The QT160 IC is a self-contained digital QTouch chip capable of six channels of proximity or touch sensing.
The QT160 IC is a self-contained digital QTouch chip capable of six channels of proximity or touch sensing. It can be used to create capacitive ‘glass touch’ keys through insulating materials up to 100mm thick. The parts require only one common, inexpensive capacitor per channel in order to function.

The option-selectable toggle mode permits on/off touch control, for use in application such as a light switch, for example.

The chip offers patented adjacent key suppression (AKS) to suppress touch from weaker responding keys, allowing only the dominant key to detect.

This solves the problem of large fingers overlapping tightly spaced keys or water films over several keys.

AKS affects only electrically adjacent keys.

A novel sync feature allows designers to create even more keys using multiple QTouch devices, synchronising them without cross-interference.

‘Sync’ can also be used to synchronise one or more parts to the line/mains frequency to suppress interference.

Also available is E160, a $75 six-key evaluation board designed for testing QT160.

It includes six keys with backlighting to indicate touch on each key.

The keys are made using copper rings in a PCB under a thick, clear plastic panel.

Switches are provided to allow setting of the QT160’s option pins.

The QT160 is available from stock from Saelig, the US distributor for Quantum Research UK, at $1.82 (10,000-off).