[Quiz with Prizes] Helping to Fight the Epidemic: The Transformation of Elevator Buttons

Latest update time：2021-08-31 04:10

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According to data from the China Industrial Research Institute and the National Bureau of Statistics of China, by the end of 2019, the number of elevators in China had reached 7.451 million. Such a large number of elevators has caused great difficulties in preventing the new coronavirus epidemic. High-frequency spraying of disinfectant has been the main means of disinfecting elevators since the outbreak of the epidemic, but accidents caused by improper disinfection have frequently appeared in the news.

[Figure 1: Reports on improper elevator disinfection]

To prevent such accidents, many elevator control panels are covered with a layer of plastic film. However, due to the raised design of the mechanical buttons, it is difficult to ensure that there is no gap between the film and the control panel. At the same time, "safety tools" such as toothpicks and ballpoint pens used by users during operation can also cause damage to the film, which is not aesthetically pleasing but does not completely eliminate hidden dangers.

[Figure 2: Mechanical buttons are covered with plastic film for waterproofing]

How can we achieve both beauty and safety? To answer this question, Terence Li, product manager of Shijian, introduced Microchip’s capacitive touch screen technology and said Shijian can provide reference designs and assist customers in development.

Terence said that by adopting this technology, elevator manufacturers or consumers can replace the previous mechanical buttons with an integrated plastic protective cover, making the elevator control panel completely seamless. Thanks to Microchip's deep knowledge and experience in touch technology, the capacitive touch technology it provides has the characteristics of anti-noise, anti-humidity interference and low power consumption.

Noise immunity

For capacitive sensing, the main noise sources are smartphones, radio transceivers, motors, and sockets, which are divided into differential mode noise and common mode noise. Relatively speaking, the biggest enemy of touch capacitance is common mode noise. Since it is tested in the later stage of design and is not obvious, common mode noise is a real headache for designers.

To solve this problem, Microchip capacitive touch screen technology uses advanced Driven-shield+ technology. Like the traditional Driven shield, Driven-shield+ provides active shielding with the same signal as the sensor, ensuring maximum protection without loss of sensitivity.

[Figure 3: Driven shield shielding effect demonstration]

Therefore, Microchip capacitive touch screen technology can provide a high signal-to-noise ratio, meet the IEC61000-4-6 conducted noise test standard, and help designers overcome noisy environments.

[Figure 4: EMC test standards related to noise immunity]

Anti-humidity interference

Driven-shield + technology provides better waterproof performance. The simple Driven shield only provides the most basic waterproof function when solving the noise problem. In the elevator application scenario, because the control panel is a complete panel, some water stains will remain on both buttons when wiped with a wet cloth or sprayed with disinfectant, causing touch errors and affecting button functions. The same situation is more likely to occur in elevator control panels exposed to the outdoors when it rains.

[Figure 5: Wrong key press caused by water drops]

Driven-shield + technology helps designers solve this problem well. Driven-shield + not only has the advantages of Driven shield, but also because the driving potential of the shielding electrode and each other electrode is the same as the scanned electrode, Driven-shield + technology prevents water droplets from covering multiple keys at the same time and no longer causes touch errors. This way, even if the control panel is covered with water stains or exposed to raindrops, it can still work well.

[Figure 6: Driven-shield + technology dripping demonstration]

By using self-capacitance with Driven-shield+ to achieve waterproofing, Microchip's capacitive touch solution can support thicker covers and single-finger touch with gloves.

Low power consumption and safety

In addition, Microchip's capacitive touch screen technology also excels in power consumption and safety.

In terms of power consumption, the logic level of mechanical buttons has two states: wake-up and interrupt, while capacitive touch is continuously scanned.

[Figure 7: Comparison between mechanical buttons and capacitive touch]

To achieve low-power touch design, Microchip capacitive touch technology triggers touch measurement through the event system. In the power analysis window, the average current of the recording window is very low without touching the QT7-XPRO (sensor development board and kit). Therefore, Microchip capacitive touch technology's dedicated hardware on PIC, AVR and SAM devices supports the lowest power touch function, with a capacitive sensing current of less than 5μA.

[Figure 8: Low power average current measurement]

In terms of safety, Microchip provides products certified by the IEC/UL60730 safety Class B standard, and already has ready-made products and sensor libraries.

Expansion and extension

Beyond elevator applications. In addition to 1D requirements such as proximity sensors, buttons, sliders and pulleys, Microchip’s solutions can also meet 2D requirements such as touchpads and multi-touch screens, as well as 3D requirements such as free space gesture recognition. And, regardless of 1D, 2D or 3D requirements, Microchip provides turnkey solutions:

1D turnkey solutions MTCH10x and CAP1xxx;
2D turnkey solution maXTouch® Technology;
3D Turnkey Solutions GestIC® Technology.

Therefore, Microchip provides solutions for all touch use cases in all markets, whether you choose an off-the-shelf touch product or an MCU touch sensing library, you can benefit from it. Now is the time to give the buttons on your device a transformation upgrade!

Prize quiz topic:

In addition to elevators, what other similar application scenarios do you think there are? Please give some examples~

Ginseng

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1) From now until 24:00 on September 27 (Sunday) , leave a message in the comment section of this article to answer the question;

2) Qualified messages will be selected in the order of submission time; *Friendly reminder: If the answer is plagiarized from the original text, it will be regarded as an unqualified answer and will not be selected . Those who provide false information or plagiarize others' answers will not be awarded .

3) Shijian employees are not eligible to receive awards

4) The World Health Organization will review and select the top 5 messages and give out JD.com E-cards worth RMB 100 .

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Way

1) Shijian will announce the list of winners on the official account on September 29 (Tuesday) and notify the winners by leaving a message. Please provide your personal information;

2) Shijian will send the JD E-card number and card code to the winner via email within 2 working days based on the information filled in by the winner;

3) If the winner fails to reply to Shijian with correct personal information within 3 working days, it will be deemed that he or she has given up the prize;

4) Excelpoint reserves the final right of interpretation for this event.

About Shijian

Leading authorized distributor of components in Asia Pacific

Excelpoint is a complete solutions provider, providing high-quality components, engineering design and supply chain management services to Asian electronics manufacturers including original equipment manufacturers (OEM), original design manufacturers (ODM) and electronic manufacturing service providers (EMS).

Shijian is a listed company on the main board of Singapore with a history of more than 30 years. Shijian China is headquartered in Hong Kong and currently has more than ten branches and offices in China, covering major large and medium-sized cities in China. With a professional R&D team, top-notch field application support and rich market experience, Shijian enjoys a leading position in the industry in China.

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[Quiz with Prizes] Helping to Fight the Epidemic: The Transformation of Elevator Buttons

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