Synaptics showcases ClearPad 3000

This capacitive touch sensor pushes multi touch to a new level

Synaptics ClearPad 3000 features advanced multi-touch

This technology will power touch devices in the future

Those of you who use laptops must be familiar with Synaptics, a leading developer of human interface solutions for mobile computing, communications, and entertainment devices. Synaptics has recently developed the ClearPad 3000 which is an advanced form of a capacitive touch sensor capable of handling multi-touch. This new series is based on the best in class ClearPad sensing technology which makes it easier for OEMs and ODMs to mass-produce mobile handsets and other handheld devices that integrate high-resolution capacitive touchscreens with advanced multi-finger gesture capability.

The advantages of using a capacitive touchscreen are that it is much thinner (0.300 mm thick) than the resistive touchscreen which uses more number of layers. Moreover, capacitive sensors require less pressure to use, which enhances the overall user experience.

The ClearPad 3000 can distinguish up to 10 simultaneous finger touches and complex multi-finger gestures (such as pinch and rotate) with fine accuracy (+/- 1mm) and low latency. It is based on a new proprietary Synaptics technology that uses 48 sensing channels and advanced power management (5 mA in full active mode, 150 µA nominal, and 12 µA in deep sleep mode). It is available in sizes of up to 8-inches diagonally. It offers the OEMs a thin, low-profile, borderless, and noise immune system to create sleeker, more compact, and stylish products for the LCD market. Synaptics provides all the necessary software tools that enable manufacturers to rapidly transition from design to mass production.

Synaptics have also introduced a new entry-level multitouch system, the ClearPad 1000, which recognizes single and limited two-finger gestures. The 1000-series panels are available in up to 4.3-inch sizes and, like all of the Synaptics touch-sensors, work with LCD and OLED displays.  ClearPad 1000 Series touch sensors feature an accuracy of ±3 mm, are only 0.300 mm thick, with the same power management features as on the ClearPad 3000 series.

The touchscreen technology is becoming quite popular especially with mobile phone and PC makers. Users can expect more and more devices based on the multi-touch technology in the near future.