Semtech Expands Ultra-Low Power, Resistive Touchscreen Controller Platform with 5-Wire, SPI Interface Device

SX8652 offers high ESD protection, ultra-low power consumption, small size for portable applications

Camarillo, California - June 10, 2010

Semtech Corp. (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, today announced the SX8652, an ultra-low power 4- or 5-wire resistive touchscreen controller with an SPI interface. The SX8652 is one of a new generation of touchscreen controllers that are optimized for low-power consumption (23µA), small size (1.46mm x 1.96mm chip-scale package), and high electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection (±15kV). These features make the SX8652 the most application-specific resistive touchscreen controller on the market for applications including PDAs, digital still cameras, point-of-sales terminals, printers and other portable touchscreen monitor devices.

The SX8652 supports the 5MHz SPI serial interface protocol and has an operating voltage range of 1.65V to 3.7V. It features a highly accurate 12-bit analog-to-digital converter for coordinates and touch pressure measurement and can achieve an equivalent throughput output rate of 74 kSPS. With current consumption as low as 23µA at 8 kSPS and the ability to enter low-power states automatically between conversions, this controller is an ideal choice for portable and battery-powered 4- or 5-wire resistive touchscreen devices. The SX8652 is a complete touchscreen solution incorporating a dedicated hardware / RESET pin, a built-in preprocessing algorithm for data averaging to significantly reduce bus loading and the overall system power budget, and an on-chip programmable settling time feature which can be used to optimize the throughput rates for a wide array of touch panel designs.

“The SX8652 addresses the field returns issue prevalent in touchscreen applications due to destructive ESD events. Each analog input was specifically designed to enable robust ESD protection up to ±15kV in both human body model (HBM) and IEC 61000-4-2 standards, eliminating the need for external ESD protection while minimizing cost and board space,” said Sam Massih, Product Line Manager, Consumer Analog Products for Semtech. “This, coupled with the extremely low operating current and tiny footprint makes Semtech’s SX8652 the premier solution for today’s 4- and 5-wire resistive touchscreen applications.”

The SX8652 is available in 1.5mm x 2.0mm 12-WLCSP and 4mm x 3mm 14-DFN space-saving packages and is guaranteed to operate over the extended (-40°C to +85°C) temperature range. The new device joins Semtech’s recently introduced SX8650 4-wire, I2C resistive touchscreen controller.

Key Features of the SX8652

• Best-in-class on-chip ESD protection:
• ±15kV HBM (X+, X-, Y+, Y-)
• ±2kV CDM
• ±25kV air gap discharge
• ±15kV contact discharge
• ±300V MM
• Extremely low power consumption: 23µA at 1.8V (8 kSPS)
• Ultra-small footprint: 1.5mm x 2.0mm 12-WLCSP and 4mm x 3mm 14-DFN
• Integrated preprocessing block (median and averaging filter)
• Fully programmable settling time
• Equivalent throughput up to 74 kSPS
• High precision 12-bit resolution
• Touch pressure measurement
• Single 1.65V to 3.7V supply and reference
• Dedicated hardware reset pin (DFN package)
• 5MHz SPI Interface

Applications

• Cell Phone
• Digital Still Camera
• Laser Printer
• MP3 Player

Pricing and Availability

The SX8652 is available in production quantities and is priced at $0.76 for DFN packages (order code: SX8652IWLTRT) and $0.78 for WLCSP packages (order code: SX8652ICSTRT) in 1,000-piece lots. Semtech offers comprehensive design assistance, including field- and factory-based support. Data sheets, volume
pricing, and delivery quotes, as well as evaluation kits and samples, are available by contacting http://www.semtech.com/info.

About Semtech

Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for high-end consumer, computing, communications and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering community as well as the global community. The company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information, visit www.semtech.com.

Press Contact

Pauline Cadena, Public Relations, Telephone: (805) 389-2755