Microchip Introduces MXT288UD/MXT144UD: Ultra‑Compact, Weather‑Proof Touch Controllers for Automotive Smart Surfaces

Microchip Technology extends its maXTouch portfolio with a new touch‑screen controller family that offers the industry’s smallest automotive‑grade packaged devices for smart surfaces and multifunction displays up to 6.5”.

The MXT288UD‑AM and MXT144UD‑AM meet automotive OEMs’ demand for richer in‑vehicle experiences, enabling additional touch surfaces beyond the central infotainment display. Secondary touch surfaces can be installed inside and outside vehicles: handlebars, doors, mirrors, knobs, steering wheels, seat panels, armrests. They provide low‑power mode, weatherproof operation, and glove‑touch detection for displays, touch pads, and smart surfaces on cars, motorcycles, e‑bikes, and car‑sharing services.

With the 7 × 7 mm automotive‑grade VQFN56 package, the MXT288UD family reduces board space by 75 % and lowers the BOM for compact applications, while delivering reliable touch performance. The low‑power wait‑for‑touch mode draws less than 50 µA, keeping the system responsive even when the display is off to save power or avoid driver distraction at night. A touch event anywhere on the surface will wake the system.

The MXT288UD‑AM and MXT144UD‑AM also support multi‑finger glove detection through diverse overlay materials and thicknesses— leather, wood, uneven surfaces— even when wet. Typical dielectric constants of overlays limit touch detection, but these devices use a proprietary differential mutual acquisition scheme to achieve high SNR and reliable tracking of multiple fingers.

In car‑sharing scenarios, the reliable touch functionality lets users unlock and start a vehicle from the exterior, regardless of rain, snow, or extreme heat. Motorcycles and other two‑wheelers also benefit from the weatherproof design. As a turnkey solution, the MXT288UD family comes with proven firmware developed under automotive SPICE processes and AEC‑Q100 qualification, allowing manufacturers to integrate with lower risk and faster time to market.

Both software and hardware support are available. Software tools include maXTouch Studio and a maXTouch Analyzer. The MXT288UD kit contains a PCB and a 5” capacitive touch panel; the MXT144UD kit offers a PCB and a 2.9” capacitive touch pad. A bridge PCB with USB interface allows developers to connect to a computer running maXTouch Studio. Microchip’s touch function group can assist with sensor development, tuning, and integration. The MXT288UD family is ready for mass production today.