CIE Components in Electronics
NXP Semiconductors has unveiled a complete new family of self-calibrating capacitive touch and proximity switches designed for harsh environments. The PCF8883 and PCF8885, along with the automotive-grade PCA8885 and PCA8886, are intended to enable robust sensing despite dust, moisture, grease and other types of contamination building up on the touch area, and offer high immunity to sudden temperature changes and to electromagnetic interference.
Using digital signal processing to detect changes in capacitance on a remote sensing plate, the capacitive touch switches eliminate the need for a microcontroller and firmware for post-processing. With very low power consumption – typically 3µA per channel – NXP’s capacitive touch and proximity switches can also run continuously, with no complicated power-down and wake-up schemes required.
The sampling frequency and response times are easily adjustable, allowing designers to configure the PCF8883, PCF8885, PCA8885 and PCA8886 for a wide range of industrial and automotive applications. The single-channel PCF8883 and dual-channel PCA8886 can be used as touch switches, or as proximity sensors which wake up and reactivate the system from power-down mode. The multi-channel PCF8885 can be used as a slider, as a rotary wheel and for dedicated touch keys.
NXP’s highly robust capacitive touch and proximity switches are intended for applications using touch screen control panels, including:
- Home appliances such as washing machines, ovens and vacuum cleaners
- Building control systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting
- Industrial equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs)
- Medical devices such as blood pressure monitors
- Automotive applications such as climate control units, car entertainment systems, car access systems, and mirror and sun-roof control units
“Thanks to smartphones, consumers have come to expect the convenience of touch screens to control a whole host of other devices. With our self-calibrating capacitive touch and proximity switches, NXP is making it straightforward for leading appliance makers, automotive suppliers and other equipment manufacturers to bring touch controls and LCD displays together – with minimal overhead. Through extensive testing, we’ve also been able to demonstrate the robustness of our solution, even in extreme environmental conditions,” said Grahame Cooney, general manager of high-speed interfaces and clock, watches and graphic drivers, NXP Semiconductors.
