Product category:
Proximity Sensors
News Release from: Quantum Research Group | Subject: QMatrix charge-transfer technology
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 06 September 2001
Eliminate holes, keys and switches in
keypanels
Quantum Research Group's QMatrix charge-transfer technology can be used in almost all key-panel applications; eliminating holes, mechanical keys, switches and knobs.
Quantum Research Group's QMatrix charge-transfer technology can be used in almost all key-panel applications; eliminating holes, mechanical keys, switches and knobs The ICs also have applications in multiple-key touch screens at a fraction of the cost of resistive touch screens and other capacitive solutions
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 3 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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QMatrix touch-keys can be sensed through any non-conductive panel material up to 2" (51mm) thick to create a key panel with no moving parts.
The fully self-calibrating chips only need a small number of non-critical parts and output a simple serial bit pattern to your host MCU (with each bit corresponding to key state).
The ICs are available in 4, 16, 32, 48 and 64 key variants.
Unlike other methods, QMatrix involves no active parts on the sensing matrix and no expensive resistive pressure-sensitive films.
The sensing matrix can be made of common printed Indium-Tin-Oxide ("ITO") to create see-through displays (for LCDs).
With legends carved onto the user side, structural materials like Corian can have keys projected through.
Keys can also be varied within a panel to create a mix of sizes and shapes.
Quantum aims to sell its ICs directly to OEMs to assist in opening up entirely new applications.
Developers are not dependent on Quantum to make the keyboards, and are free to source matrix panels from any supplier.
The company specialises in the design and manufacturing of sensor ICs for a wide variety of applications (including QProx(tm) ICs for single-channel sensing).
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