Silicon chips add touch interaction to any object or surface

The innovative approach uses laser-generated infrared light to track touch or gesture control, combining millimetre precision with ultra-fast response. The non-visible-spectrum light doesn't impact display quality, add glare, or shift colors.

The new Neonode family of touch-sensors uses a programmable mixed-signal custom System-on-Chip (SoC) and an STM32 Arm Cortex microcontroller from ST for scanning laser diodes and IR beams to determine the exact position and movements of fingers, hands, or other reflective objects in the light path. Multiple objects can be tracked simultaneously and interpreted as touches or gestures with extreme accuracy: the coordinates are relayed up to 500 times per second with virtually zero delay.

"ST's leading-edge chip-design capabilities and manufacturing processes have enabled us to build an innovative, high-performance optical-sensor system that is highly complex yet cost-competitive," said Andreas Bunge, CEO of Neonode. "The advanced mixed-signal SoC and STM32 microcontroller at the heart of our new zForce AIR modules deliver the right combination of touch-control precision in real time, low power consumption, and configurability."

"This innovative sensing technology can make any object, surface, or space touch- interactive, bringing complete freedom of design," said Iain Currie, Vice President North Europe Sales, STMicroelectronics. "Neonode's decision to use ST technologies confirms our enabling role in the development of advanced applications that break new ground in man-machine interaction."

Now available for immediate shipment worldwide through Digi-Key Electronics, the zForce AIR Touch Sensor modules will be displayed on ST's stand at Embedded World 2018 (27th February to 1st March, Nuremberg).