Design Considerations
AN64846 - Getting Started with CapSense
®
Doc. No. 001-64846 Rev. *X
44
Figure 3-6: Equivalent Circuit and Waveforms
V
SW
V
S
V
DDD
V
REF
t
t
R
S
C
S
V
SW
switching
clock
V
S
5 R
S
C
S
T
SW
>= 10 R
S
C
S
5 R
S
C
S
V
DDD
V
REF
R
S
is the sum of the GPIO resistance and the external series resistance. C
S
is the maximum capacitance of the sensor.
For a given switching frequency, you must select the series-resistor value such that the sensor capacitor is charged
and discharged fully. On the other hand, for a given series resistor, you must choose the switching frequency value
such that the sensor capacitor is charged and discharged fully. Lowering the switching frequency lowers the SNR if you
are unable to modify other CapSense parameters. Therefore, it is a tradeoff between the series resistor value and the
switching frequency to achieve the desired performance.
The rule of thumb is to allow a period of 5R
S
C
S
for charging and discharging cycles. Equations for the minimum time
period and maximum frequency are:
T
SW
(minimum) = 10R
S
C
S
F
SW
(maximum) =
1
10R
S
C
S
3.3.1.1.2.2
Digital Communication Lines
Communication lines, such as I
2
C and SPI, also benefit from series resistance and 330
Ω is recommended for
communication lines. Communication lines have long traces that act as antennae, similar to CapSense traces. The
recommended pull-up resistor value for communication lines is 4.7 k
Ω. So, if more than 330 Ω is placed in series on
these lines, the voltage levels (V
IL
and V
IH
) fall out of the specifications with the worst-case combination of supply
voltages between systems and the input impedance of the receiver. 330
Ω will not affect the I
2
C operation because the
V
IL
level still remains within the I
2
C specification limit of 0.3 V
DD
when the PSoC device outputs a LOW.
Figure 3-7: Series Resistors on Communication Lines
CapSense
Controller
Vdd
Vdd
SCL
SDA
4.7K Ohm
4.7K Ohm
330 Ohm
330 Ohm