Touchscreen controllers support large, curved automotive displays
Microchip Technology has launched the ATMXT3072M1 and ATMXT2496M1 families of touchscreen controllers to help provide automotive HMI designers with capacitive touch sensing for large, curved displays and emerging OLED and microLED technologies.
The single-chip touchscreen controllers feature up to 112 reconfigurable touch channels — or 162 equivalent touch channels in ultra-wide mode — enabling the support of large, curved and free-form touch displays up to 20 inches in 16:9 format and 34 inches in 7:1 format.
Large thin displays, such as on-cell OLED, embed touch electrodes with higher capacitive loads and stronger coupling of display noise, increasing the risk of false or missed touch detections. As part of the maXTouch® touchscreen controller family, the new devices employ Microchip’s proprietary Smart Mutual touch acquisition method and algorithms to increase the touch Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) by up to +15 dB compared to the previous generation.
“The size and appearance of automotive cockpit displays can significantly influence a buyer’s perception of the vehicle’s technological sophistication. However, integrating reliable touch functionality into advanced displays can present significant challenges,” said Patrick Johnson, senior corporate vice president overseeing Microchip’s human-machine interface division. “Our ATMXT3072M1 and ATMXT2496M1 touchscreen controllers address these challenges with innovative sensing algorithms for fast and reliable touch performance. This enables automakers to design cutting-edge, visually stunning and user-friendly interfaces that enhance both the driving experience and vehicle safety”.
The ATMXT3072M1 and ATMXT2496M1 touchscreen controllers are designed to be compliant with ASIL-A and B standards. The controllers comply with Microchip’s ISO26262 Functional Safety Management System, which is certified by TÜV Rheinland. Failure Modes, Effects and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA) and safety manuals to aid efficient, cost-effective certification. To enable reliable OTA updates in compliance with ISO 21434:2021 standards, the touch controller firmware is upgradable via the vehicle’s main computer system. The upgrade can be verified using the integrated firmware authentication feature, which implements the SHA-512 cryptographic hash function.
To limit eyes-off-road time and promote safer driving, the Euro NCAP tests in 2026 will likely encourage manufacturers to use separate physical controls for basic functions. Knob-on-Display™ (KoD™) technology developed by Microchip allows for the addition of intuitive physical knobs on the touchscreen, improving safety while preserving the sleek look of modern vehicle displays. Additionally, implementing haptic feedback on the touchscreen is a recognised method for reducing driver distraction. The new maXTouch M1 touchscreen controllers use dedicated functions such as the Shape Event Trigger combined with automated pattern Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to achieve ultra-low-latency haptic control. This transfers the decision-making and generation of haptic waveforms from the main application host processor to the touchscreen controller.
The comprehensive EV01S50A development printed circuit board (PCB) was designed for the ATMXT3072M1 touchscreen controller family to enable customers to easily evaluate and test the devices. The EV13B92A evaluation kit includes a 15.6” ITO touch sensor.
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