch panels that are non-birefringent, enabling optimized optical qualities with polarized sunglasses or cover glass.

“Atmel’s maXTouch S series controllers deliver better linearity, increased signal-to-noise ratio and excellent noise immunity for Ocular’s PCAP line of touch panels,” said Jon Kiachian, vice president of touch marketing, Atmel Corporation. “Users experience better touch performance and responsiveness for Ocular’s large touchscreen displays for outdoor and marine applications.”

As previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel’s maXTouch S lineup features intelligent touch processing algorithms, noise suppression, high responsiveness, pinpoint precision and sensor hub technology that fuses together input from motion-processing sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers.

The technology can also be used to build a highly responsive, high-fidelity touch experience in mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and Windows 8 Ultrabooks – even in the most punishing noise environments.