Glossary
AN64846 - Getting Started with CapSense
®
Doc. No. 001-64846 Rev. *X
126
Low Baseline Reset
A parameter that represents the maximum number of scan samples where the Raw Count is abnormally below the
Negative Noise Threshold. If the Low Baseline Reset value is exceeded, the Baseline is reset to the current Raw Count.
Manual-Tuning
The manual process of setting (or tuning) the CapSense parameters.
Matrix Buttons
A widget consisting of more than two sensors arranged in a matrix fashion, used to detect the presence or absence of
a human finger (a touch) on the intersections of vertically and horizontally arranged sensors.
If M is the number of sensors on the horizontal axis and N is the number of sensors on the vertical axis, the Matrix
Buttons Widget can monitor a total of M x N intersections using ONLY M + N port pins.
When using the CSD sensing method (self-capacitance), this widget can detect a valid touch on only one intersection
position at a time.
Modulation Capacitor (CMOD)
An external capacitor required for the operation of a CSD block in Self-Capacitance sensing mode.
Modulator Clock
A clock source that is used to sample the modulator output from a CSD block during a sensor scan. This clock is also
fed to the Raw Count counter. The scan time (excluding pre and post processing times) is given by (2
N
– 1)/Modulator
Clock Frequency, where N is the Scan Resolution.
Modulation IDAC
Modulation IDAC is a programmable constant current source, whose output is controlled (ON/OFF) by the sigma-delta
modulator output in a CSD block to maintain the AMUXBUS voltage at V
REF
. The average current supplied by this IDAC
is equal to the average current drawn out by the sensor capacitor.
Mutual-Capacitance
Capacitance associated with an electrode (say TX) with respect to another electrode (say RX) is known as mutual
capacitance.
Negative Noise Threshold
A threshold used to differentiate usual noise from the spurious signals appearing in negative direction. This parameter
is used in conjunction with the Low Baseline Reset parameter.
Baseline is updated to track the change in the Raw Count as long as the Raw Count stays within Negative Noise
Threshold, that is, the difference between Baseline and Raw count (Baseline
– Raw count) is less than Negative Noise
Threshold.
Scenarios that may trigger such spurious signals in a negative direction include: a finger on the sensor on power-up,
removal of a metal object placed near the sensor, removing a liquid-tolerant CapSense-enabled product from the water;
and other sudden environmental changes.
Noise (CapSense Noise)
The variation in the Raw Count when a sensor is in the OFF state (no touch), measured as peak-to-peak counts.
Noise Threshold
A parameter used to differentiate signal from noise for a sensor. If Raw Count
– Baseline is greater than Noise
Threshold, it indicates a likely valid signal. If the difference is less than Noise Threshold, Raw Count contains nothing
but noise.
Overlay
A non-conductive material, such as plastic and glass, which covers the capacitive sensors and acts as a touch-surface.
The PCB with the sensors is directly placed under the overlay or is connected through springs. The casing for a product
often becomes the overlay.
Parasitic Capacitance (C
P
)