Capacitive Sensing: Changing the Face of Touch Solutions

It’s time to bring your product to life. Capacitive controllers are the go-to capacitive sensing solution designed to elevate a range of modern touch application technologies to a level of unbeatable performance. Read on to find out how we’re empowering robust, high-performance touch interfaces worldwide.

What Is Capacitive Sensing?

Capacitive sensing technology underpins seamless touchscreen interfaces, bringing intuitive touch to everyday products, from smartphones and smart thermostats to in-vehicle controls. It’s widely used in mobile phones, smart home devices, and automotive human-machine interfaces (HMIs), typically implemented with microcontrollers (MCUs) that integrate dedicated capacitive sensing functionality.

How Do Capacitive Touch Sensors Work?

A capacitive touch sensor detects changes in capacitance (electrical charges) when a finger approaches or touches the surface. The same principle enables them to detect proximity detection and liquid level measurement, making capacitive sensing highly versatile.

Capacitive sensing is very different from resistive sensing. Resistive sensing measures pressure when two conductive layers are physically pressed together. By contrast, capacitive sensing detects small changes in capacitance when a conductive object such as a finger approaches or contacts a sensor’s surface.

As a result, capacitive touch screen controllers typically offer:

  • Greater design flexibility
  • Enhanced multi-touch capability
  • More environmental robustness

Not all capacitive-sensing controllers are alike. Infineon’s CAPSENSE™ technology delivers precise touch detection and excellent power efficiency, setting a high benchmark for modern touch interfaces.

sensing
sensing
sensing

Infineon’s CAPSENSE™ Technology

Infineon’s CAPSENSE™-enabled MCUs are the backbone of innovative products worldwide. They are designed to balance high performance with ultra-low power consumption. 

CAPSENSE™ does things differently. Whereas other MCUs are burdened by external electromagnetic noise and humidity, CAPSENSE™ uniquely combines advanced sensing algorithms and hardware filtering to help maintain performance across a wide range of environments. 

At the heart of our MCU offerings is our PSOC™ brand. PSOC™ microcontrollers combine a standard processor core with a completely configurable mix of capacitive sensing blocks on a single chip. This architecture can shorten development time: instead of adding complex external circuitry, you can rely on in-built software.

Our top CAPSENSE™-enabled MCUs include:

  • PSOC™ Automotive Multitouch - High precision when you need it most. This is the new standard in touch sensing in tough environments. The broadest capacitive touch IP portfolio in the industry. Infineon’s PSOC™ automotive multitouch touchscreen controllers leverage its advanced capacitive touch IP to deliver a new standard of premium performance to automotive touchscreens. The PSOC™ automotive multitouch family offers low noise capacitive multi-finger touch sensing for next generation of LCD/TFT/OLED screen sizes up to 24 inches diagonal. Unbeatable multi-touch capability with full AEC-Q100 automotive qualification, and designed for ultimate low-power efficiency, too.

Infineon’s CAPSENSE™ Technology

Capacitive sensing solutions, including our PSOC™ 4 CAPSENSE™ and PSOC™ Automotive Multitouch lines, are ideal for a range of applications, including:

  • Consumer electronics - Responsive touch buttons, sliders, trackpads, and gesture interfaces in everyday devices.
  • Home appliances - Waterproof touch panels and reliable control surfaces.
  • Automotive - Everything from touch-based dashboards and infotainment systems to steering wheel controls.
  • Industrial and IoT - Resilient touch surfaces based on proximity detection and liquid level sensing.
  • Outdoor and off-road vehicles - Robust touch performance on extreme climates for outdoor and off-road vehicle touchscreens like EV charger, 2 Wheelers and Tractors.
  • Healthcare - Sealed touch interfaces on diagnostic medical equipment for easy cleaning and infection control. Fluid monitoring for measuring liquid levels on tubing or bags where non-invasive sensing is preferred.
the thermostat couple
the thermostat couple
the thermostat couple

Our solutions address a broad range of modern interface requirements. Infineon’s CAPSENSE™-enabled microcontrollers are engineered for robust operation in electrically noisy or harsh conditions, helping your touch products deliver reliable, consistent performance.

Infineon Development Tools for Capacitive Sensing

We’re here to take your design to market as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve cut out complicated prototyping hurdles that hold millions of products back. Instead, we offer tried-and-tested development tools that streamline the designing, prototyping, and testing stages.

Infineon provides both hardware and software development tools to guide your progress:

Hardware Development Tools

Physical kits and boards that allow hands-on testing and debugging of Infineon’s CAPSENSETM-enabled MCUs.

Top solutions include:

Two wheeler
Two wheeler
Two wheeler

Software Development Tools

An all-in-one software ecosystem that takes the hassle out of design. We go above and beyond to help you go to market more quickly and cut out troublesome tuning hurdles.

Try our top capacitive sensor development software kits:

  • ModusToolbox™ IDE - A foolproof development environment with packed middleware libraries and full C/C++ development support for every project.
  • CAPSENSE™ Configurator - Inside the ModusToolbox™, you’ll find the ultimate tool for designing and configuring capacitive touch widgets.
  • CAPSENSE™ Tuner - Optimize every sensor with real-time tuning and monitoring.

Infineon Documentation and Learning Resources

• Infineon Developer Community
• Infineon Developer Community
• Infineon Developer Community

Explore our full selection of resources for every developer:

  • Infineon Developer Center - The home of Infineon touch sensing controller development resources completes with everything from code examples to training videos.
  • CAPSENSE™ Design Guide - Your first port-of-call for designing robust capacitive sensor products with PSOC™ 4 and PSOC™ 6 MCU solutions.
  • Infineon Developer Community - Connect with other developers and learn from invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience.

Together, let’s cut your time-to-market and develop a stellar product.

The Future of Capacitive Sensing

Is there any limit to what our capacitive sensing solutions can achieve? Perhaps not. We work with partners across major industries to deliver tailored capacitive sensing solutions that work under pressure and unlock the full potential of products.

We’re powering the next generation of capacitive sensing solutions. Explore our full range of CAPSENSE™ tools and ecosystems to get the head start you need in developing your touch sensor project. Our dev kits are all you need to get started!

sensing
sensing
sensing

What Is Capacitive Sensing?

Capacitive sensing technology underpins seamless touchscreen interfaces, bringing intuitive touch to everyday products, from smartphones and smart thermostats to in-vehicle controls. It’s widely used in mobile phones, smart home devices, and automotive human-machine interfaces (HMIs), typically implemented with microcontrollers (MCUs) that integrate dedicated capacitive sensing functionality.

How Do Capacitive Touch Sensors Work?

A capacitive touch sensor detects changes in capacitance (electrical charges) when a finger approaches or touches the surface. The same principle enables them to detect proximity detection and liquid level measurement, making capacitive sensing highly versatile.

Capacitive sensing is very different from resistive sensing. Resistive sensing measures pressure when two conductive layers are physically pressed together. By contrast, capacitive sensing detects small changes in capacitance when a conductive object such as a finger approaches or contacts a sensor’s surface.

As a result, capacitive touch screen controllers typically offer:

  • Greater design flexibility
  • Enhanced multi-touch capability
  • More environmental robustness

Not all capacitive-sensing controllers are alike. Infineon’s CAPSENSE™ technology delivers precise touch detection and excellent power efficiency, setting a high benchmark for modern touch interfaces.

sensing
sensing
sensing

Infineon’s CAPSENSE™ Technology

Infineon’s CAPSENSE™-enabled MCUs are the backbone of innovative products worldwide. They are designed to balance high performance with ultra-low power consumption. 

CAPSENSE™ does things differently. Whereas other MCUs are burdened by external electromagnetic noise and humidity, CAPSENSE™ uniquely combines advanced sensing algorithms and hardware filtering to help maintain performance across a wide range of environments. 

At the heart of our MCU offerings is our PSOC™ brand. PSOC™ microcontrollers combine a standard processor core with a completely configurable mix of capacitive sensing blocks on a single chip. This architecture can shorten development time: instead of adding complex external circuitry, you can rely on in-built software.

Our top CAPSENSE™-enabled MCUs include:

  • PSOC™ Automotive Multitouch - High precision when you need it most. This is the new standard in touch sensing in tough environments. The broadest capacitive touch IP portfolio in the industry. Infineon’s PSOC™ automotive multitouch touchscreen controllers leverage its advanced capacitive touch IP to deliver a new standard of premium performance to automotive touchscreens. The PSOC™ automotive multitouch family offers low noise capacitive multi-finger touch sensing for next generation of LCD/TFT/OLED screen sizes up to 24 inches diagonal. Unbeatable multi-touch capability with full AEC-Q100 automotive qualification, and designed for ultimate low-power efficiency, too.

Infineon’s CAPSENSE™ Technology

Capacitive sensing solutions, including our PSOC™ 4 CAPSENSE™ and PSOC™ Automotive Multitouch lines, are ideal for a range of applications, including:

  • Consumer electronics - Responsive touch buttons, sliders, trackpads, and gesture interfaces in everyday devices.
  • Home appliances - Waterproof touch panels and reliable control surfaces.
  • Automotive - Everything from touch-based dashboards and infotainment systems to steering wheel controls.
  • Industrial and IoT - Resilient touch surfaces based on proximity detection and liquid level sensing.
  • Outdoor and off-road vehicles - Robust touch performance on extreme climates for outdoor and off-road vehicle touchscreens like EV charger, 2 Wheelers and Tractors.
  • Healthcare - Sealed touch interfaces on diagnostic medical equipment for easy cleaning and infection control. Fluid monitoring for measuring liquid levels on tubing or bags where non-invasive sensing is preferred.
the thermostat couple
the thermostat couple
the thermostat couple

Our solutions address a broad range of modern interface requirements. Infineon’s CAPSENSE™-enabled microcontrollers are engineered for robust operation in electrically noisy or harsh conditions, helping your touch products deliver reliable, consistent performance.

Infineon Development Tools for Capacitive Sensing

We’re here to take your design to market as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve cut out complicated prototyping hurdles that hold millions of products back. Instead, we offer tried-and-tested development tools that streamline the designing, prototyping, and testing stages.

Infineon provides both hardware and software development tools to guide your progress:

Hardware Development Tools

Physical kits and boards that allow hands-on testing and debugging of Infineon’s CAPSENSETM-enabled MCUs.

Top solutions include:

Two wheeler
Two wheeler
Two wheeler

Software Development Tools

An all-in-one software ecosystem that takes the hassle out of design. We go above and beyond to help you go to market more quickly and cut out troublesome tuning hurdles.

Try our top capacitive sensor development software kits:

  • ModusToolbox™ IDE - A foolproof development environment with packed middleware libraries and full C/C++ development support for every project.
  • CAPSENSE™ Configurator - Inside the ModusToolbox™, you’ll find the ultimate tool for designing and configuring capacitive touch widgets.
  • CAPSENSE™ Tuner - Optimize every sensor with real-time tuning and monitoring.

Infineon Documentation and Learning Resources

• Infineon Developer Community
• Infineon Developer Community
• Infineon Developer Community

Explore our full selection of resources for every developer:

  • Infineon Developer Center - The home of Infineon touch sensing controller development resources completes with everything from code examples to training videos.
  • CAPSENSE™ Design Guide - Your first port-of-call for designing robust capacitive sensor products with PSOC™ 4 and PSOC™ 6 MCU solutions.
  • Infineon Developer Community - Connect with other developers and learn from invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience.

Together, let’s cut your time-to-market and develop a stellar product.

The Future of Capacitive Sensing

Is there any limit to what our capacitive sensing solutions can achieve? Perhaps not. We work with partners across major industries to deliver tailored capacitive sensing solutions that work under pressure and unlock the full potential of products.

We’re powering the next generation of capacitive sensing solutions. Explore our full range of CAPSENSE™ tools and ecosystems to get the head start you need in developing your touch sensor project. Our dev kits are all you need to get started!

sensing
sensing
sensing

FAQs

FAQs

  • OLED/LCD/TFT Support
  • Freeform, curved and bendable display support
  • Cover glass upto 10mm thickness
  • Low-Power Wake-up Button (<50 µA)
  • Screen size up to 30 inch (single chip) and 55 inch(multi-chip)
  • Works with water droplets, condensation, sweat, and wet-finger tracking
  • Tracking with up to 5-mm-thick gloves or thick overlay
  • Hover, Force Sensing, Haptic, Acoustic, and wet-finger tracking
  • Embedded sinewave generator for advanced capacitive scanning
  • ISO 26262 development with ASIL-B
  • Auto-spice level 2 for SW
  • Fast reaction to user interaction: 250 Hz for smooth user experience
  • Reliable sensing: Immunity to liquid, snow, dirt etc. Operate with thick gloves
  • Wider Parasitic Capacitance Range – 2pF – 200pF for greater flexibility in PCB routing
  • Best-in-class noise immunity: Thicker cover-lens, small form factor, improved proximity sensing and direction sensing
  • Ultra-low power standby current for sensing in Deep Sleep (<6uA)
  • Multi Sense Converter:  Capacitive sensing (Self and Mutual), Inductive sensing, Impedance sensing in 1 device
  • Gen4, 6, 7 supports: LCD/TFT
  • Gen8 supports: LCD/TFT/OLED/uLED

Up to 3 IC cascaded for beyond 55 inches

We only support oncell/outcell touch. We do not support incell touch.

Yes, touch controllers are fully suitable to be used in industrial applications.

Yes, force sensing up to 10 N is supported.

You can refer to this tuning guide to learn more about tuning best practices. The PSOC™ Touch Tuning Host Emulator is the official front-end tool used to configure, tune, debug, and demonstrate Touch Screen devices.