Glossary
AN64846 - Getting Started with CapSense
®
Doc. No. 001-64846 Rev. *X
127
Parasitic capacitance is the intrinsic capacitance of the sensor electrode contributed by PCB trace, sensor pad, vias,
and air gap. It is unwanted because it reduces the sensitivity of CSD.
Proximity Sensor
A sensor that can detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact.
Radial Slider
A widget consisting of more than one sensor arranged in a specific circular fashion to detect the physical position of a
finger.
Raw Count
The unprocessed digital count output of the CapSense hardware block that represents the physical capacitance of the
sensor.
Refresh Interval
The time between two consecutive scans of a sensor.
Scan Resolution
Resolution (in bits) of the Raw Count produced by the CSD block.
Scan Time
Time taken for completing the scan of a sensor.
Self-Capacitance
The capacitance associated with an electrode with respect to circuit ground.
Sensitivity
The change in Raw Count corresponding to the change in sensor capacitance, expressed in counts/pF. Sensitivity of
a sensor is dependent on the board layout, overlay properties, sensing method, and tuning parameters.
Sense Clock
A clock source used to implement a switched-capacitor front-end for the CSD sensing method.
Sensor
See
Sensor Auto Reset
A setting to prevent a sensor from reporting false touch status indefinitely due to system failure, or when a metal object
is continuously present near the sensor.
When Sensor Auto Reset is enabled, the Baseline is always updated even if the Difference Count is greater than the
Noise Threshold. This prevents the sensor from reporting the ON status for an indefinite period of time. When Sensor
Auto Reset is disabled, the Baseline is updated only when the Difference Count is less than the Noise Threshold.
Sensor Ganging
See
Shield Electrode
Copper fill around sensors to prevent false touches due to the presence of water or other liquids. Shield Electrode is
driven by the shield signal output from the CSD block. See
Shield Tank Capacitor (C
SH
)
An optional external capacitor (C
SH
Tank Capacitor) used to enhance the drive capability of the CSD shield, when there
is a large shield layer with high parasitic capacitance.
Signal (CapSense Signal)
Difference Count is also called Signal. See Difference Count.