New Kit Makes it Easy to Develop Inductive Touch-Sensing Designs

PICDEM™ Inductive-Touch Kit Includes Fully Developed Board With Metal Front Panel, Source Code, Schematics & Diagnostic Tool

CHANDLER, Ariz., Jan. 12, 2010 [NASDAQ: MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the PICDEM™ Inductive Touch Development Kit (part # DM183027), which makes it easy to develop inductive touch-sensing applications using standard 8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC^® microcontrollers (MCUs), or 16-bit dsPIC^® Digital Signal Controller (DSCs). The kit includes a fully-developed inductive-touch board, complete with embossed metal front panel, source code, schematics and a diagnostic software tool that enables designers to evaluate their application. The kit is available for purchase today at http://www.microchip.com/get/401085404976852, for $69.99.

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Inductive touch sensing’s fundamental operating principles enable it to work through a front panel, such as plastic, stainless steel or aluminum, providing a completely sealed user interface that works through gloves and on surfaces that contain liquids. Major applications for inductive touch-sensing user interfaces include those in the appliance market because of the possibility of a stainless-steel front panel; the industrial market because of the technology’s robustness; and the automotive market because of the technology’s sleek aesthetics and ability to reduce accidental touch triggers.

“Microchip continues to make it easy and inexpensive for engineers to implement touch-sensing interfaces into their designs,” said Derek Carlson, vice president of Microchip’s development tools group. “Adding to our mTouch™ sensing solutions for capacitive and analog-resistive sensing, the PICDEM Inductive Touch Development Kit is one more tool to help designers differentiate their products in the marketplace.”

For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Online Touch Sensing Design Center at http://www.microchip.com/get/40108537650463.