Cypress's CapSense® Automotive Technology Drives Capacitive Touch Infotainment System

The dashboard contains Cypress’s CapSense CY8C21534 chip, an AEC-Q100 qualified device. AEC-Q100 specifications ensure that components meet rigorous Automotive Quality Systems standards. Each control panel features six to eight numbered mechanical buttons which can be programmed to perform the driver’s selected tasks. The user simply touches the button to display the programmed functionality, and then depresses the mechanical button to activate it. The console can operate three functions including the navigation system, AM/FM radio and hands-free phone communication.

Cypress’s automotive-qualified CapSense devices are available in A grade (-40C to 85C), as well as E grade (-40C to 125C) which is not available in most competitive products. Automotive CapSense enables attractive, highly functional interfaces with improved durability over mechanical buttons and sliders. In addition, their industry-leading reliability, noise-immunity and water-resistance deliver superior performance in the harsh automotive operating environment. CapSense proximity sensing offers a detection range up to 25 cm, saving power by activating an interface only when needed. The devices are ideal for interior automotive applications such as audio, navigation, AC control and lighting control, as well as exterior applications such as trunk release and passive keyless-entry buttons. For more information on Cypress’s automotive portfolio, visit www.cypress.com/go/automotive or view a brochure at www.cypress.com/go/autobrochure.

“We are excited to combine our market-leading capacitive touch interface with the premium brand of BMW,” said Hassane El Khoury, automotive business unit director for Cypress. ”CapSense adds both style and functional improvements to automotive interiors, and we expect the trend of including capacitive touch to continue.”

About CapSenseCypress's CapSense touch-sensing solution has replaced more than 3.5 billion mechanical buttons in mobile handsets, laptops, consumer electronics, white goods, industrial, medical, automotive applications, and virtually any system that has a mechanical button or switch, making Cypress the industry touch-sensing leader. The CapSense portfolio, the industry's broadest and most integrated, enhances industrial design and reliability with the most noise-immune and water tolerant capacitive touch-sensing interfaces, including proximity sensing where direct touch is not required. CapSense proximity sensing, with its industry-leading detection range up to 25 cm, provides power savings by activating an interface only when needed while further enhancing industrial designs by only exposing interfaces when necessary. Based on the PSoC programmable system-on-chip architecture and the PSoC Designer™ Embedded-System Design Tool, users complete CapSense designs quickly and easily using pre-configured and verified user modules and real-time sensor tuning and monitoring. Learn more about CapSense online at www.cypress.com/go/capsense.