PSoC3 CapSense Plus reduces system design costs and simplifies the design process thanks to the revolutionary, patent-pending SmartSense™ auto-tuning algorithm, which eliminates the need for system tuning. SmartSense allows for the automatic adjustment of more than 10 parameters to achieve optimal touch sensing performance. The CapSense graphical software module, integrated into Cypress's PSoC Creator™ IDE, makes it easy for designers to define combinations of buttons, cursors, touch controls, and capacitive proximity sensors, and provides real-time feedback on parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), finger threshold level, noise threshold level, and many more.Efficient Noise Immunity:
The new PSoC3 CapSense Plus devices offer up to 62 GPIO (General Purpose I/O) pins—all of which can handle CapSense signals—providing the highest number of capacitive sensing elements on a single chip in the market. Furthermore, the new solution offers Cypress's legendary noise immunity, ensuring reliable operation even in the presence of noise from various sources.
Cypress offers the CapSense PSoC Expansion Board Kit, model CY8CKIT-031, to streamline design with the new solution. The CY8CKIT-031 includes button and cursor modules, three separate prototyping levels, and a resource CD containing sample projects and application notes. The new kit's adapter board allows engineers to connect existing CapSense modules to the PSoC Development Kit, model CY8CKIT-001, or the PSoC3 Development Kit, model CY8CKIT-030. This gives engineers access to the entire PSoC3 ecosystem for creating powerful, customized designs and allows customers to reuse CapSense designs within the PSoC3 environment. CapSense module kits include the CY3280-BSM single-button module kit, the CY3280-SRM radial cursor module kit, the CY3280-SLM linear cursor module kit, and the CY3280-BMM matrix button module kit. Customers who already own these module kits can receive a 50 percent discount on the purchase of the new CY8CKIT-031 kit.
Ability to integrate system and user interface control onto a single chip.
Currently, engineers design capacitive touch user interfaces separately from the central system control function. In most cases, a ribbon cable connects the user interface controller to the system controller to connect the user inputs. This design method requires multiple components, consumes more power, and complicates system design. Cypress has solved this problem with the PSoC3 CapSense Plus. Designers can now integrate system and user interface control onto a single chip, with the added benefit of SmartSense automatic tuning, which streamlines system design and prototyping/production development by automatically optimizing parameters during the design process.
“Designers recognize Cypress as the leader in capacitive touch solutions and also value the power and flexibility of the PSoC3 architecture,” says Gahan Richardson, Vice President of PSoC Platform Products at Cypress, adding, “We have made it easier for designers to combine these two top-tier technologies to simplify the system design process in numerous applications.”.
High-Performance Analog and Digital Programmable Peripherals:
Cypress's PSoC3 architecture, based on a high-performance 8051 8-bit processor, features exclusive analog and digital programmable peripherals that provide the necessary capabilities for motor control, intelligent power supply and battery management, LCD segment displays, graphics control, audio/voice processing, communication protocols, and much more. Its integrated 20-bit Delta Sigma A/D converter offers an effective number of bits (ENOB) better than 18 bits.
Cypress's CapSense technology is the market-leading solution for capacitive buttons, cursors, and switches. CapSense touch sensing solutions have replaced 3.5 billion mechanical buttons in mobile terminals, laptops, consumer electronics, home appliances, automotive applications, and virtually any system that incorporates a mechanical button or switch, making Cypress the leader in the touch sensing market.
The CapSense range, the broadest and most integrated on the market, improves industrial design and reliability thanks to capacitive touch sensing interfaces with greater noise immunity and water resistance, including proximity sensing when a direct touch is not needed.
