Pressure Sensors / Detectors / Transducers
Touch Sensor lets users add rotary control to products.
Press Release Summary:
Suited for control panels in equipment that require knob or rotary control, QT510 touch-wheel chip uses charge-transfer sensing method to provide circular or arc-based touch-sensing output with 7-bit resolution. Delivering output on SPI serial interface, device can be set to sense through panels up to 3 mm thick and through gloves. Product has no external active components or moving parts and is fully self-calibrating with drift compensation.
Original Press Release:
Quickly Add an Economical Rotary Control to Your Product!
Pittsford, NY: QT510 is a 'touch-wheel' chip which uses Quantum Research (UK)'s patented charge-transfer sensing method to provide a reliable circular or arc-based touch-sensing output with a 7-bit resolution (1 in 128) . This chip is ideal for control panels in personal electronics, appliances, shaft encoders, automotive controls, or almost any consumer product where you need a knob or rotary control (brightness, volume, temperature, power, menu selection, etc.)
QWheel(TM) touch-wheel technology is like a 'capacitive potentiometer', where the wiper is a finger. The electrode consists of a simple resistive ring element on a circuit board placed behind a plastic front panel; three capacitive QT sensing channels are connected to this ring, and the signals processed to 7-bits of absolute position. The result is output on an SPI serial interface. The device can be set to sense through panels up to 3mm thick, and even through gloves. The entire circuit with the electrode ring can be fabricated on a single-sided PCB for very low cost. In many cases the ultra-reliable technology is less expensive than mechanical equivalents.
QT510 uses a very simple circuit with no external active components or moving parts. Unique features of QT510 include: fully self-calibrating with drift compensation to compensate for slow changes due to aging or environmental conditions; "proximity wake up" function detects hand movement up to 50mm away; powered by mere microamps from 2.5 - 5V; uses spread-spectrum signal acquisition high immunity to external noise sources and ultra-low RF emissions. When placed behind glass or plastic, the circuit creates a smooth, sealed, nearly indestructible rotary touch control that can replace virtually any mechanical encoder or potentiometer. It does not require a hole or knob and therefore has no service or maintenance problems. Applications include menu selection, volume, lighting, position, temperature, and speed controls. Market sectors include consumer electronics and appliances, audio, HVAC controls, communications, toys and games, industrial controls, aerospace, military and automotive controls.
QT510 is available from stock from Saelig Co. (USA distributor for Quantum Research UK) at $2.38 (5K). Also available is a $95 evaluation board E510 which uses included QSlide(TM) PC software to demonstrate touch position.
Direct Link: http://www.saelig.com/pr/qt510.htm
More: Alan Lowne, 585-385-1750 o fax 585-385-1768 Saelig Co. Inc,
1160-D2 Pittsford-Victor Rd. Pittsford, NY 14534 USA. info@saelig.com
