'3D multi-touch' matrix sensors enable next-gen HMI

Peratech's Opaque QTC force touch sensors unlock next-gen of HMI possibilities for automotive designers and engineers. The slimline, infinitely customisable sensor system and complementary firmware address the failings in capacitive sensing whilst enabling next-gen design themes, user experience, packaging benefits and above all safety.

Neil Jarvie, Vice President, Global Sales, Peratech, commented: "We're solving the customer complaint issues around capacitive technology while meeting the strong customer desire for a smart touch experience. Replace the top surface of buttons with a display and you have an HMI that is reconfigurable on the fly. Because Peratech sensors aren't affected by a display's EMI, we can make a display panel showing switches, sliders and knobs that actually work."

QTC-based sensors can be intergrated under a wide range of top surfaces such as plastics, rubbers, wood, leather, metals and even glass. They can also be deployed under flexible and rigid displays. With a wide force-sensing range and electronically-configurable force thresholds, QTC-based sensors eliminate false touches associated with capacitive sensors.

Peratech matrix sensors provide '3D multi-touch' - the ability to track multiple touches for position (X, Y) and independent pressure (Z) readings for each touch simultaneously. This seamless addition of z-axis pressure intelligence unlocks a whole new arena of user experience and design choices, while enabling designers to reduce 'button count' and complication from the centre stack, steering wheel and other cockpit surfaces.

"We've tested our QTC-based sensors through cycles of -40 to +100°C," added Jarvie, "as this is the operational temperature range that the automotive industry requires. During our testing, we found the performance of our QTC material met or exceeded the operational requirements in those high and low-temperature conditions. This rugged reliability combined with the true-pressure sensing that capacitive solutions cannot sense are the key differentiators that have resulted in design wins for our technology with Tier 1 automotive companies.

"The requirement for a smart force touch display panel - first and foremost - is that is always works. You can't promise passengers and drivers a more functional, streamlined, pleasurable driving experience if you don't have that. Because our QTC technology turns the actual, physical touch, grip or swipe into electronic intelligence, we can deliver on that promise."