PSoC capacitive touch sensor technology

Cypress PSoC is determined by the introduction of semiconductor companies have a digital and analog hybrid processing capacity of programmable SOC chips, certain series of PSoC (such as the CY8C21X34 series), due to its interior is equipped with special resources so that it can easily achieve the capacitive touch sensing function, you only need a small amount of several external discrete components that can be a common I/O are configured for capacitive sensing inputs. Capacitive touch sensing principle as shown in Figure 1, the Board of two adjacent copper inherent in the existence of a parasitic capacitance Cp, when the finger (or other conductor) near, fingers and between two pieces of copper and produce new capacitors, these capacitors amounted to a parallel to the original Cp, when we get a piece of copper connect to analog I/O on PSoC, another connection to the ground, you can change by measuring the capacitance to determine the existence of the fingers. We connect to the PSoC on copper called capacitive sensors (Capacitive Sensor), capacitive sensor on the need to cover insulation materials (shell). By internal build circuit PSoC with built-in 8-bit processor program to control the operation of the circuit, you can attach a capacitance change into count value change, which in turn translates into key actions needed switch quantity.

PSoC internal several pre-designed capacitance sensing user module, the user module can be viewed as hardware configuration and software libraries (API) set, users need to do is in the PSoC development environment (PSoC designer) user module configuration to a digital/analog array, the development environment automatically generates hardware registers configuration and library functions, and the rest of the work is some user module parameter adjustments, and the application code is written.

The entire development process is very intuitive and smooth for embedded system development engineers, will soon be handy.

Capacitive-sensing technology for industrial design provides new ideas with capacitive-sensing technology, industrial designers first can think of is to traditional mechanical press with capacitive sensor switch.

This increases the flexibility of the industrial design, because the capacitive switches can be hidden in a piece of the complete surface below, do not need to press the key that needs to be reserved for mechanical machinery parts movement in space. In some portable devices, designers hope to product gives natural spirituality, such as shell-like MP3 player, like a pebble-like handset, use capacitive switches replace mechanical press can maximize the idea of restoring the designers, product appearance has integrated effects. The key is a capacitive sensor technology, the most common way of application, use PSoC built-in 8-bit processor, you can achieve the product more user-friendly operation, such as slide bar (one-dimensional) and the touchpad (two-dimensional). Multiple capacitive sensor and emissions together can achieve slider (slider), as shown in Figure 2, PSoC sequential sense each sensor capacitance change, currently being sensing sensor, other sensors in the PSoC internally to the ground, this ensures that each sensor capacitance consistency.

Slide bar in the layout required assurance finger can also overwrite or close to at least two sensors, so that in the figure 2 count value curve will render a raised-trends, by interpolation algorithm can accurately calculate the current position of the center of the finger, the resolution of this location is much larger than the actual number of sensors.

The location of the fingers sliding direction and displacement that can be translated into the user's input.

Change the slide bar to arrange shapes can make the slide bar to render a variety of lines and beautify the appearance of the product.

Figure 3 is a kind of circle slider sensor arrangement. According to the needs of the industrial design, the slider can also look through the fan-shaped, oval, wave, and so on. Slide bar not only provides a new UI input mode, product appearance increases the necessary design aesthetics embellishment, the more mysterious. Two-dimensional slide bar constitutes the touch panel, as shown in Figure 4, by horizontal and vertical scan can locate respectively touch point of two-dimensional coordinates, laptop Trackpad is the use of this principle. With the display screen (LCD) increasing the resolution of a greater need for two-dimensional coordinate information to locate the position on the screen, the touch panel, and will have a place.

Make the best use of limited entry area with the development of portable devices, in the limited space on the product display as many input element becomes a new challenge.

PSoC soft function keys defined for this demand provides a good solution. Figure 3 shows the soft function keys for basic principles, in the slide bar or the touch panel to define a coordinate of the region, when fingers in this region in a certain time, that is the area of the corresponding function key is pressed. Soft function keys of design to design saves space on a slider or the touch panel, you can implement different types of input elements, as shown in Figure 5, 5a of this piece of touch panel, by overriding different prompting pattern 5b, 5c or 5d, can simultaneously achieve key and touch panel functionality, user input with intent can finger movement of automatic recognition by the PSoC software, no mechanical switching. This design, improve space utilization, but also as designer provides a more imaginary space.

Designers may ask, in Figure 5, 5b, 5c and 5d so different input function, can not be in this one area at the same time achieve? the answer is Yes, is the touch panel 5a into transparent metallic materials (such as ITO, indium tin oxide), will this transparent touch panel display with dynamic fitting function display (LCD), the display shows

Different button layout, you can achieve dynamic input key features. ITO the metal material transparency and self impedance proportional, that is, the higher the impedance greater transparency, use PSoC latest touch-sensing algorithm, you can make the capacitive touch sensor from the effects of high impedance, thereby ensuring that displays the results.

How to contact the user-generated interactive traditional mechanical press has used the hearts of the people, mechanical press gives the mechanical touch feedback is not available, this could not help worrying touch of interactivity.

In fact, this worry is not necessary, PSoC provides users with the other chooses. PSoC internal has plenty of digital and analog resources, capacitive touch sensing only to a part, the remaining resources can be used to further increase the functionality of the system design and optimization of the system. As shown in Figure 6, used to connect different PSoC device peripherals, you can provide the user with auditory feedback (buzzer), tactile feedback (motor) or Visual (LED) feedback and promote these peripherals can be used to implement the PSoC internal resources, without or only need a small amount of discrete components.

The resources are not enough, you can even take advantage of dynamic reconfigurable PSoC, time-of-use PSoC internal hardware resources to achieve maximum resource utilization.

Let the master product Association welcomes the capacitive touch sensing there is another application that is close to the induction, that is, users do not need to touch the product's enclosure, as long as close to a product that could be sensitive to.

PSoC near type induction is by reducing the intrinsic capacitance on the sensor to relative zoom Cp alien capacitance change, thus within the scope of induction 10cm close to human body. This near-induction as well as products of industrial design offers a new way of thinking. For example, when users are close to the product, the product of the display backlight (or effect light) is lit, so the user can see the current work in advance; or products play a piece of music, let users create the feeling of being welcome. This design has two advantages, above all, saving, as we all know, the product is used on the screen, and when large power users are not close to, full of information on the display is not functioning, so you can turn off the display appears, or backlight turns off, and when the user is near, and this can open to a large extent, save power; secondly close type induction design can increase the interactive fun, enhance the added value of products, thereby stimulating the desire of the customer.

Due to the PSoC hardware and software programmable features, as well as its rich resources on chip, making its capacitive touch sensing technology is uniquely positioned to enable product design in function and performance differences, and to the maximum extent, lower system costs.

Xinhua medical: medical device with the GE joint venture

December 22, Xinhua medical at its sixth session, the sixth meeting of the Board of Directors adopted the company and General Electric (China) co., Ltd. signed the contract of joint ventures.

Xinhua medical and GE formed a joint venture called Xinhua General Electric medical systems co., Ltd., the total investment is US $ 25 million to the joint venture's business scope includes the research, development and production of medical diagnostic x-ray equipment, ancillary equipment and parts; software development and production; sales-grown products; provide the products of debugging, maintenance, repair, technical consulting and training services.

In the capital, Xinhua medical holding 51% and 49% of GE shares.

Xinhua medical Express, a joint venture to establish and operate a State-of-the-art technology in medical diagnostic x-ray equipment, accessories and parts of the research, development, production, sales and service company in China and international market with high quality and competitive joint product, allowing both sides to achieve a good economic benefits.

The newly established joint venture company intends to adopt international advanced technology, to develop universal medical products that force will become the Xinhua and GE standard x-ray imaging equipment research and development and manufacturing base.

National medical device monitoring and management of recall promulgated

People enjoy the medical equipment and new technology, new product brings more health security, they have to face additional security risk.

Recently in Beijing the first Chinese medical risk management workshop, how to make the public in the use of medical devices is greater benefits, take minimum of injuries, etc., become the focus of attention of the participants.

"In the hospital, and medical device-related adverse events associated with the drugs at least and adverse events as General or even higher.

"National ADR medical equipment Department officer of United States food and Drug Administration-reference (FDA) published information. United States a year 45 million people suffer and medical device-related injuries see emergency, nearly 6 million deaths or cause hospitalization; United States average received 16 million medical device adverse event reports, this may be less than the actual occurrence of 1%. China's national ADR statistics show that as China's monitoring capabilities, 2003 medical device adverse event monitoring to 366, 2007 monitoring to 12374 cases, five-year growth of nearly 34 times. Control the risk of the use of medical devices, manufacturers, government administrators, users, and is the responsibility of the healthcare institutions, etc. But in our country, the manufacturer of that responsibility was not set. State food and Drug Administration medical Scarlett O'Hara said the Deputy Director of the Division, as well as numerous enterprises just passively waiting for the Government's monitoring and notifications. Registration and approval prior to listing, a number of product risk report lack of potential risk of substantive analysis, evaluation and control; post-marketing, companies pay more attention to sales, ignored the product marketed by the risk monitoring and control. It is reported that the Ministry of health and the State food and Drug Administration is about to enact the implementation of the medical device adverse event monitoring and evaluation of management approaches and the management of the medical device recall. The State food and Drug Administration issued the "risk management for medical devices on the application of medical devices, also will be June 1, 2009 onwards practiced.

IBM's new medical programmes help wisdom health reform information (1)

Should countries new health reform programme launched.

IBM in Beijing held a Grand Media Conference, IBM Software Group's global sales manager RobertLeBlanc personally came to Beijing, announced a series of "IBM wisdom medical solutions". Seems to echo the new health reform programme announced, however, IBM's wisdom is not only the medical programme is definitely for the occasion, IBM Software Group in greater China and IBM Zhongguokaifazhongxin (CDL) jointly announced the establishment of the "IBM healthcare industry solutions Lab" and published IBM wisdom medical series solution, as the "wisdom" in China falls to the ground in medical, benefit the public provides practical programmes and practices.

IBM promotes the flexible use of information technology to implement the "new health reform" policy, in the medical services in the implementation of the whole aspect of collaborative and integrated so as to establish efficient and transparent, Huimin can and wisdom to the health care system, to solve medical problems faced by industry.

IBM introduced a series of timely intelligence medical solutions for regional health and General Hospital Group, including: regional medical information network, CHAS clinical research information integration platform, medical collaborative platform, based on cloud computing network intelligence medical, aimed at using information technology to promote the optimization of resources and patient flow, power off the new health reform in order to build a solid, "everyone has the right to basic health services," wisdom of the medical system.

During this Conference, IBM Software Group's global sales manager RobertLeBlanc stated: "IBM up with ' wise medical ' system is a patient-oriented information system.

' Wisdom ' of the medical use of advanced information technology can improve disease prevention, diagnosis and research, and ultimately the health benefit of various components of the ecosystem. "For China's medical industry itself, with a wealth of global healthcare industry experience, IBM introduced a series of medical solutions. In the new health reform in key areas of medical, electronic health records, large areas of the hospital reform will help its hand.

IBM has launched four areas of solutions including:

1. regional medical information network (RHIN/RegionalHealthcareInformationNetwork)

IBM regional medical information network provides a variety of medical institutions for personnel and systems integration and collaboration environment.

Medical institutions of the parties and the patient through standards-based electronic health records to share and exchange information. Regional patient master index system to maintain the patient in the area of global ID, electronic health records and medical institutions the effective integration of the system and ensure that all medical institutions of the system to maintain the patient's local identity. Medical institutions of the parties to provide health services through the health services bus, collaborative process to complete medical services, support and improve primary health care system, the promotion of basic public health services gradual equalization.

2.CHAS clinical research information integration platform (CHAS/Clinical & & HealthAnalytics Sharing)

"Patient-centered," Cross-Hospital clinical information integration platform, enabling to data depth use supporting innovative models of clinical research.

Based on the IBM medical integration framework for patient-centered health information management and sharing system, provides an open, standards-based, interoperable electronic medical record solution;

Dell launches electronic medical record solution to accelerate expansion in emerging markets

Recently, Dell announced the US launch a satellite clinics for the hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) solution designed to accelerate hospital and Clinic patient information between the sharing and efficient use.

Dell electronic medical record solution is funded by the hospital for its satellite clinics in use, it effectively help more clinics will convert paper records; electronic medical record, electronic medical record solution can clinics doctors and funded hospital closely, use of electronic medical records, improvement and coordination of medical services, thereby reducing costs, and simplify the management of local health care system.

Most of the United States doctors affiliated with local hospitals, of which less than 10% of doctors have * featured electronic medical record system.

This system provides electronically registered medical patient information, and billing arrangements so that assisted doctors real-time view of patient information, and to improve the management of the clinic. Because the electronic medical record can effectively reduce the consumers, employers and the Government of the United States for medical expenses, so that the Federal Government has been the adoption of electronic medical records, as its health care reform and economic stimulus plan of one of the important projects. It is expected that in 2011, the use of electronic medical records and to achieve effective use of hospitals, according to the United States recovery and Reinvestment Act to obtain the appropriate incentives.

Dell and funded hospital joint efforts and work together, have been widely used in small and medium-sized clinics to electronic medical records of obstacles will be an effective solution.

These issues include system cost and complexity, as well as system vendors of technology are not compatible.

The future can save life or to improve the life quality of new technology

There is no doubt that science was destined to improve and enrich the human experience of life.

Micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS), Microfluidic technology, nanotechnology, lab-on-chip (lab-on-a-chip) devices, digital signal processor (DSP), implantable chip and robot, and so all of these technologies will be integrated together to safeguard our health. It has led to the arrival of a new era of technology, where the electronic engineers, chemists and chemical engineers, biologists and biological engineers, physicians, ethicists, physicist and mechanical engineers work to improve the quality of life in total assists this feat.

Integration of living cells, polymer and chips of bio-complex organ is an area of special heat.

These organs constructor from inorganic material, living cells taken from the body, animal or human tissue, these living cells can best be done such as biochemical function and blood filtering complex work. These devices can slow the disease symptoms, longer life. The ultimate goal is to bring these devices implanted in the body for maximum effectiveness. The complete organ transplantation will be the next step.

The campus of the University of Missouri in Colombia, researchers have recently demonstrated a progress? D? D one day, the technology would allow ink jet print human organs become reality.

Print organs to a recipient who modelled for the cell to ensure that donors of consistency, through prints and structural layer alternate cascading fashion constructed out of printing organs.

Kidney and auxiliary equipment (RAD) is a bio-composite organ, it is proved that the device has improved the traditional role of the kidney dialysis equipment (Figure 1).

Researchers also developed a liver biology composite organ (Figure 2). Draper Laboratory (i.e. born former MIT instrument laboratory Charles Stark Draper Laboratories) scientists are conducting a study of Microfluidic devices, the devices 1mm thick, the size of 25cm2 final purpose is in a single chip to generate a complete liver. In addition, the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) 's researchers are working with J.P. Sercel Associates company join cells maintain a gallows of the hanged by the laser processing of polymer composition (from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate and polyimide synthesis). The gallows, a very fine channel and pore, researchers use they may one day be able in a chip into a liver.

At the University of Pittsburgh School of medicine, McGowan regeneration is developing a biological synthetic lung to simulate human normal lung breathing function.

The MEMS device variegated contain air or blood micro channel. These micro-channel separation by thin diaphragm, thin diaphragm simulation of normal lung function of alveolar walls.

Of course, as the most important organ of heart will never be forgotten.

For example, some biosynthesis organ can play a bandage of capabilities that can repair the unhealthy portion of the human heart disease. Researchers at MIT, is scheduled to begin for heart tissue structure of animal experiments, they referred to as the "shrinking patch" to replace the damaged heart tissue. On a fully implantable heart exploitation continues.

Eye and ear, will benefit

Artificial eyes and artificial ear is the most successful synthesis of human organs and technical achievements of two; artificial eye for the visually handicapped and blind light, artificial ear is hearing impaired and deaf people rushed to the Gospel.

In fact, already had a Bionic eye, the retina and cochlear implants.

Of these, an ambitious project with the University of Southern California, Keck School of Doheny retina medical school, Second Sight, Texas instruments and the participation of the United States national laboratories.

These organizations are trying to create an artificial retina, which shows a great prospect. This study is part of the United States Department of energy's artificial retina project, funded by the United States Department of energy. In a 5mm2 retinal platforms, mount a 60 electrodes of retina (Figure 3). It is believed that it was thought to be in the area, have the highest density of channel electrode. Artificial Retina

United States air force and the VSX company part of the financing of another ambitious retinal prosthesis projects they are developing a do not need to use signal recovery part of the vision, the eyes of direct simulation of the motion of internal retina that bring light vision disabilities.

This 3 mm chip enables the wearer's vision restoration of 10%. University of Utah and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge National Labs) and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, to the same challenge to the blind. MIT and Japan and Germany's universities are also engaged in similar research.

Bionic Ear research available in a Word to sum up: spectacular.

Michigan has developed the first cases of physical size of the MEMS implantable cochlear mechanics. Cochlear implants are different frequency signal transmission to the spirochete cochlear implantation (cochleal spiral) electrode work. Auditory nerve transmits the signals to the brain. As machinery increased sensor array in the cochlea to the cochlear implantation driven by electrode.

To solve the hard of hearing, NVE Corporation developed the giant Magnetoresistive sensor (GMR), these sensors without manual intervention can automatically adjust the volume for hearing aids.

The electron spin (spintronic) Magnetoresistive sensor from Starkey Laboratories manufacturing, they use electronic rotation instead of charging to store information.

Georgia Tech Research Institute to Peacock Communications companies transfer to wear with text technology, Peacock Communications provides its called COMMplements software system, it is deaf who sent in the Gospel.

The software with the IEEE 802 .11b wireless transmission capacity lost hearing in mobile users easy access to the Internet, through a PDA as a sport with a text description.P > better disease monitoring, diagnosis, and early warning

The diseases are reduced to a minimum of one of the ways is to use a more correct and effective non-invasive monitoring, diagnosis, and early warning.

Compared with the past, through wireless RF imagery that can be ingested by imaging tablets for gastrointestinal scientist provides a more accurate picture of the small intestine (Figure 4).

Canada Calgary University researchers using MEMS technology for manufacturing a prototype electronic mosquito, known as "e-mosquito," the only electronic mosquito simulate the process of mosquitoes of the vampire (Figure 5).

Its purpose is to provide a controlled continuous stimulation and choreography into human skin fine pinholes in order to extract the very small amount of blood for later for further analysis. The device is a wireless control, no pain, real-time, half invasive blood analysis and physiological cell nucleus recognition provides a comprehensive and practical solutions.

Is pursuing new DSP devices for better non-invasive diagnosis. Here in Canada Canamet company Piesometer MK-1 portable blood pressure monitor, for example. It uses the double floating-point Diopsis Atmel VLIW (VLIW) DSP and a Tablet ARM microprocessor, which overcomes the traditional limitations of auscultation method. Auscultation method uses the sphygmomanometer and automatic blood pressure device used in the measurement of vibration wave (oscillometric) technology. Canamet instruments support self-adjusting signal processing methods, including: self regulating interference cancellation, band-pass filter and peak recognition algorithm.

Implantable devices for laboratory level, sometimes also known as bio-chip, it is non-invasive monitoring, diagnosis and control of the final will play a key role.

Many of these devices are designed using MEMS technology. Affymetrix is the first launch of the bio-chip company that as early as in 1994 launched the GeneChip (gene chip). Agilent Technologies, Biosite, Cepheid, CombiMatrix, Nanogen and STMicroelectronics, thereafter have implemented such complex platform. These bio-chip forming a huge molecular electronics market over the next few years, the market will have made significant progress.

Bio-chip development gave birth to a new subject in Bioinformatics, the need for the technology to handle from lab-on-chip and DNA chip output of large amounts of data.

Processing of such information requires the integration of computer science, database technology and algorithms. For example, Affymetrix ' GeneChip (Figure 6) is able to explain the situation. As a lab-on-chip has a large number of data need to be addressed and the analysis. A massive amount of data required from these out useful information in the analysis of requirements to the electronic industry challenge, and it is these challenges mapping out information technology development opportunities.

In addition to implantable areas, Holy Land Asia national laboratories (Sandia National Laboratories) scientists busy with a 5-pound handheld portable medical diagnostic device tracking study, the device can immediately detect heart and gum parts of lesion (Figure 7).

New technologies also bring Gospel for persons with disabilities

In patches and corrections instruments also come a long way to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities.

Robot arm to help people regain the upper limbs torn heart hand harmony; robot fake legs help lower extremity dysfunction to embark on a new life; the heart implantation paralysed people only use his heart and the implantation of the device will be able to manipulate the artificial arm.

All of these will bring us how beautiful future? micro-processing technology, nanotechnology, robotics and biomedical engineering, these technologies will collaborate in a more prompt and accurate diagnosis of cancer tumors.

Most importantly, the use of these technologies in these tumors cause larger lesions, it is completely destroyed. Washington University in a group of researchers is to this objective. Based on their research results, will be adopted for the injection of ad-hoc nanoparticles means to cure cancer, these particles can find cancer early and be used to apply these small parcels and destroy tumors.

Medicine prices announced pricing reform, the parties affected overall interpretation (1)

After a half months, I still hold the reform of the hesitation of medicines and medical services in the price formation mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the "opinion"), has finally officially released yesterday.

Previously on 9 November, the opinions of three departments check has been completed.

With the previous version of the reporter was informed that, compared to officially announce the "opinion", government regulation and market regulation, encourage research and innovation and the use of essential drugs and technology and, cost, and quality and pricing of the guiding principles of the "three in one" has not changed.

However, the lower limit of the "drug price management" and "Medicare drug prices" and originally emphasized "solved", not in the opinion referred to in the final version.

1 yaoqi medicine: the first-floor support policy

"Opinions, to boot biowaiver orderly production and competition.

On the next domestic first clone listed drugs, price references were imitation drug price is established; in the innovator drugs have not been listed in China, first of all, the price of generic medicines on the basis of its reasonable costs. And then clone the listing of drugs in accordance with the price is lower than the first clone of a certain percentage of drug prices. The same kind of generic drug manufacturers to achieve a certain number, according to the average social cost, and so develop uniform prices.

Although no suffering from adverse drug "Medicare-national treatment" price, but the first faux drug price support policies for landing, has let China's pharmaceutical companies see a loosening of hope.

Technology level, since the first faux drug as opposed to the subsequent imitation, investment in research and development production costs are high, the industry has been called for, it should be the key from the pricing policy and subsequent generics.

In March 2006, for the pharmaceutical industry, a small, casual, out of the situation, the national development and Reform Commission in the pharmaceutical pricing methods "(first version), the first drug-like" first "pricing policy, with the intention of controlling generic drug overheating problems.

This policy supports finally settles, is still at the "generics" of China, is from the policy direction of the wind has a clear guidance.

In the academic field, on the "economical" drugs is increasingly prosperous.

"Safe, effective, adequate is good," drug use and development of principles, but also make drugs developed wind direction changes, improved formulations quietly, ways and expand the indications for "improved" research and development seems to be more practical.

However, Zhejiang haizheng medicine (22.65, 0.19, 0.85%) co., Ltd. General Manager Assistant Zhu Tong Qin also told reporters that the first-to-business technology research and development capacity demands high, to achieve the first faux first is proof of the level of research and development.

This imitation of the "cake" is not easy to eat, or those with high levels of scientific and technological research and development in order to share of the enterprise.