Video: Atmel demos QTouch tech at Computex

Atmel’s comprehensive QTouch Library makes it simple for developers to embed capacitive-touch button, slider, and wheel functionality into a wide range of microcontroller applications.

The royalty-free QTouch Library provides several library files for each device, supporting various numbers of touch channels – enabling both flexibility and efficiency in touch applications.

Simply put, by selecting the library file supporting the exact number of channels needed, developers can achieve a more compact and efficient code using less RAM.

Earlier this week at Computex 2014, Atmel staff engineer Paul Kastnes demonstrated the integration of QTouch solutions with low-power consumption, using ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers and sensor engines.

In addition, Atmel senior manager Dr. John Logan showcased how mobile applications can be customized using customized sensors, exhibited by a modified SAM D20 ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller and an accelerometer gyroscope.

Interested in learning more? You can check out Atmel’s official QTouch page here and Atmel’s SAM D lineup here.

A closer look at Atmel’s tinyAVR

Atmel’s stalwart tinyAVR lineup has been in the news lately, powering a wide range of projects including the DUO tiny mini computer, Agent smart watch, ShuttAVR mod for cameras, Game of the Goose, pressure sensitive floor, Nixie clock, digital dice kit, driving seven-segment LED displays and playing chiptunes.

As illustrated by the diverse examples above, Atmel’s tinyAVR devices are optimized for applications requiring a combination of performance, power efficiency and ease of use in a small package. Indeed, all tinyAVR devices are based on the same architecture and compatible with other AVR devices, with the smallest tinyAVR measuring only 1.5mm x 1.4mm.

“Integrated ADC, EEPROM memory and brown out detector let you build applications without adding external components, while offering flash memory and on-chip debug for fast, secure, cost-effective in-circuit upgrades that significantly cuts time to market,” an Atmel engineering rep told Bits & Pieces.

“Simply put, the tinyAVR offers a unique combination of miniaturization, processing power, analog performance and system-level integration. That is why the tinyAVR is the most compact device in the AVR family – and the only device capable of operating at just 0.7V.”

To be sure, where most microcontrollers require 1.8V or more to operate, the tinyAVR with boost regulator bolsters the voltage from a single AA or AAA battery into a stable 3V supply to power the entire application.

“In terms of high integration, each pin boasts multiple uses as I/O, ADC and PWM. Even the reset pin can be reconfigured as an I/O pin. tinyAVR also features a Universal Serial Interface (USI) which can be used as SPI, UART or TWI,” the engineering rep continued.

“Plus, Atmel’s royalty free QTouch Library makes it simple to embed capacitive-touch button, slider and wheel functionality into general-purpose Atmel AVR microcontroller applications. The library offers several  files for each device, supporting different numbers of touch channels – facilitating both flexibility and efficiency in touch applications.”

Last, but certainly not least, tinyAVR designs can be coupled with Atmel’s CryptoAuthentication devices for an added level of security. Interested in learning more? Be sure to check out our detailed tinyAVR breakdown here.

tinyAVR: Balancing performance and efficiency in a small package

The AVR tour continues! Our first stop? Atmel’s AVR UC3, an MCU built around high-performance 32-bit AVR architecture and optimized for highly integrated applications. Next up? The AVR XMEGA, an MCU designed for real-time performance, high integration and ultra-low power. Our third stop was Atmel’s stalwart megaAVR, which neatly balances both capacity and performance.

And today we are getting up close and personal with Atmel’s tinyAVR lineup. As one can infer from its name, the tinyAVR series is optimized for applications requiring performance, power efficiency and ease of use in a small package – with the smallest tinyAVR measuring only 1.5mm x 1.4mm. As expected, all tinyAVR devices are based on the same architecture and compatible with other AVR devices. Engineers can employ the tinyAVR as a single chip solution in small systems – or use them to deliver glue logic and distributed intelligence in larger systems.

“Integrated ADC, EEPROM memory and brown-out detector allows devs to build applications without adding external components, while tinyAVR offers flash memory and on-chip debug for fast, secure, cost-effective in-circuit upgrades that significantly cuts product time to market,” an Atmel engineering rep told Bits & Pieces. “Simply put, the tinyAVR offers an optimized combination of miniaturization, processing power, analog performance and system-level integration.”

It should be noted that the tinyAVR is the most compact device in the AVR family and the only device capable of operating at just 0.7V. Whereas most microcontrollers require 1.8V or more to operate, the tinyAVR (with boost regulator) boosts the voltage from a single AA or AAA battery into a stable 3V supply to power an entire application. Plus, tinyAVR designs can be coupled with Atmel’s CryptoAuthentication device for an added level of security against hackers and cloners.

Additional key features include:

• Capacitive Touch – Atmel’s QTouch Library makes it easier for engineers to embed capacitive-touch button, slider and wheel functionality into general-purpose Atmel AVR microcontroller applications. The royalty-free QTouch Library provides several library files for each device and supports different numbers of touch channels, enabling both flexibility and efficiency in touch application.
• Fast and code efficient – The AVR CPU gives the tinyAVR devices the same high performance as Atmel’s larger AVR devices and several times the processing power of any similarly-sized competitor. Flexible and versatile, they feature high code efficiency that allows them fit a broad range of applications.
• High integration – Each pin has multiple uses as I/O, ADC and PWM. Even the reset pin can be reconfigured as an I/O pin. tinyAVR also features a Universal Serial Interface (USI) which can be used as SPI, UART or TWI.

Interested in learning more? Be sure to check out our full tinyAVR portfolio here.

A sure touch with buttons, sliders and wheels

Yesterday, we discussed Atmel’s comprehensive QTouch Library, which makes it easier for developers to embed capacitive-touch button, slider and wheel functionality into general-purpose AT91SAM and AVR microcontroller (MCU) applications.

And today we’re going to take a closer look at Atmel’s touch portfolio by focusing on said buttons, sliders and wheels. To be sure, Atmel offers versatile tech for the implementation of buttons, sliders and wheels on any touch-sensitive device.

As an Atmel engineering rep told Bits & Pieces, these integrated circuits (ICs) enhance the user experience with excellent precision and reliability.

“They also deliver superb low-power characteristics, a critical requirement for today’s battery-powered handheld and mobile devices,” the engineering rep explained.

“The technology supports simple 1–10 button configurations as well as more complex scanned-matrix configurations of up to 48 buttons — at very low cost per button.”

Atmel also offers the above-mentioned QTouch Suite for embedding buttons, sliders, and wheels into the the AT91SAM and AVR microcontrollers.

Additional key specs? Long-range proximity sensing (enables capacitive proximity range over 10-inches), cutting-edge interfaces, design flexibility, low power consumption and robust operation.

Interested in learning more about what Atmel can offer you in terms of buttons, sliders and wheels?  Additional information can be found here.

Embedding touch tech in MCU firmware

Atmel’s comprehensive QTouch Library makes it simple for developers to embed capacitive-touch button, slider and wheel functionality into general-purpose AT91SAM and AVR microcontroller (MCU) applications.

To be sure, Atmel’s royalty-free QTouch Library offers several library files for each device, while supporting various numbers of touch channels – thereby enabling both flexibility and efficiency in touch apps. And by selecting the library file supporting the exact number of channels needed, devs can achieve a more compact and efficient code using less RAM.

Simply put, Atmel’s QTouch Library can be used to develop single-chip solutions for many control applications, or to reduce chip count in more complex applications. Meanwhile, the library offers devs the latitude to implement buttons sliders and wheels in a variety of combinations on a single interface.

There is also broad controller support for Atmel MCUs: AT91SAM, tinyAVR, megaAVR, XMEGA, UC3A and UC3B. Up to 64 sense channels are supported for maximum interface sensitivity ( 256-level sliders and wheels require only three channels), while the QTouch Library supports three patented capacitive touch acquisition methods: QTouch, QTouchADC and QMatrix.

In addition, Atmel Adjacent Key Suppression (AKS) technology enables unambiguous detection of button touches for maximum precision, with full debouncing reports for touch buttons helping to ensure single, clean contacts. And last, but certainly not least, a common API across all library versions simplifies development.

Interested in learning more? Additional information about Atmel’s QTouch library can be found here.

Putting Atmel AVR MCUs in your refrigerator

Power efficiency is an obvious, yet critical element of refrigeration design. To meet current green energy requirements, refrigerators and freezers are required to include support for global efficiency standards, as well as advanced communication capabilities for smart metering.

AVR MCUs can be used to provide flexible connectivity options and power efficient architectures that make them an excellent fit for refrigeration applications. Indeed, a variety of 8- and 32-bit Atmel microcontrollers are specifically optimized for motor control – providing full support for BLDC motors, AC motors and switched reluctance motors. As an added bonus, Atmel solutions meet energy efficiency requirements such as Energy Star and European regulations to deliver maximum efficiency.

“Atmel AVR 32-bit microcontrollers feature a multi-layer databus and DMA controller that make them a perfect fit for HMI applications where high bandwidth is required,” an engineering rep told Bits & Pieces.

“Robust touch sensor technology, featuring the Atmel QTouch library, allows designers to easily add capacitive touch buttons, wheels and sliders at no additional cost. Meanwhile, native 5 volts support is available on the Atmel megaAVR and Atmel tinyAVR microcontrollers, with node authentication capability supporting smart meter infrastructure connections. And last, but certainly not least, ZigBee Pro compatibility enables standards-compliant connectivity and smart metering.”

Refrigerators are an N1 energy consumer – understandably requiring power-efficient technology. In short, Atmel microcontrollers and wireless products are a perfect fit to help engineers design related products with granular energy control and optimized efficiency.

Interested in learning more? Additional information about the use of Atmel MCUs in refrigeration design can be found here.