TouchNetix releases integrated force sensing technology
The latest addition to the aXiom family of HMI chips is the pure force sensing chip – the AX54A-Force. This small-sized chip complements smart touch surfaces, touch button clusters and other solutions where touch functionality is integrated.
TouchNetix’ patented force sensing technology provides safety-enhancing human machine interfaces (HMI) for multiple car OEM platforms.
Its integrated force sensing technology enables measurements of force on the touchscreen or surface from 0.1 Newton (10g) to 20 Newton (2000g). The aXiom technology also offers multi-force position sensing down to a spatial separation of 1.5cm. The sensitivity and signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the aXiom chips enable detection of the smallest force signals. The technology also allows a wide range of forces to be detected, making it suitable for a variety of applications, said TouchNetix.
TouchNetix offers dial-on-display features that are integrated within aXiom touch . Additionally, aXiom enables touchless user interfaces by sensing the presence or position of a user’s finger above the touchscreen or touch surface. User interfaces developed using aXiom technology can utilise force sensing to verify the user intent by requiring an additional press and therefore avoiding inaccurate touch instructions from an errant finger in a moving vehicle. By combining the multi-force technology with parallel multi-touch measurements, the aXiom HMI chips offer safety-enhancing systemic redundancy from two separate sensor measurement systems.
The TouchNetix patented force-sensing technology is mechanically easy to integrate as it uses off-the-shelf and low cost components, and materials that are automotive qualified. The technology acts to absorb any mechanical stack tolerances and all aXiom chips are qualified according to AEC-Q100.
Gaute Myklebust, chief technology officer of TouchNetix, commented: “Many customers realise the safety-enhancing advantage of having redundant touch and force detection in their systems”. He added that the force sensing technology offers the additional confirmation action required in modern automotive and industrial HMI designs to confirm the user intent for specific functions.
The aXiom family of user interface chips enables touchless user interfaces and 3D sensing capabilities to create new and innovative features for product development.
TouchNetix manufactures chips and touch sensor modules. TouchNetix’ aXiom chips are designed for the automotive, appliance, medical, and other industrial markets’ touch user interfaces. The aXiom chips enable touchless and 3D sensing above the surface as well as force-sensing touch alongside traditional touch capabilities. No separate sensor technologies such as camera or infrared are needed to enable 3D sensing, said the company.
TouchNetix is QMS certified to ISO 9001 with an IATF-16949 certified supply chain.
