Microchip Single-Chip Controller Drives Amazing Automotive Touch Screens as Large as 40 InchesMicrochip Single-Chip Controller Drives Amazing Automotive Touch Screens as Large as 40 Inches

Cars have more screens than ever, and Microchip promises one chip to rule them all.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

July 10, 2021

1 Min Read
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Microchip Technology

The pace of advancement in automotive display technology is evident in the announcement of Microchip Technology’s new MXT2912TD-UW single-chip automotive touchscreen controller for large, very wide aspect-ratio displays as large as 40 inches.

Just two years ago the company introduced a similar chip for display screens half that size, as described in the video below.

The installation of larger and more abundant displays in automotive cockpits is driving the need for multiple touch controllers, but the MXT2912TD-UW reduces the need for multiple touch controllers within a vehicle’s human-machine interface (HMI) display. 

Drivers are accustomed to the snappy response and crisp graphics provided by the smartphones and they’ve been disappointed by the sluggishness of many automotive systems. Microchip pledges that the MXT2912TD-UW provides the highest report rate for wide displays and is independent of the display resolution to help provide a smartphone-grade experience. 

Additionally, Microchip’s maXTouch family of chips has intrinsic signal-to-noise ratio that enables detection and tracking of multi-finger thick gloves through a wide variety of overlays, even when fingers or surfaces are wet or moist. And it ignores water on the screen, so it isn’t detected as a false-touch event. 

Related:The Top 10 Semiconductor Companies on our List of Critical Companies to Watch

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MXT2912TD-UW provides adaptive touch utilizing self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance measurements, so all touches are recognized, and false touch detections are avoided.

Importantly, Microchip meets the suitable standards for electromagnetic interference (CISPR-25) and self-diagnostics (ISO26262).

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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