Cypress Introduces Industry’s First True Single-Layer Sensor With Multitouch Capability

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:CY) today unveiled the industry’s first single-layer touchscreen sensor solution with multitouch capability. The new SLIM® (Single-Layer Independent Multitouch) sensor delivers high-performance touchscreen accuracy and responsiveness with a true single-layer sensor panel, drastically reducing the cost of the most expensive component of the touchscreen. It enables low-cost touchscreen phones to offer users the ability to perform gestures such as pinch, zoom, flick, drag, swipe and other gestures requiring more than two fingers.

Increasingly, capacitive touchscreens are viewed as a differentiator for mobile devices. Many lower-priced “feature phones” do not offer capacitive touchscreens today because of the cost, or offer only rudimentary touch features. The SLIM sensor opens up new “feature phones” and lower-cost smartphones to capacitive touchscreens that include popular multi-finger gesture interfaces.

SLIM is a true single-substrate, single layer ITO touchscreen sensor. Unlike competitive solutions, it requires no additional insulation layers or bridges. This reduces the cost versus multi-touch sensors by roughly 40%, and also greatly reduces the thickness of the sensor module. SLIM can be deposited directly on the cover glass to create the thinnest touchscreen phones ever.

The SLIM sensor pattern is even more unique in that it can eliminate the requirement for a side-bezel, normally about 2 mm on each side of the end product. This feature enables borderless display modules that allow OEMs to use larger displays without changing the form-factor of the phone.

“The ability to offer thinner, less expensive phones with true multitouch capability is a tremendous advantage for our customers,” said Dhwani Vyas, vice president of the User Interface Business Unit at Cypress. “We are making the SLIM sensor available with our Gen4 controllers, among others, to enable truly outstanding performance. Feature phones with top-notch touchscreen interfaces will be a true differentiator in many high-volume markets.”

The combination of the SLIM sensor and the Gen4 controller will allow the world’s slimmest touchscreen devices, as Gen4’s industry-leading noise immunity enables sensor-on-lens configurations that are directly laminated to the display with no shielding or air gaps.

Traditional capacitive touchscreens use a two-layer sensor to deliver the accuracy and linearity required for today’s user experience. Cypress has developed proprietary algorithms that interface with a true single-layer sensor with no bridges to deliver two-layer performance for an unparalleled combination of user experience and cost sensitivity. The removal of this second sensor layer can save mobile device manufacturers 40 percent or more on sensor costs, which is often the most expensive part of the touchscreen module.

About TrueTouch

Cypress’s TrueTouch technology provides the industry’s best noise immunity, highest signal to noise ratio (SNR), fastest refresh rates, lowest power consumption, and world’s best accuracy and linearity. The flexible TrueTouch solution allows customers to rapidly develop leading-edge solutions without having to buy turnkey modules. They have a choice of using touch sensors (glass or film) and LCDs from preferred partners, and can develop innovative mechanical designs ranging from flat to curved surfaces of varying thickness. Additional TrueTouch information is available at touch.cypress.com.

About Cypress

Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the flagship PSoC® programmable system-on-chip families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC® solutions for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense® touch sensing and TrueTouch solutions for touchscreens. Cypress is the world leader in USB controllers, including the high-performance West Bridge® solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress is also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military. Cypress trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.

Cypress, the Cypress logo, PSoC, PowerPSoC, CapSense, TrueTouch, and West Bridge are registered trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are property of their owners.

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