Texas Instruments CAPTIVATE-METAL Capacitive Sensing Add-on Board

Texas Instruments CAPTIVATE-METAL Touch on Metal Capacitive Sensing Add-on Board is designed for the CapTIvate™ development kit. The device allows designers and engineers to evaluate touch-on metal technology. This alternative technology to traditional capacitive touch sensors enables the elegant design of touch modules using stainless steel, aluminum alloys, brass, and bronze. An alternate approach for metal overlays is used with the MSP430 MCUs with CapTIvate™ technology. The metal overlay is grounded on top of a spacer, comprising the stack-up of a printed circuit board with traditional capacitive touch sensors. A mechanical structure is formed that includes a variable capacitor that generates changes in its value when force is applied to the buttons, sliders, or wheels. Detection of a few micron-level deflections of the metal plate is allowed through the sensitivity of the CapTIvate peripheral. Metal overlays are water and dirtproof and work with thick gloves, as an actuation force is needed to interact with the buttons.