Robust microcontrollers bring touch control to industrial applications
Bringing capacitive-sensing capabilities to cost-sensitive applications, Texas Instruments (TI) has expanded its MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) family with CapTIvate technology.
Developers can use the new MSP430FR2512 and MSP430FR2522 MCUs with integrated capacitive touch to add up to 16 buttons as well as proximity sensing capability in various applications including industrial systems, home automation systems, appliances, power tools, home entertainment and personal audio applications.
The MSP430FR2512 and MSP430FR2522 MCUs deliver International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61000-4-6-certified capacitive sensing MCU-based solutions for applications exposed to electromagnetic disturbances, oil, water and grease. According to TI, they offer five times lower power consumption than the competition, supporting proximity sensing and touch through glass, plastic and metal overlays. CapTIvate technology adds capacitive touch and proximity sensing to applications such as access control panels, cooktops, wireless speakers and power tools.
Developers can quickly evaluate capacitive sensing for their applications with the new BOOSTXL-CAPKEYPAD BoosterPack plug-in module that is compatible with the CapTIvate programmer board (CAPTIVATE-PGMR) or TI LaunchPad development kits. The BoosterPack module joins a portfolio of MCUs, tools, software, reference designs and documentation in the CapTIvate Design Centre and online CapTIvate technology guide. In addition, developers can find answers and support in the TI E2E Community to speed development with CapTIvate technology.
Production quantities of the MSP430FR2512 and MSP430FR2522 MCUs are available in a 20-pin thin quad flat no lead (VQFN) package and a 16-pin thin shrink small outline package (TSSOP) starting at $0.69 in 1,000-unit quantities.
The CapTIvate BoosterPack plug-in module (BOOSTXL-CAPKEYPAD) is available for $29.99 through the TI store and authorised distributors.
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