July 5, 2007 -
Supplied in 32-pin LQFP, QST108KT6 uses pure digital, firmware-based solution that implements Quantum's charge-transfer QProx capacitive technology and provides intelligent single-chip control interface that responds to users' touch. IC allows for creation of sealed, backlit sensing surfaces with capacitive touch-panels of up to 8 keys for user interfaces. Solution incorporates drift compensation, auto-calibration, noise filtering, and Adjacent Key Suppression.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
STMicroelectronics Launches First Product in QST Family of Capacitive Touch Sensors
The new QST family meets the growing demand for innovative user interfaces in digital consumer equipment, industrial systems, white goods, computer peripherals and cellular phones
Geneva, June 20, 2007 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), today announced the launch of the QST108, the first IC in a family of capacitive touch sense products that will enable contemporary and innovative user interfaces for many markets. QST family products are all-digital standard products based on proven, patented technology recently licensed from Quantum Research Group. ST is the first semiconductor company to license QProxTM technology from Quantum.
Touch-sensitive controls are rapidly becoming the solution of choice to replace electro-mechanical switches as they allow designers to create elegant and attractive, functional and economical user interfaces for a wide range of designs where durability, ease of use and price are major considerations. The QST family of products will allow the easy creation of sealed, back-lit sensing surfaces, enabling manufacturers to dramatically reduce touch-panel costs while also creating dramatic, contemporary interfaces. First in ST's QST capacitive touch-sensor series, the QST108 uses a pure digital, firmware-based solution that implements Quantum's patented and field-proven charge-transfer QProx capacitive technology and provides an intelligent single-chip control interface that responds to users' touch.
The QST108 sensor device allows users to create capacitive touch-panels of up to 8 keys for their product user interfaces, using conventional or flexible printed circuit board. The sense electrodes can be part of the PCB layout or can even be printed using conductive ink, with flexibility in electrode sizes and shapes. The QST108 detects finger touch using an electrode behind a non-conductive front panel made from materials such as glass or plastic. External component count is low, with only one sampling capacitor and one resistor per channel being required.
"QST provides a solid-state alternative to mechanical switches, allowing significant product differentiation with proven, low risk, robust technology," said Youssef Benmokhtar, Director for the 8-bit Business Unit with ST's Microcontroller Division. "Product designers will be able to easily and rapidly develop contemporary user interfaces in a cost effective way."
QST devices require no production line or user calibration. They incorporate sophisticated drift compensation, auto-calibration, noise filtering and Adjacent Key Suppression (AKSTM) to ensure maximum usability and control integrity. Device configuration allows flexibility in panel thickness, from extremely thin plastics to 10mm or more of glass. QST users also benefit from a range of panel construction methods pioneered and patented by Quantum that are available to ST customers.
The QST108 touch sense controller requires no additional software development and allows different sensing modes selected in firmware and by option resistors. Providing a solid-state alternative to mechanical switches, QST gives great flexibility in user interface design and offers a stable, reliable capacitive touch solution that can be easily soft customized for product designs, and easily re-configured for variants. QST standard solutions significantly reduce the development time and cost, allowing designers to concentrate their creativity on the system design.
Initially available in a 32-pin LQFP package, the QST108 drives up to 8 LEDs. It features PWM capability (pulse width modulation) to drive a beeper output or to control LED brightness. De-bounced touch detection results are accessible through individual outputs or through the I2C interface.
I2C allows the QST108 to communicate with the application host controller. User configurable parameters and control functions such as detection threshold, detection integrator, sensor recalibration, low power mode activation, AKS mode and key states and configuration are accessible using simple I2C commands.
Over time, ST will expand the QST family with products offering different key counts and new features such as capacitive wheels and sliders. In the near future ST will be offering 1-, 2- and 4-key products and a more complex product offering 7 keys and a wheel or slider. Higher keycounts will be supported using Quantum's QMatrixTM technology.
Availability and Price
The QST108KT6 is sampling now for major OEM customers and will be available to all in Q4 2007. Available in a 32-pin LQFP package, the QST108KT6 is priced around $1.80 in quantities of 10,000 pieces through distribution.
About Charge-Transfer Capacitive Sensing
QProx technology involves charging an electrically conducting sensing electrode, usually a copper area on a printed circuit board - then transferring that charge to a fixed-value sample capacitor. The charge-transfer is carried out in a patented 'burst mode' through the controlled switching of I/O transistors. The presence of any external capacitance, caused by an object such as a finger, affects the flow of charge and hence the capacitive reading, allowing the object to be detected. The switching process is the only one in existence today that is 100% digital in nature, making it highly reliable and robust, while also allowing very low price points even for high numbers of keys
........with links to further information on the QST108
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2006, the Company's net revenues were $9.85 billion and net earnings were $782 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
QProx, QMatrix and Adjacent Key Suppression (AKS) are trademarks of Quantum Research Group
STMicroelectronics, Inc.
Lexington Corporate Center
10 Maguire Road
Bldg. 1, 3rd Floor
Lexington, MA 02421
(781) 861 2650 www.st.com Company Information: Name: STMicroelectronics Address: 39, Chemin du Champ des Filles, C. P. 21 City: GENEVA Country: Switzerland Phone: +41 22 929 29 29 FAX: +41 22 929 29 00 http://www.st.com
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