Nov 21 2008
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:CY) today announced that its proximity detection solution enables a best-in-class proximity detection range of 25 cm. Based on the market-leading CapSense™ touch-sensing technology, the solution leverages the flexible PSoC® Programmable System-on-Chip architecture to deliver variable detection range and sensitivity along with desired system effects.
Proximity sensing enables new usage models where direct touch is not required, instead detecting a finger or another object as it approaches the device. The solution allows for enhanced industrial designs that only expose interfaces or buttons when necessary and provides incremental power savings by activating an interface only when needed. For more information on the CapSense proximity sensing solution, visit www.cypress.com/go/PR/proximitysensing.
To simplify use of this proximity sensing functionality, Cypress also announced a free online tutorial that shows how to develop proximity sensing detectors without writing or debugging a single line of C or Assembly code using Cypress’s PSoC Designer™ embedded design tool. The 30-minute interactive video entitled “Building a Proximity Detector Using PSoC Designer” is available at www.cypress.com/go/PR/ProximityDemo.
The new video includes an introduction to proximity sensing with a demonstration of the detection range of the CapSense solution, and it features Cypress member of technical staff Dave Van Ess presenting the design of a proximity sensing interface using PSoC Designer software via the PSoC FirstTouch™ Starter Kit. The USB thumbdrive kit can also be used for touch-sensing, temperature-sensing and light sensing-designs. The CY3270 PSoC FirstTouch Starter kit is available for US$29.95. The follow-on CY3271 PSoC FirstTouch Starter Kit with CyFi™ Low-Power RF enables proximity sensing as well, and is available for US$69.95. For more information, visit www.cypress.com/FirstTouch.
“The popularity of proximity interfaces is growing rapidly in a huge range of applications across the consumer, handset, white goods, industrial, computation and automotive markets,” said Gokul Krishnan, business unit director for Cypress’s CapSense Touch-Sensing solutions. “This video demonstrates just how easy it is to add proximity sensing functionality to a design using our proven CapSense touch-sensing solution, which is at the heart over 2.5 billion touch-sensing interfaces in systems worldwide. Our customers receive unmatched system design support, including easy to use software, application notes, and production text fixture support.”