AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 28, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced its entry into the
human interface market with the introduction of the QuickSense(TM)
portfolio of highly accurate and fast-response touch, proximity and
ambient light sense devices supported by a common development
environment. Ideal for portable, consumer and industrial electronics
products, the power-saving QuickSense devices enable a complete, elegant
human interface.
Increasingly, electronics products incorporate sophisticated sensing
technology to improve the consumer experience by adding intelligence to
anticipate user needs and enabling interaction with devices through
touch and intuitive gestures. This advanced human interface
functionality introduces challenges into the design environment,
creating power and performance tradeoffs and introducing a higher level
of software complexity.
Silicon Labs' QuickSense family addresses these challenges by leveraging
proven, patented and patent-pending technologies and a straightforward
design environment to give developers a single source for human
interface silicon and software solutions. The company's mixed-signal
intellectual property is the foundation for a portfolio of human
interface technologies encompassing infrared, capacitive touch sense,
high-performance processing and low-power design. The new QuickSense
portfolio includes the following:
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The Si11xx family of proximity and ambient light sensors. This family
uses a patented single-pulse proximity measurement technique that
dramatically reduces overall system power. The Si11xx devices also
offer an innovative, patent-pending touchless proximity slider for
gesturing. The devices provide extended range under a wide variety of
lighting conditions, improving the end user experience and enabling
the use of lower cost or lower profile LEDs. The new proximity and
ambient light sensors are ideal for portable electronics, displays,
kiosks, dispensers, interactive toys and other consumer and industrial
products.
-
The C8051F800 family of capacitive touch sense microcontrollers
(MCUs). Based on a patent-pending capacitance-to-digital converter
that enables best-in-class touch sensing, the F800 family eliminates
the need for mechanical buttons and sliders. The small-footprint,
high-performance F800 touch sense MCUs are ideal for personal
electronics, small appliances, residential light controls, thermostat
controls, home security panels, set-top boxes and commercial
point-of-sale interfaces.
-
The expanding C8051F7xx family of capacitive touch sense MCUs. This
series of new touchscreen controllers is expected to be available
beginning in early 2010 with initial support for two-finger touch
screens followed by support for multi-touch touchscreens for
applications such as handsets, personal navigation devices, portable
gaming systems and other consumer electronics products.
Silicon Labs' new sensing devices are all easily programmable through
the QuickSense Studio development software. The QuickSense Studio
Configuration Wizard simplifies the integration of human interface
technologies in end products, allowing engineers to set up capacitive
buttons, sliders and wheels, and ultimately touchscreens, by using an
intuitive software GUI that generates all the C code required for the
selected functions. The studio enables the configuration of infrared
proximity and ambient light sensors through a comprehensive library of
application programming interfaces (APIs). The QuickSense Studio also
provides a real-time monitoring and adjustment tool enabling developers
to thoroughly test and optimize their user interfaces.
"Silicon Labs has a long track record of tackling formidable analog
challenges and applying innovative mixed-signal design techniques to
deliver integrated, high-performance and lower power solutions that are
easy to use," said Mark Thompson, vice president and general manager of
Silicon Laboratories. "By applying our ability to integrate advanced
analog peripherals and intelligent processing in power-efficient ICs,
we've created a portfolio that will spark fresh innovation in human
interfaces for a wide range of electronics products. And with the launch
of our QuickSense software environment, we're providing embedded
designers with a straightforward way to enable sensing technologies in
their products."
Availability
The QuickSense F700 and F800 touch sense MCUs and the Si11xx proximity
and ambient light sensors are available now. All QuickSense parts are
supported by the QuickSense Studio and a suite of development tools to
enable quick evaluation and design. For more information please visit www.silabs.com/pr/QuickSense.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of highly integrated,
easy-to-use products offers customers significant advantages in
performance, size and power consumption. These patented solutions serve
a broad set of markets and applications including consumer,
communications, computing, industrial and automotive.
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Silicon Labs is a global enterprise with
operations, sales and design activities worldwide. The company is
committed to contributing to our customers' success by recruiting the
highest quality talent to create industry-changing innovations. For more
information about Silicon Labs, please visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: QuickSense, Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S"
symbol, the Silicon Laboratories logo and the Silicon Labs logo are
trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted
herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman, +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009