Capacitive Glide Pads

In addition to multi-key traditional capacitive keypads controlled by a single chip, we can now offer a capacitive glide pad that provides the functionality of a mouse or other pointing device, but without any moving parts.

Offering resolutions of 1 part in 128, the glide pad technology is an effective replacement for rollerballs, mechanical mice and other pointing devices used in a variety of applications - menu scrolling in mobile phones, cursor control on the PC, lighting controllers, process control applications and gym equipment controllers are but a few obvious applications. The main benefits are that the electronics are physically isolated from the touch area, improving reliability and reducing the risk of accidental or deliberate damage.

Benefits of a Glide Pad
Glide pads can be produced in a wide variety of sizes and configurations to suit any space and layout constraints imposed by the design of the product they will control. The glide pad can be used as stand-alone devices, readily integrated with other types of capacitive units or embedded in an assembly as part of an interface unit that could employ "traditional" membrane technology, capacitive keypad and slider areas, electro-mechanical switches, displays and other options.

The capacitive technology enables a completely sealed, unbroken surface to be provided, an obvious benefit if the equipment is to be used in hostile environments such as marine applications, public areas, dusty internal or external environments or any other area where the ingress of dirt or moisture, deliberate vandalism or lack of care are a potential problem.

Contact us to see how glide pad technology could revolutionise your next product design.