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A complete guide to capacitive touch sensors
From the basics to complete system analysis, find everything you need to know to become an expert on capacitive sensing in this comprehensive course.
Course contents
CHAPTER 1:
Ever wondered what are the basic physical principles behind the operation of a touch screen? Are you making your first steps in capacitive sensing?
Then this chapter is just for you! After reading with chapter you will:
- Understand the basics of electrostatics and capacitance.
- Get an intuitive understanding of what capacitance is and how it changes, by analyzing the fundamental case of the parallel plate capacitor.
- Understand how capacitance behaves in actual touch sensor designs, utilizing your knowledge of parallel plate capacitors.
CHAPTER 2:
If you have a basic understanding of electrostatics and want to get started on capacitive sensing, this chapter is what you’re looking for!
After reading this chapter you will familiarize yourself with:
- The touch detection mechanism of touch sensors: how the controller translates physical touches to user experience.
- Self & mutual capacitance touch sensors, their operational principles and their pros & cons.
- Understand how capacitance behaves in actual touch sensor designs, utilizing your knowledge of parallel plate capacitors.
CHAPTER 3:
It is very convenient to represent a capacitive touch sensor in multiple ways to perform analysis.
In this chapter you will learn:
- Basic circuit theory
- All the different representations of a capacitive touch sensor
- Examples of how to translate simple designs to schematic diagrams
CHAPTER 4:
Stack-ups and layouts are the barebones of capacitive touch sensors.
In this chapter you will learn:
- Common stackups, materials, and structures of capacitive touch sensors
- Layouts of capacitive touch sensors
CHAPTER 5:
How microcontrollers (MCUs) work in capacitive sensing systems
In this chapter you will learn:
- The role of the controller in a capacitive touch system
- The touch controller industry, its caveats, and the operational principle of the capacitive touch controller
CHAPTER 6:
How microcontrollers (MCUs) work in capacitive sensing systems
In this chapter you will learn:
- Ideal touch sensing circuit for the touch transfer method
- An intuitive explanation of Counts
- Common tuning parameters of capacitive touch MCUs
CHAPTER 7:
How to design and connect a touch sensor to a controller of the STM32 series.
In this chapter you will learn:
- Designing a touch sensor compatible with the STM32 controller family
- Connecting the STM32 MCU and performing analysis