DSP-based MCU Integrates 96-channel Touch Sensors

CoreRiver has developed a touch sensor IC that enables faster and more accurate touch response through the integrated DSP functionality. The TouchCore400 series MCU integrates 96-channel touch sensors that can support mobile handsets, netbooks and tablet PCs. Because DSP is capable of carrying out fast computations on a real-time basis, the work efficiency of internal filtering such as improvement of touch response and accurate awareness of the coordinates can be significantly improved.

The TouchCore400 series carry a capacitive touch sensor under the two-layer ITO system. In general, ITO films are used to realize touch screen functions. The ITO is a coatable material in which electric charges can be stored. Once a user touches the panel with his/her finger, a small amount of electric charge occurs around the contact point. Then, the electric charge is measured through the ITO patterns, and the collected data are sent to the DSP controller. In the two-layer ITO, one layer will become an x-axis while the other layer will play the role of y-axis. Then, the coordinates are calculated.

“TouchCore400 supports up to 96 channels so chat it can cover large touch screens (15in or larger). While rival companies offer solutions using several ICs, TouchCore400 enables touch screen functions with a single chip. Therefore, it is far advantageous in terms of price and hardware design,” says Koo Jung-ho, Technical Marketing Director, CoreRiver.

All 96 touch sensor ports in the TouchCore400 carry the ADC functions, enabling more capacitive touch screen functions. A hybrid solution is also available. “The hybrid solution supports both capacitive and resistive touch screens after specially designing ITO layers. In other words, a user can write words with a pen and realize solutions with a finger touch. After all, the advantages of both capacitive and resistive touch screens can be realized at the same time by enabling fine touch and finger touch,” says Koo.

The TouchCore400 series has flash ROM and 2kB EEPROM, and comes in 40-MLF or 124-DRMLF package. In addition, a high-performance touch-sensor engine (16-bit resolution) is independently implemented. It is operated at a speed of 46MHz. The device supports UART, I2C and SPI. Convenient development and debugging are also enabled through JTAG.

Since 2005, CoreRiver has concentrated on high-performance microcontroller industry including Microcomputer Development System (MDS). Now, company is targeting to expand its business into various fields such as MCU and the integrated system solutions.

CoreRiver
www.coreriver.com