Atmel Targets Mobile Devices with Low Cost 4-Channel QTouch Capacitive Touch Button Controller

SAN JOSE, California - Atmel(c) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today a convenient, easy to
implement, low cost touch sensor IC, which brings capacitive user interfaces
to price-sensitive consumer and mobile devices. This AT42QT1040 device is
available in a 3mm x 3mm VQFN 20 pin package, making it ideal for use in
mobile phones and other handheld devices where PCB space is at a premium. In
low power mode the AT42QT1040 draws only 31uA from a 1.8 VDC supply, allowing
capacitive sensing to be added with minimal impact on battery lifetime. The
AT42QT1040 is the latest solution from Atmel’s touch sensor division, which
develops capacitive touch button, slider, wheel and touchscreen controllers.
The AT42QT1040 includes 4 digital output channels, enabling per-channel
indication on touch detection. The IC can also be configured using one
channel as a proximity sensor, enabling ‘hidden-until-lit’ user interfaces
where the device detects the presence of a finger some distance away from the
keypad.

The AT42QT1040 is based on Atmel’s patented QTouch(TM) charge-transfer
sensing method. This robust technology uses spread-spectrum modulation to
achieve high immunity to electrical noise. Atmel’s patented Adjacent Key
Suppression(TM) (AKS(TM)), technology, essential for tight-pitched keys, is
used to ensure that only the intended key is activated by the touch of a
finger. Long-term reliability is achieved because the device automatically
calibrates on power-up and always stays calibrated even if there is a
build-up of moisture or other contaminants on the touch surface or if the
overall system is subject to aging. Individual key sensitivity can be
configured to support a range of front panel thicknesses and materials
including glass or plastic up to several millimeters thick. Electrodes can be
made from copper, silver, carbon, indium tin oxide (ITO) or any other
conductive material. Widely different electrode sizes and shapes are
possible, giving the product designer great flexibility to tailor the user
interface. The device has two power modes: a low power mode, which is ideal
for small, battery-driven devices and a fast response mode, which provides
minimum response time for applications where low touch latency is essential.
To aid product development the AT42QT1040 has a debug mode in which internal
data from the chip can be accessed. The ability to monitor the behavior of
the device in this way means that designs can quickly be evaluated and tuned
resulting in a shorter product design time frame.

Availability and Pricing

The AT42QT1040 is available now in a space-saving 3mm x 3mm x 0.85mm
package. The device is priced at US$0.35 in quantities of 100,000 units. An
evaluation kit, EVK1040A, is also available, priced at US$25.

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of
microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio
frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry’s broadest
intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide
the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on consumer,
industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets.

(c) 2009 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), Atmel logo and
combinations thereof, AVR(R), QTouch(TM), Adjacent Key Suppression(TM),
AKS(TM) and others, are registered trademarks, or trademarks of Atmel
Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be
trademarks of others.

Information:

For further details about this and other Atmel touch sense products,
please visit www.atmel.com/products/touch

Press Contacts:
Helen Barnes, Product Marketing Manager - Touch technology division
Tel: +44-23-8056-0489, Email: helen.barnes@atmel.com

Chris Ard, Marketing Director - Touch technology division
Tel: +44-23-8056-0471, Email: christopher.ard@atmel.com

Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: helen.perlegos@atmel.com

Robert Huntley, Publitek (PR agency)
Tel: +44-1225-470000, Email: robert.huntley@publitek.com

Source: Atmel Corporation

Helen Barnes, Product Marketing Manager, Touch technology division, +44-23-8056-0489, helen.barnes at atmel.com, or Chris Ard, Marketing Director, Touch technology division, +44-23-8056-0471, christopher.ard at atmel.com, Helen Perlegos, Public Relations, +1-408-487-2963, helen.perlegos at atmel.com, all of Atmel Corporation; Robert Huntley of Publitek (PR agency), +44-1225-470000, robert.huntley at publitek.com, for Atmel Corporation