Dec 12 2014
Cypress Semiconductor Corp., the market leader in capacitive touch-sensing, today announced that iConnectivity, a leading developer of innovative interfaces for musicians, is using Cypress's CapSense® MBR3 mechanical button replacement solution in its next-generation iConnectAUDIO4+ multi-host audio interface system.
Pictured is Cypress' CapSense MBR3 capacitive touch-sensing solution, which drives the user interface of the iConnectAUDIO4+ Multi-Host Audio Interface System.
The CapSense Mechanical Button Replacement (MBR) CY8CMBR3108 controller provided iConnectivity with an intuitive and easy-to-use solution to implement a dynamic, reliable touch-sensing user interface.
The iConnectAUDIO4+ supports multiple audio and Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) peripherals, and also multiple computing devices, all at once. This allows any combination of up to two Mac, PC and iOS devices to share the ports of the iConnectAUDIO4+ for seamless interaction with professional-grade audio from multiple sources. iConnectivity chose to implement capacitive touch sensing controls into its iConnectAUDIO4+ because standard buttons and knobs of previous-generation devices could not provide the flexibility and user interactivity required. The CapSense MBR3 solution enabled iConnectivity to maintain a small form factor and reduce BOM costs, while delivering top-quality touch performance.
"Quality without compromise is very important to the iConnectivity brand, and the Cypress CapSense MBR3 solution met our requirements for performance, size and cost for our new line of audio interfaces," said Michael Loh, Founder and CTO of iConnectivity. "The MBR3-powered touch-sensing interface adds significantly to the professional look, feel and functionality of the iConnectAUDIO4+, complementing its unparalleled multiplatform integration."
"We are pleased that iConnectivity selected our CapSense MBR3 solution for its next-generation audio and MIDI interface system," said Hassane El-Khoury, executive vice president of the Programmable Systems Division at Cypress. "This application underscores the ability of our CapSense controllers to enable fast and easy replacement of mechanical buttons with reliable, world-class capacitive touch-sensing technology in a wide variety of markets."
The CY8CMBR3x controllers leverage Cypress's SmartSense™ Auto-tuning algorithm to completely eliminate the requirement for manual system tuning. SmartSense enables automatic tuning of more than 10 parameters to achieve optimal touch sensing performance during system, manufacturing, and environmental changes. The CY8CMBR3x family is also supported by Cypress's EZ-Click™ software tool, which combines GUI-based configuration, product debug and production-line testing with no firmware development required.
The CY8CMBR3x controllers are ideal for applications in a broad range of markets, including consumer, automotive, home appliance, industrial, medical and fitness. The controllers can implement up to 16 capacitive buttons or up to 8 capacitive buttons while driving 8 LEDs. Designers can leverage the devices to add up to two proximity sensors with a 30-cm sensing distance for wake-on-approach applications. Additionally, the CY8CMBR3x controllers feature Flanking Sensor Suppression (FSS) that eliminates false touches when buttons are closely spaced.