Cypress CapSense™ Solution Implements Elegant Touch-Sensitive Controls On Leading Gaggia Coffee Maker Line

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced that Gaggia S.p.A., the best known Italian coffee machine manufacturer, is employing Cypress’s PSoC® CapSense™ solution in two models of the famous “Baby” line of coffee machines. The CapSense interface implements the distinctive control panel touch ring that replaces four or five buttons, depending on the model. The same device also controls indicator LEDs on the coffee machines. Engineers at Gaggia were able to use the same basic design on different models, taking advantage of the unmatched flexibility of the PSoC architecture. The CapSense solution is waterproof, a feature that is useful for the coffee maker as well as white goods such as washing machines and dishwashers, and industrial equipment.

The Gaggia Baby line was introduced over 30 years ago and remains one of the world’s leading coffee makers. The products feature a distinctive, sleek appearance that is complemented by the new touch ring. The touch ring provides simple, intuitive controls to make delicious coffee, espressos and cappuccinos.

The CapSense solution enables designers, with a single device, to replace multiple mechanical buttons and sliders, and implement proximity sensing. Engineers can also take advantage of PSoC flexibility to implement functions beyond CapSense - a capability called CapSensePLUS. Such functions include driving LEDs, backlight control, motor control, power management, I/O expansion, and controlling accelerometers and ambient light sensors. These functions, in conjunction with flexible communication (I2C and SPI), allow for unparalleled system integration.

“The Baby line is a very important part of the Gaggia tradition,” said Monica Milanovich, marketing manager for Gaggia. “Cypress’s flexible CapSense solution enables us to offer an exciting, sleek design with outstanding flexibility. It also allowed us to save engineering resources by using the same design on multiple models.”

“We are pleased to add value to the famous Gaggia Baby coffee makers,” said Steve Gerber, business unit director for Cypress’s CapSense products. “As the flexibility and integration of our mixed-signal programmable solutions gain market momentum, we are seeing PSoC devices in many of the world’s leading brands.”

About CapSense
A single CapSense device can replace dozens of mechanical switches and controls with an elegant touch-sensitive interface, and the solution supports touch screens and proximity sensing for superior product differentiation. CapSense-based “button” and “slider” controls are more reliable than their mechanical counterparts because they are resistant to environmental wear-and-tear from temperature change and moisture. Cypress has garnered well over 100 CapSense design wins worldwide in applications that include mobile handsets, portable media players, white goods, computers, printers and automotive, among others.

Cypress’s CapSense solution offers system designers numerous advantages over capacitive sensing products built around modules and sub-assemblies, including increased flexibility, reduced board space and lower cost. Because of the unique PSoC architecture, designers can easily integrate multiple functions (e.g., LED drivers and LCD displays), in addition to capacitive sensing. The PSoC CapSense solution also delivers benefits such as easy communications using either I2C, SPI or USB interfaces, the ability to implement both touchpad (x-y matrix) and linear slider applications with the same device, and the ability to make quick design changes using the flash-based PSoC architecture. In addition, users can complete CapSense designs quickly and easily using pre-configured and verified “user modules” within Cypress’s PSoC Designer™ 4.4 Integrated Design Environment (IDE), and experience real-time sensor tuning and monitoring with PSoC Express™ visual embedded system design tool. Learn more about CapSense online at www.cypress.com/capsense.

PSoC -- Because Change Happens
PSoC devices employ a highly configurable system-on-chip architecture for embedded control design, offering a flash-based equivalent of a field-programmable ASIC without lead-time or NRE penalties" PSoC devices integrate configurable analog and digital circuits, controlled by an on-chip microcontroller, providing both enhanced design revision capability and component count savings. They include up to 32 Kbytes of Flash memory, 2 Kbytes of SRAM, an 8x8 multiplier with 32-bit accumulator, power and sleep monitoring circuits, and hardware I2C communications.

The flexible PSoC resources allow designers to future-proof their products by enabling firmware-based changes during design, validation, production, and in the field. The unique PSoC flexibility shortens design cycle time and allows for late-breaking feature enhancements. All PSoC devices are also dynamically reconfigurable, enabling designers to morph internal resources on-the-fly, utilizing fewer components to perform a given task.

Easy to use development tools enable designers to select configurable library elements for analog functions such as amplifiers, ADCs, DACs, filters and comparators and digital functions such as timers, counters, PWMs, SPI and UARTs. The PSoC family’s analog features include rail-to-rail inputs, programmable gain amplifiers and up to 14-bit ADCs with exceptionally low noise, input leakage and voltage offset.

A single PSoC device can integrate as many as 100 peripheral functions saving customers design time, board space and power consumption while improving system quality. Customers can save as much as $10 in system costs. Learn more about PSoC products at www.cypress.com/psoc and receive free online training at www.cypress.com/psoctraining."

About Gaggia
Gaggia S.p.A. is the best known Italian manufacturer of coffee machines for professional and household use, and its name is synonymous with tradition and reliability the world over. The company was founded in 1948 by Achille Gaggia, the man who invented the modern steam-free coffee with cream machine. In 1977 Gaggia began producing coffee machines for the home, launching the Baby Gaggia, which to this day is considered to be the ideal family coffee-maker. Visit Gaggia at http://www.gaggia.com.

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 PSoC® mixed-signal array, USB controllers, general-purpose programmable clocks and memories. Cypress also offers wired and wireless connectivity solutions ranging from its WirelessUSB™ radio system-on-chip, to West Bridge™ and EZ-USB® FX2LP controllers that enhance connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial, and solar power. Cypress trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.


Cypress, the Cypress logo and PSoC are registered trademarks and CapSense and PSoC Designer are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are property of their owners.