Microchip has announced a new addition to its portfolio of human interface solutions. The MTCH6303 supports touch panel sensors with up to 1000 nodes and 10 inch diagonals. The device uses signal processing to filter noise and provide predictive tracking of up to 10 fingers, at scan rates of up to 250Hz with a minimum of 100Hz each for five touches. The projected-capacitive touch controller provides multi-touch coordinates as well as a ready-made multi-finger surface gesture suite that can bring modern user interface elements such as pinch and zoom, multifinger scrolling and swipes to any embedded design with minimal loading on the host processor. It can also be used with Microchip’s MTCH652 high-voltage line driver to achieve better SNR in noisy environments.

When combined with the MGC3130, the MTCH6303 solution is also capable of supporting 3D air gestures up to 20cm distance from the touch panel. Microchip’s MGC3130 E-field-based 3D tracking and gesture controller includes Microchip’s patented GestIC technology, allowing user input via natural hand and finger movements in free space.

The MTCH6303 is supported by Microchip’s new Multi-Touch Projected Capacitive Touch Screen Development Kit (DV102013) priced at $149.00 and available to order today with free, downloadable software. The DV102013 incorporates the MTCH6303 projected-capacitive touch controller and the MTCH652 high-voltage driver on a controller board together with a transparent, 8” ITO touch panel for easy demonstration of the MTCH6303’s touch-controller capabilities and supporting GUI functionality.

The MTCH6303 is available in 64-pin TQFP and QFN packages. The MTCH652 is offered in 28-pin QFN, SSOP and SOIC packages; and the MGC3130 in a 28-pin QFN package. All three devices are available now for sampling and volume production.