Microchip Technology Releases New Touch Controllers
The new capacitive-touch controllers offer improved design simplicity and functional safety for human-machine interfaces.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Semiconductors
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Microchip Technology has launched the MTCH3380P and MTCH3240P capacitive-touch controllers to assist with display-free human-machine interfaces. These new devices are designed to reduce system costs and simplify design complexity for manufacturers.
Why it matters
By providing advanced integrated sensing, these controllers help engineers streamline the development of touch-based buttons, wheels, and sliders. The components also meet IEC/UL 60730 Class B functional safety certification, which is essential for regulated product designs.
The controllers utilize 12 on-chip analog-to-digital converters to process sensor data in parallel while operating at temperatures up to 105°C. The MTCH3380P supports up to 64 mutual-capacitance sensors, while the MTCH3240P supports up to 32.
The players
Microchip Technology
This company is a leading provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions for diverse industrial and automotive applications.
The details
The devices feature parallel sensing capabilities for buttons, sliders, and wheels to improve responsiveness in complex interfaces. Manufacturers can utilize the mTouch Studio development environment along with host drivers for Linux and Zephyr to integrate the hardware.
Timeline
Microchip Technology released the controllers on October 21, 2026.
The Tech Race
The push to integrate safety standards like IEC/UL 60730 Class B directly into silicon reflects a broader shift toward simplifying compliance for hardware engineers. This development allows manufacturers to compete more effectively by reducing the need for external safety components.
These controllers will likely appear in new household appliances and industrial touch interfaces, potentially leading to more responsive buttons and dials. Users may encounter these systems in devices that prioritize durability and safety as they become more common in mass-market hardware.
The takeaway
These new controllers highlight the ongoing effort to pack more sensing power into smaller, more affordable semiconductor packages. Engineers can utilize these tools to meet rising demands for both safety-certified hardware and streamlined interface design.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of hardware engineering, see the latest developments in Semiconductors.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Electronic Specifier.
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