Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has introduced two capacitive-touch controllers, MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P, designed to help manufacturers develop display-free human-machine interfaces (HMIs) with lower system costs and reduced design complexity. The new controllers expand Microchip’s turnkey capacitive-touch product range and are designed for appliances, outdoor equipment and industrial applications. They support buttons, sliders and wheels with illuminated controls and decorative surfaces, providing an alternative to interfaces that rely on displays.
As manufacturers add more touch controls to equipment, conventional controllers can experience longer acquisition times and reduced signal-to-noise ratios. The MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P address these issues through parallel sensing, allowing data to be collected from multiple sensors simultaneously.
The devices use 12 on-chip analog-to-digital converters operating in parallel to maintain fast response times, strong signal-to-noise ratios and reliable touch detection, including in electrically noisy environments. The MTCH3380P supports up to 38 sensors in self-capacitance mode and 64 sensors in mutual-capacitance mode. The MTCH3240P supports up to 24 sensors in self-capacitance mode and 32 in mutual-capacitance mode. This allows designers to incorporate more touch controls without the acquisition-time penalties often associated with higher sensor counts.
The controllers are designed to detect touch through thick cover materials and support operation when users wear gloves. These features are relevant to ovens, cooktops, refrigerators and washing machines, where moisture and gloved operation can affect touch response. Outdoor applications include electric vehicle chargers, parking meters and kiosks, where protective covers and changing weather conditions require dependable operation. Both devices support operation at temperatures of up to 105°C and are designed to support customer-driven IEC/UL 60730 Class B functional safety certification requirements.
Giovanni Fontana, Senior Director of Microchip’s Human Machine Interface Division, said manufacturers were seeking to reduce system costs while maintaining responsive and easy-to-use interfaces. He said the new controllers were designed to address touch-sensing challenges in display-free systems by combining fast acquisition with a high signal-to-noise ratio.
Microchip also provides development resources to help customers evaluate and integrate the controllers. These include the mTouch Studio development environment, evaluation hardware and host drivers for Linux and Zephyr operating systems. The launch adds to Microchip’s range of hardware, software and development tools for capacitive-touch applications, supporting manufacturers in designing and testing touch interfaces for consumer and industrial equipment.
Microchip Technology is widely recognized for its semiconductor, embedded systems, and timing solutions used across automotive, industrial, aerospace, communications, and consumer electronics applications. Through ongoing innovation in frequency control and precision timing technologies, the company aims to support next-generation electronic systems that demand higher performance, lower power consumption, and improved operational resilience.
