Cypress’s CapSense® Automotive Technology Drives Capacitive Touch Infotainment System

CapSense Technology Programs up to Eight Capacitive Switches for Multi-use Dashboard Including Navigation and More

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq: CY), the market leader in touch-sensing, today announced that luxury vehicle manufacturer, BMW, has chosen Cypress’s CapSense® capacitive touch solution for the infotainment system inside BMW 5, 6, and 7 series, as well as 5GT, X5 and X6 models.



The dashboard contains Cypress’s CapSense CY8C21534 chip, an AEC-Q100 qualified device. AEC-Q100 specifications ensure that components meet rigorous Automotive Quality Systems standards. Each control panel features six to eight numbered mechanical buttons which can be programmed to perform the driver’s selected tasks. The user simply touches the button to display the programmed functionality, and then depresses the mechanical button to activate it. The console can operate three functions including the navigation system, AM/FM radio and hands-free phone communication.



Cypress’s automotive-qualified CapSense devices are available in A grade (-40C to 85C), as well as E grade (-40C to 125C) which is not available in most competitive products. Automotive CapSense enables attractive, highly functional interfaces with improved durability over mechanical buttons and sliders. In addition, their industry-leading reliability, noise-immunity and water-resistance deliver superior performance in the harsh automotive operating environment. CapSense proximity sensing offers a detection range up to 25 cm, saving power by activating an interface only when needed. The devices are ideal for interior automotive applications such as audio, navigation, AC control and lighting control, as well as exterior applications such as trunk release and passive keyless-entry buttons. For more information on Cypress’s automotive portfolio, visit www.cypress.com/go/automotive or view a brochure at www.cypress.com/go/autobrochure.



“We are excited to combine our market-leading capacitive touch interface with the premium brand of BMW,” said Hassane El Khoury, automotive business unit director for Cypress. ”CapSense adds both style and functional improvements to automotive interiors, and we expect the trend of including capacitive touch to continue.”


About CapSense

Cypress’s CapSense touch-sensing solution has replaced more than 3.5 billion mechanical buttons in mobile handsets, laptops, consumer electronics, white goods, industrial, medical, automotive applications, and virtually any system that has a mechanical button or switch, making Cypress the industry touch-sensing leader. The CapSense portfolio, the industry’s broadest and most integrated, enhances industrial design and reliability with the most noise-immune and water tolerant capacitive touch-sensing interfaces, including proximity sensing where direct touch is not required. CapSense proximity sensing, with its industry-leading detection range up to 25 cm, provides power savings by activating an interface only when needed while further enhancing industrial designs by only exposing interfaces when necessary. Based on the PSoC programmable system-on-chip architecture and the PSoC Designer™ Embedded-System Design Tool, users complete CapSense designs quickly and easily using pre-configured and verified “user modules” and real-time sensor tuning and monitoring. Learn more about CapSense online at www.cypress.com/go/capsense.


About Cypress

Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the flagship PSoC® programmable system-on-chip families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC® solutions for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense® touch sensing and TrueTouch™ solutions for touchscreens. Cypress is the world leader in USB controllers, including the high-performance West Bridge® solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress is also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military. Cypress trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.

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Cypress, the Cypress logo, PSoC, PowerPSoC, CapSense and West Bridge are registered trademarks and Cypress Developer Community, PSoC Creator and TrueTouch are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are property of their owners.