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Documentation Altium NEXUS Documentation ... Dialog Reference A to F

CapSense Component

Created: October 12, 2017 | Updated: March 06, 2024 | Applies to versions: 1.0 and 1.1
Now reading version 1.0. For the latest, read: CapSense Component for version 5

This documentation page references Altium NEXUS/NEXUS Client (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

The CapSense Component dialogThe CapSense Component dialog

Summary

The CapSense Component dialog provides controls to configure a touch sensor component on a schematic sheet when creating planar capacitive sensor patterns on your PCB for use with the range of Cypress® CapSense® and PSoC® controllers.

For a detailed overview of Cypress CapSense Touch Sensor support in Altium NEXUS, see Cypress Touch Controls.

Access

The dialog is accessed by right-clicking over a placed sensor component then choosing the Configure command from the context menu.

Options/Controls

  • Sensor Component Type - this drop-down allows you to switch between the different supported sensor components. The following sections detail the various components available.
Note that while you can use the dialog to quickly switch to a different sensor component type (the graphical symbol will update accordingly), the component's Comment and Description as well as the Design Item ID (for the linked library component) will remain reflective of and reference the original placed sensor type.

CircularButton

CapSense Component dialog - CircularButton sensor typeCapSense Component dialog - CircularButton sensor type

Use the CircularButton component to implement a button sensor. This is a self-capacitance, zero-dimensional sensor with a single channel for connection directly to a Cypress PSoC controller. The resulting sensor pattern on the PCB is a simple circular-shaped electrode.

Options/Controls

  • Button Outer Diameter - the outer diameter for the sensor pattern (between 5mm and 15mm).
  • Button Inner Diameter - the inner diameter for the sensor pattern (this should be less than the outer diameter with a minimum of 5mm).

RectangularCurvedEdgeButton

CapSense Component dialog - RectangularCurvedEdgeButton sensor typeCapSense Component dialog - RectangularCurvedEdgeButton sensor type

Use the RectangularCurvedEdgeButton component to implement a button sensor. This is a self-capacitance, zero-dimensional sensor with a single channel for connection directly to a Cypress PSoC controller. The resulting sensor pattern on the PCB is a simple rounded-rectangular-shaped electrode.

Options/Controls

  • Button Height - the height of the sensor pattern (between 5mm and 15mm).
  • Button Width - the width of the sensor pattern (between 5mm and 15mm).
  • Button Inner Diameter - the inner diameter for the sensor pattern (this should be less than the width/height with a minimum of 5mm).

LinearSlider

CapSense Component dialog - LinearSlider sensor typeCapSense Component dialog - LinearSlider sensor type

Use the LinearSlider component to implement an n-segment linear slider sensor. This is a self-capacitance, one-dimensional sensor for connection directly to a Cypress PSoC controller (each segment in the pattern connects to a separate pin of the Controller). The resulting sensor pattern on the PCB is comprised of a 1xn array of double-chevron-shaped electrodes, where n is the number of segments specified. In essence, you are specifying n separate sensors placed physically adjacent to each other. You have global control over the height and width of the constituent sensors. You can also control the gap between neighboring sensors.

Options/Controls

  • Number of Segments - the number of segments comprising the sensor pattern (minimum of 3).
  • Slider Segment Width - the width of each sensor segment (between 2mm and 8mm).
  • Slider Segment Height - the height of each sensor segment (between 7mm and 15mm).
  • Clearance Between Segments - the clearance or gap between neighboring sensor segments (between 0.5mm and 2mm).

RadialSlider

CapSense Component dialog - RadialSlider sensor typeCapSense Component dialog - RadialSlider sensor type

Use the RadialSlider component to implement an n-segment radial slider sensor. This is a self-capacitance, one-dimensional sensor for connection directly to a Cypress PSoC controller (each segment in the pattern connects to a separate pin of the Controller). The resulting sensor pattern on the PCB is comprised of n wedge-shaped electrodes, where n is the number of segments specified. In essence, you are specifying n separate sensors placed physically adjacent to each other in radial fashion. You have global control over the inner and outer diameter of the slider and the clearance between neighboring segments.

Options/Controls

  • Number of Segments - the number of segments comprising the sensor pattern (minimum of 3).
  • Slider Outer Diameter - the outer diameter for the sensor pattern.
  • Slider Inner Diameter - the inner diameter for the sensor pattern.
The effective segment height should not be less than 7mm and the effective segment width should not be greater than 8mm. In addition, the inner diamater must be less than the outer diameter.
  • Clearance Between Segments - the clearance or gap between neighboring sensor segments (between 0.5mm and 2mm).

 

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