STMicroelectronics, a developer of semiconductor systems, has unveiled the open-source capacitive touch sensing software library for its 8-bit STM8 MCU platform to help engineers implement touch-sensitive controls with minimum additional cost and size.
STMicroelectronics has said that its touch-sensing software library transforms any 8-bit STM8 MCU into a capacitive touch-key controller. Designers can combine touch sensing functions through multiple configurations, such as touch keys, wheels or sliders, while preserving the traditional STM8 MCU features for the application firmware, including communication, LED control, beeper, and LCD control.
The software is provided as royalty-free C source code and offers maximum flexibility to software engineers to configure, adapt or accommodate the library according to application needs, said STMicroelectronics.
STMicroelectronics claims that the touch sensing library embeds advanced features to help engineers overcome key challenges when implementing touch controls, such as configuring a combination of sensors, adjusting the sensing system, and ensuring operation throughout the lifetime of the end product.
These include tools to help define keys, slider controls or rotary sensors, and to optimize touch sensitivity by adjusting parameters such as the touch-detection threshold and the resolution of sliders or rotary controls.