QT60486 [QUANTUM]

32 & 48 KEY QMATRIX ICs; 32和48个重点QMATRIX集成电路
QT60486
型号: QT60486
厂家: QUANTUM RESEARCH GROUP    QUANTUM RESEARCH GROUP
描述:

32 & 48 KEY QMATRIX ICs
32和48个重点QMATRIX集成电路

文件: 总32页 (文件大小:881K)
中文:  中文翻译
下载:  下载PDF数据表文档文件
lQ  
QT60326, QT60486  
32 & 48 KEY QMATRIX™ IC  
s
z Advanced second generation QMatrix™ controller  
z Keys individually adjustable for sensitivity, response  
time, and many other critical parameters  
z Panel thicknesses to 50mm through any dielectric  
z 32 and 48 key versions  
34  
44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35  
MOSI  
MISO  
SCK  
/RST  
Vdd  
Vss  
XT2  
XT1  
RX  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
33  
Y3B  
Y2B  
Y1B  
Y0B  
Vdd  
Vss  
Vdd  
X7  
32  
31  
30  
29  
28  
27  
26  
25  
24  
23  
z 100% autocal for life - no in-field adjustments  
z SPI Slave and UART interfaces  
QT60326  
QT60486  
z Sleep mode with wake pin  
z Adjacent key suppression feature  
z Synchronous noise suppression pin  
z Spread-spectrum modulation: high noise immunity  
z Mix and match key sizes & shapes in one panel  
z Low overhead communications protocol  
z FMEA compliant design features  
TQFP-44  
X6  
X5  
X4  
TX  
WS  
10  
11  
19  
13 14 15 16 17 18  
20 21 22  
12  
z Negligible external component count  
z Extremely low cost per key  
z 44-pin Pb-free TQFP package  
APPLICATIONS -  
y Security keypanels  
y Industrial keyboards  
y Appliance controls  
y Outdoor keypads  
y ATM machines  
y Touch-screens  
y Automotive panels  
y Machine tools  
These digital charge-transfer (“QT”) QMatrix™ ICs are designed to detect human touch on up 48 keys when used with a scanned,  
passive X-Y matrix. They will project touch keys through almost any dielectric, e.g. glass, plastic, stone, ceramic, and even wood, up to  
thicknesses of 5 cm or more. The touch areas are defined as simple 2-part interdigitated electrodes of conductive material, like copper  
or screened silver or carbon deposited on the rear of a control panel. Key sizes, shapes and placement are almost entirely arbitrary;  
sizes and shapes of keys can be mixed within a single panel of keys and can vary by a factor of 20:1 in surface area. The sensitivity of  
each key can be set individually via simple functions over the SPI or UART port, for example via Quantum’s QmBtn program, or from a  
host microcontroller. Key setups are stored in an onboard eeprom and do not need to be reloaded with each powerup.  
These devices are designed specifically for appliances, electronic kiosks, security panels, portable instruments, machine tools, or  
similar products that are subject to environmental influences or even vandalism. It can permit the construction of 100% sealed,  
watertight control panels that are immune to humidity, temperature, dirt accumulation, or the physical deterioration of the panel surface  
from abrasion, chemicals, or abuse. To this end the device contains Quantum-pioneered adaptive auto self-calibration, drift  
compensation, and digital filtering algorithms that make the sensing function robust and survivable.  
The parts can scan matrix touch keys over LCD panels or other displays when used with clear ITO electrodes arranged in a matrix.  
They do not require 'chip on glass' or other exotic fabrication techniques, thus allowing the OEM to source the matrix from multiple  
vendors. Materials such as such common PCB materials or flex circuits can be used.  
External circuitry consists of a resonator and a few passive parts, all of which can fit into a 6.5 sq cm footprint (1 sq inch). Control and  
data transfer is via either an SPI or UART port.  
These devices make use of an important new variant of charge-transfer sensing, transverse charge-transfer, in a matrix format that  
minimizes the number of required scan lines. Unlike older methods, it does not require one IC per key.  
AVAILABLE OPTIONS  
TA  
# Keys  
32  
Part Number  
QT60326-AS-G  
QT60486-AS-G  
-400C to +1050C  
-400C to +1050C  
48  
LQ  
Copyright © 2003-2005 QRG Ltd  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Contents  
4.15 Return Last Command - 0x0f  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
4.16 Internal Code - 0x10  
1 Overview  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
9
9
1.1 Part differences  
1.2 Enabling / Disabling Keys  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
4.17 Internal Code - 0x11  
4.18 Internal Code - 0x12  
4.19 Sleep - 0x16  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2 Hardware & Functional  
2.1 Matrix Scan Sequence  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
2.2 Burst Paring  
2.3 Response Time  
2.4 Oscillator  
4.20 Data Set for One Key - 0x4k  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
4.21 Status for Key ‘k’ - 0x8k  
4.22 Cal Key ‘k’ - 0xck  
4.23 Command Sequencing  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
2.5 Sample Capacitors; Saturation Effects  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18  
Table 4.2 Command Summary  
2.6 Sample Resistors  
2.7 Signal Levels  
2.8 Matrix Series Resistors  
2.9 Key Design  
2.10 PCB Layout, Construction  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
5 Setups  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
5.1 Negative Threshold - NTHR  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
5.2 Positive Threshold - PTHR  
5.3 Drift Compensation - NDRIFT, PDRIFT  
5.4 Detect Integrators - NDIL, FDIL  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
2.10.1 LED Traces and Other Switching Signals  
. . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21  
2.10.2 PCB Cleanliness  
5.5 Negative Recal Delay - NRD  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21  
2.11 Power Supply Considerations  
2.12 Startup / Calibration Times  
5.6 Positive Recalibration Delay - PRD  
5.7 Burst Length - BL  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
Table 2-1 Calibration Timings  
5.8 Adjacent Key Suppression - AKS  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
2.13 Reset Input  
2.14 Spread Spectrum Acquisitions  
2.15 Detection Integrators  
2.16 FMEA Tests  
5.9 Oscilloscope Sync - SSYNC  
5.10 Negative Hysteresis - NHYST  
5.11 Dwell Time - DWELL  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23  
5.12 Mains Sync - MSYNC  
5.13 Burst Spacing - BS  
5.14 Serial Rate - SR  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2.17 Wiring  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Table 2.2 - Pin Listing  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23  
Figure 2.7 Wiring Diagram  
5.15 Lower Signal Limit - LSL  
5.16 LED / Alert Output - LED  
5.17 Host CRC - HCRC  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23  
3 Serial Communications  
3.1 DRDY Pin  
3.2 SPI Communications  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24  
Table 5.1 Setups Block  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13  
Table 5.2 LED Function Control Byte Bits  
Table 5.3 Key Mapping  
3.3 UART Communications  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25  
4 Control Commands  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25  
Table 5.4 Setups Block Summary  
4.1 Null Command - 0x00  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26  
4.2 Enter Setups Mode - 0x01  
4.3 Cal All - 0x03  
4.4 Force Reset - 0x04  
4.5 General Status - 0x05  
4.6 Report 1st Key - 0x06  
4.7 Report Detections for All Keys - 0x07  
Table 4.1 Bit fields for multiple key reporting and key  
numbering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
4.8 Report Signals for All Keys - 0x08  
4.9 Report References for All Keys - 0x09  
4.10 Report Deltas for All Keys - 0x0a  
4.11 Report Error Flags for All Keys - 0x0b  
4.12 Report FMEA Status - 0x0c  
4.13 Dump Setups Block - 0x0d  
4.14 Eeprom CRC - 0x0e  
6 Specifications  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
6.1 Absolute Maximum Electrical Specifications  
6.2 Recommended operating conditions  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
. . . . . . . . . . . 27  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
6.3 DC Specifications  
6.4 Timing Specifications  
6.5 Mechanical Dimensions  
6.6 Marking  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29  
15  
7 Appendix  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
7.1 8-Bit CRC Software C Algorithm  
7.2 16-Bit CRC Software C Algorithm  
7.3 1-Sided Key Layout  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
7.4 PCB Layout  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
lQ  
2
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
QmBtn software for the PC can be used to program the  
operation of the IC as well as read back key status and signal  
levels in real time.  
1 Overview  
QMatrix devices are digital burst mode charge-transfer (QT)  
sensors designed specifically for matrix geometry touch  
controls; they include all signal processing functions necessary  
to provide stable sensing under a wide variety of changing  
conditions. Only a few external parts are required for operation.  
The entire circuit can be built within a few square centimeters of  
single-sided PCB area. CEM-1 and FR1 punched, single-sided  
materials can be used for possible lowest cost. The PCB’s rear  
can be mounted flush on the back of a glass or plastic panel  
using a conventional adhesive, such as 3M VHB 2-sided  
adhesive acrylic film.  
The parts are electrically identical with the exception of the  
number of keys which may be sensed.  
1.1 Part differences  
Versions of the device are capable of a maximum of 32 or 48  
keys (QT60326, QT60486 respectively).  
These devices are identical in all respects, except that each is  
capable of only the number of keys specified. These keys can  
be located anywhere within the electrical grid of 8 X and 6 Y  
scan lines.  
QMatrix parts employ transverse charge-transfer ('QT') sensing,  
a technology that senses changes in electrical charge forced  
across an electrode by a pulse edge (Figure 1-1).  
Unused keys are always pared from the burst sequence in  
order to optimize speed. Similarly, in a given part a lesser  
number of enabled keys will cause any unused acquisition burst  
timeslots to be pared from the sampling sequence to optimize  
acquire speed. Thus, if only 40 keys are actually enabled, only  
40 timeslots are used for scanning.  
Figure 1-1 Field flow between X and Y elements  
overlying panel  
1.2 Enabling / Disabling Keys  
The NDIL parameter is used to enable and disable keys in the  
matrix. Setting NDIL = 0 for a key disables it (Section 5.4). At  
no time can the number of enabled keys exceed the maximum  
specified for the device in the case of the QT60326.  
X
Y
element  
element  
On the QT60326, only the first 4 Y lines (Y0..Y3) are  
operational by default. On the QT60326, to use keys located on  
lines Y4 and Y5, one or more of the pre-enabled keys must be  
disabled simultaneously while enabling the desired new keys.  
This can be done in one Setups block load operation.  
cmos  
driver  
QMatrix devices allow for a wide range of key sizes and shapes  
to be mixed together in a single touch panel. The approximate  
design rules for these keys can be seen in Figure 2-6.  
2 Hardware & Functional  
The actual internal pattern style is not as important as is the  
need to achieve regular X and Y widths and spacings of  
sufficient size to cover the desired graphical key area or a little  
bit more; 2mm overhand is acceptable in most cases, since the  
fields drop off near the edges anyway. The overall key size can  
range from 10mm x 10mm up to 100mm x 100mm. The keys  
can be any shape including round, rectangular, square, etc.  
The internal pattern can be as simple as a single bar of Y or as  
complex as the interleaved structure shown in Figure 2-6.  
2.1 Matrix Scan Sequence  
The circuit operates by scanning each key sequentially, key by  
key. Key scanning begins with location X=0 / Y=0 (key #0). X  
axis keys are known as rows while Y axis keys are referred to  
as columns. Keys are scanned sequentially by row, for example  
the sequence X0Y0 X1Y0 .... X7Y0, X0Y1, X1Y1... etc. Keys are  
also numbered from 0..47. Key 0 is located at X0Y0. A table of  
key numbering is located on page 25.  
Each key is sampled in a burst of acquisition pulses whose  
length is determined by the Setups parameter BL (page 22),  
which can be set on a per-key basis. A burst is completed  
entirely before the next key is sampled; at the end of each burst  
the resulting signal is converted to digital form and processed.  
The burst length directly impacts key gain; each key can have a  
unique burst length in order to allow tailoring of key sensitivity  
on a key by key basis.  
For better surface moisture suppression, the outer perimeter of  
X should be as wide as possible, and there should be no  
ground planes near the keys. The variable ‘T’ in this drawing  
represents the total thickness of all materials that the keys must  
penetrate.  
A picture of an actual board made using similar key geometries  
is shown on page 30.  
The devices use both UART and SPI interfaces to allow key  
data to be extracted and to permit individual key parameter  
setup. The interface protocol uses simple single byte  
commands and responds with single byte responses in most  
cases. The command structure is designed to minimize the  
amount of data traffic while maximizing the amount of  
information conveyed.  
2.2 Burst Paring  
Keys that are disabled by setting NDIL =0 (page 21) have their  
bursts pared from the scan sequence to save time. This has the  
consequence of affecting the scan rate of the entire matrix as  
well as the time required for initial matrix calibration. It does not  
affect the time required to calibrate an individual key once the  
matrix is initially calibrated after power-up or reset.  
In addition to normal operating and setup functions the device  
can also report back actual signal strengths and error codes.  
lQ  
3
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
increasing BL to a high count and watching what the waveform  
does as it descends towards and below -0.25V. The waveform  
will appear deceptively straight, but it will start to flatten even  
before the -0.25V level is reached.  
2.3 Response Time  
The response time of the device depends on the scan rate of  
the keys (Section 5.13), the number of keys enabled (Section  
5.4), the detect integrator settings (Section 5.4), and the serial  
polling rate by the host microcontroller (or the use of the LED  
pin as an interrupt to the host; Sections 5.16, and Table 5.2 on  
page 25). An example timing:  
A correct waveform is shown in Figure 2-3. Note that the  
bottom edge of the bottom trace is substantially straight  
(ignoring the downward spikes).  
Keys enabled (KE) = 20  
Burst spacing (BS) = 1ms  
NDIL = 3  
Unlike other QT circuits, the Cs capacitor values on QT60xx6  
devices have no effect on conversion gain. However they do  
affect conversion time.  
FDIL = 5  
Unused Y lines should be left open.  
Host polling rate (PR) = 10ms  
The worst case response time is computed as:  
((KE + FDIL) x NDIL x BS) + PR = Worst case response  
((20 + 5) x 3 x 1ms) + 10ms = 85ms  
2.6 Sample Resistors  
There are 6 sample resistors (Rs) used to perform single-slope  
ADC conversion of the acquired charge on each Cs capacitor.  
These resistors directly control acquisition gain: larger values of  
Rs will proportionately increase signal gain. Values of Rs can  
range from 220Kto 1M. 220Kis a reasonable value for  
most purposes.  
The use of the LED pin to trigger host sampling can reduce this  
to ~75ms by saving the majority of the host polling time; see  
Section 5.16.  
Larger values for Rs will also increase conversion time and may  
reduce the fastest possible key sampling rate, which can impact  
response time especially with larger numbers of enabled keys.  
2.4 Oscillator  
The oscillator can use either a quartz crystal or a ceramic  
resonator. In either case, the XT1 and XT2 must both be loaded  
with 22pF capacitors to ground. 3-terminal resonators having  
onboard ceramic capacitors are commonly available and are  
recommended. An external TTL-compatible frequency source  
can also be connected to XT1 in which case, XT2 should be left  
unconnected.  
Unused Y lines do not require an Rs resistor.  
The frequency of oscillation should be 16MHz +/-1% for  
accurate UART transmission timing.  
Figure 2-1 VCs - Non-Linear During Burst  
(Burst too long, or Cs too small, or X-Y capacitance too large)  
2.5 Sample Capacitors; Saturation Effects  
The charge sampler capacitors on the Y pins should be the  
values shown. They should be X7R or NP0 ceramics or PPS  
film. The value of these capacitors is not critical but 4.7nF is  
recommended for most cases.  
Cs voltage saturation is shown in Figure 2-1. This nonlinearity  
is caused by excessively negative voltage on Cs inducing  
conduction in the pin protection diodes. This badly saturated  
signal destroys key gain and introduces a strong thermal  
coefficient which can cause 'phantom' detection. The cause of  
this is usually from the burst length being too long, the Cs value  
being too small, or the X-Y coupling being too large. Solutions  
include loosening up the interdigitation of key structures,  
separating X and Y lines on the PCB more, increasing Cs, and  
decreasing the burst length.  
Figure 2-2 VCs - Poor Gain, Non-Linear During Burst  
(Excess capacitance from Y line to Gnd)  
Increasing Cs will make the part slower; decreasing burst  
length will make it less sensitive. A better PCB layout and a  
looser key structure (up to a point) have no negative effects.  
Cs voltages should be observed on an oscilloscope with the  
matrix layer bonded to the panel material; if the Rs side of any  
Cs ramps more negative than -0.25 volts during any burst (not  
counting overshoot spikes which are probe artifacts), there is a  
potential saturation problem.  
Figure 2-3 Vcs - Correct  
Figure 2-2 shows a defective waveform similar to that of 2-1,  
but in this case the distortion is caused by excessive stray  
capacitance coupling from the Y line to AC ground, for example  
from running too near and too far alongside a ground trace,  
ground plane, or other traces. The excess coupling causes the  
charge-transfer effect to dissipate a significant portion of the  
received charge from a key into the stray capacitance. This  
phenomenon is more subtle; it can be best detected by  
lQ  
4
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Figure 2-4 X-Drive Pulse Roll-off and Dwell Time  
Figure 2-6 Recommended Key Structure  
‘T’ should ideally be similar to the complete thickness the fields need to  
penetrate to the touch surface. Smaller dimensions will also work but will give  
less signal strength. If in doubt, make the pattern coarser.  
Lost charge due to  
inadequate settling  
before end of dwell time  
X drive  
Dwell time  
Y gate  
Figure 2-5 Probing X-Drive Waveforms with a Coin  
2.8 Matrix Series Resistors  
The X and Y matrix scan lines should use series resistors  
(referred to as Rx and Ry respectively) for improved EMI  
performance.  
X drive lines require them in most cases to reduce edge rates  
and thus reduce RF emissions. Typical values range from 1K to  
20K.  
Y lines need them to reduce EMC susceptibility problems and in  
some extreme cases, ESD. Typical Y values range around  
1K. Y resistors act to reduce susceptibility problems by  
forming a natural low-pass filter with the Cs capacitors.  
It is essential that the Rx and Ry resistors and Cs capacitors be  
placed very close to the chip. Placing these parts more than a  
few millimeters away opens the circuit up for high frequency  
interference problems (above 20MHz) as the trace lengths  
between the components and the chip start to act as RF  
antennae.  
2.7 Signal Levels  
The upper limits of Rx and Ry are reached when the signal  
level and hence key sensitivity are clearly reduced. The limits of  
Rx and Ry will depending on key geometry and stray  
capacitance, and thus an oscilloscope is required to determine  
optimum values of both.  
Using Quantum’s QmBtn™ software it is easy to observe the  
absolute level of signal received by the sensor on each key.  
The signal values should normally be in the range from 250 to  
750 counts with properly designed key shapes (see appropriate  
Quantum app note on matrix key design). However, long  
adjacent runs of X and Y lines can also artificially boost the  
signal values, and induce signal saturation: this is to be  
avoided. The X-to-Y coupling should come mostly from  
intra-key electrode coupling, not from stray X-to-Y trace  
coupling.  
The upper limit of Rx can vary depending on key geometry and  
stray capacitance, and some experimentation and an  
oscilloscope are required to determine optimum values.  
Dwell time (page 22) affects the duration in which charge  
coupled from X to Y can be captured. Increasing the dwell will  
increase the signal levels lost to higher values of Rx and Ry, as  
shown in Figure 2-4. Too short a dwell time will cause charge to  
be 'lost', if there is too much rising edge roll-off. Lengthening  
the dwell time will cause this lost charge to be recaptured,  
thereby restoring key sensitivity. In these devices, dwell time is  
adjustable (see Section 5.11) to one of 3 values.  
QmBtn software is available free of charge on Quantum’s web  
site.  
The signal swing from the smallest finger touch should  
preferably exceed 10 counts, with 15 being a reasonable target.  
The signal threshold setting (NTHR) should be set to a value  
guaranteed to be less than the signal swing caused by the  
smallest touch.  
Dwell time problems can also be solved by either reducing the  
stray capacitance on the X line(s) (by a layout change, for  
example by reducing X line exposure to nearby ground planes  
or traces), or, the Rx resistor needs to be reduced in value (or a  
combination of both approaches).  
Increasing the burst length (BL) parameter will increase the  
signal strengths as will increasing the sampling resistor (Rs)  
values.  
One way to determine X settling time is to monitor the fields  
using a patch of metal foil or a small coin over the key (Figure  
lQ  
5
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
2-5). Only one key along a particular X line needs to be  
observed, as each of the keys along that X line will be identical.  
The chosen dwell time should exceed the observed 95%  
settling of the X-pulse by 25% or more.  
the device. Such signals should be routed away from the Y  
lines, or the design should be such that these lines are not  
switched during the course of signal acquisition (bursts).  
LED terminals which are multiplexed or switched into a floating  
state and which are within or physically very near a key  
structure (even if on another nearby PCB) should be bypassed  
to either Vss or Vdd with at least a 10nF capacitor of any type,  
to suppress capacitive coupling effects which can induce false  
signal shifts. Led terminals which are constantly connected to  
Vss or Vdd do not need further bypassing.  
In almost all case, Ry should be set equal to Rx, which will  
ensure that the charge on the Y line is fully captured into the Cs  
capacitor.  
2.9 Key Design  
Circuits can be constructed out of a variety of materials  
including flex circuits, FR4, and even inexpensive single-sided  
CEM-1.  
2.10.2 PCB Cleanliness  
All capacitive sensors should be treated as highly sensitive  
circuits which can be influenced by stray conductive leakage  
paths. QT devices have a basic resolution in the femtofarad  
range; in this region, there is no such thing as ‘no clean flux’.  
Flux absorbs moisture and becomes conductive between  
solder joints, causing signal drift and resultant false detections  
or transient losses of sensitivity or instability. Conformal  
coatings will trap in existing amounts of moisture which will then  
become highly temperature sensitive.  
The actual internal pattern style is not as important as is the  
need to achieve regular X and Y widths and spacings of  
sufficient size to cover the desired graphical key area or a little  
bit more; ~3mm oversize is acceptable in most cases, since the  
key’s electric fields drop off near the edges anyway. The overall  
key size can range from 10mm x 10mm up to 100mm x 100mm  
but these are not hard limits. The keys can be any shape  
including round, rectangular, square, etc. The internal pattern  
can be as simple as a single bar of Y within a solid perimeter of  
X, or (preferably) interdigitated as shown in Figure 2-6.  
The designer should specify ultrasonic cleaning as part of the  
manufacturing process, and in cases where a high level of  
humidity is anticipated, the use of conformal coatings after  
cleaning to keep out moisture.  
For better surface moisture suppression, the outer perimeter of  
X should be as wide as possible, and there should be no  
ground planes near the keys. The variable ‘T’ in this drawing  
represents the total thickness of all materials that the keys must  
penetrate.  
2.11 Power Supply Considerations  
As these devices use the power supply itself as an analog  
reference, the power should be very clean and come from a  
separate regulator. A standard inexpensive LDO type regulator  
should be used that is not also used to power other loads such  
as LEDs, relays, or other high current devices. Load shifts on  
the output of the LDO can cause Vdd to fluctuate enough to  
cause false detection or sensitivity shifts.  
See Figure 2-6 and page 30 for examples of key layouts.  
2.10 PCB Layout, Construction  
It is best to place the chip near the touch keys on the same  
PCB so as to reduce X and Y trace lengths, thereby reducing  
the chances for EMC problems. Long connection traces act as  
RF antennae. The Y (receive) lines are much more susceptible  
to noise pickup than the X (drive) lines.  
Ceramic 0.1uF bypass capacitors should be placed very close  
and routed with short traces to all power pins of the IC. There  
should be at least 3 such capacitors around the part.  
Even more importantly, all signal related discrete parts (R’s and  
C’s) should be very close to the body of the chip. Wiring  
between the chip and the various R’s and C’s should be as  
short and direct as possible to suppress noise pickup.  
2.12 Startup / Calibration Times  
The devices require initialization times as follows:  
Ground planes and traces should NOT be used around the  
keys and the Y lines from the keys. Ground areas, traces, and  
other adjacent signal conductors that act as AC ground (such  
as Vdd and LED drive lines etc) will absorb the received key  
signals and reduce signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and thus will be  
counterproductive. Ground planes around keys will also make  
water film effects worse.  
1. From very first powerup to ability to communicate:  
2,083ms (one time event to initialize all of eeprom, or to  
recover eeprom copy from FLASH in the event of  
eeprom corruption)  
2. From powerup to ability to communicate:  
2,100 ms in the event the part is being forced to restore  
the factory defaults.  
Ground planes, if used, should be placed under or around the  
QT chip itself and the associated R’s and C’s in the circuit,  
under or around the power supply, and back to a connector, but  
nowhere else.  
3. From powerup to ability to communicate:  
36 ms in the event the setups have been changed and  
the part needs to backup the EEPROM to flash.  
4. Normal cold start to ability to communicate:  
See page 30 for an example of a 1-sided PCB layout.  
3ms (Normal initialization from any reset)  
5. Calibration time per key vs. burst spacings for 32 and 48  
enabled keys (Table below):  
2.10.1 LED Traces and Other Switching Signals  
Digital switching signals near the Y lines will induce transients  
into the acquired signals, deteriorating the SNR perfomance of  
lQ  
6
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
QT60xx6 spread spectrum operates by using a frequency chirp  
within each burst, in four different frequency bands.  
Table 2-1 Calibration Timings  
This feature is hardwired into the device and cannot be  
disabled or modified.  
Burst Spacing, Cal Time, ms, Cal Time, ms,  
ms  
32 keys  
48 keys  
*Auto  
0.50  
0.75  
1.00  
1.25  
1.50  
1.75  
2.00  
2.25  
2.50  
2.75  
3.00  
see text  
see text  
280  
384  
2.15 Detection Integrators  
387  
543  
See also Section 5.4, page 21.  
495  
702  
602  
862  
The devices feature a detection integration mechanism, which  
acts to confirm a detection in a robust fashion. The basic idea is  
to increment a per-key counter each time the key has crossed  
its threshold. When this counter reaches a preset limit the key  
is finally declared to be touched. Example: If the limit value is  
10, then the device has to detect a threshold crossing 10 times  
in succession without interruption, before the key is declared to  
be touched. If on any sample the signal is not seen to cross the  
threshold level, the counter is cleared and the process has to  
start over from the beginning.  
709  
1,021  
1,180  
1,339  
1,500  
1,658  
1,817  
1,976  
816  
923  
1031  
1138  
1245  
1352  
To the above, add 2,083ms, 36 ms, or 3ms from (1), (3),  
or (4) for the total elapsed time from reset to ability to  
report key detections.  
The QT60xx6 uses a two-tier confirmation mechanism having  
two such counters for each key. These can be thought of as  
‘inner loop’ and ‘outer loop’ confirmation counters.  
*Auto mode determination time: In Auto mode, burst  
spacings are assigned just after a reset event in a process that  
requires 30ms worst case per enabled key. Thus, if there are  
32 keys enabled, the Auto mode calculation process requires  
32 x 30ms = 960ms. Subsequent to the auto mode calculation  
time, the keys enter calibration mode. Thus, the startup time of  
the part is almost 1s longer than normal due to this  
‘determination time’, and should be factored into the startup  
delay time.  
The ‘inner’ counter is referred to as the ‘fast-DI’; this acts to  
attempt to confirm a detection via rapid successive acquisition  
bursts, at the expense of delaying the sampling of the next key.  
Each key has its own fast-DI counter and limit value; these  
limits can be changed via the Setups block on a per-key basis.  
The ‘outer’ counter is referred to as the ‘normal-DI’; this DI  
counter increments whenever the fast-DI counter has reached  
its limit value. If a fast-DI counter failed to reach its terminal  
count, the corresponding normal-DI counter is also reset. The  
normal-DI counter also has a limit value which is settable on a  
per-key basis. If a normal-DI counter reaches its terminal count,  
the corresponding key is declared to be touched and becomes  
‘active’. Note that the normal-DI can only be incremented once  
per complete keyscan cycle, i.e. more slowly, whereas the  
fast-DI is incremented ‘on the spot’ without interruption (at the  
same burst spacing timing).  
Calibration time: The calibration time is shown in Table 2-1.  
Disabled keys are subtracted from the burst sequence and thus  
the cal time will be proportionately shorter than the numbers  
shown for lower key counts. In auto burst spacing mode, the  
burst spacing time should be measured on an oscilloscope and  
used to look up the calibration time value in the table.  
Keys that cannot calibrate for some reason require 5 full cal  
cycles before they report as errors. However, the device can  
report back during this interval that the key(s) affected are still  
in calibration via status function bits. Keys in calibration also  
report back as being in error (Section 4.11) since keys in  
calibration are ‘blind’ to touch.  
The net effect of this mechanism is a multiplication of the inner  
and outer counters and hence a highly noise-resistant sensing  
method. If the inner limit is set to 5, and the outer to 3, the net  
effect is 5x3=15 successive threshold crossings to declare a  
key as active.  
2.13 Reset Input  
2.16 FMEA Tests  
The /RST pin can be used to reset the device to simulate a  
power down cycle, in order to bring the part up into a known  
state should communications with the part be lost. The pin is  
active low, and a low pulse lasting at least 10µs must be  
applied to this pin to cause a reset.  
FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) is a tool used to  
determine critical failure problems in control systems. FMEA  
analysis is being applied increasingly to a wide variety of  
applications including domestic appliances. To survive FMEA  
testing the control board must survive any single problem in a  
way that the overall product can either continue to operate in a  
safe way, or shut down.  
To provide for proper operation during power transitions the  
devices have an internal brownout detector set to 4 volts.  
The reset pin has an internal 30K ~ 60K resistor. A 2.2µF  
capacitor plus a diode to Vdd can be connected to this pin as a  
traditional reset circuit, but this is overkill.  
The most common FMEA requirements regard opens and  
shorts analysis of adjacent pins on components and  
connectors. However other criteria must usually be taken into  
account, for example complete device failure, and the use of  
redundant signaling paths.  
A Force Reset command, 0x04 is also provided which  
generates an equivalent hardware reset.  
If an external hardware reset is not used, this pin may be  
connected to Vdd or left floating.  
QT60xx6 devices incorporate special self-test features which  
allow products to pass such FMEA tests easily. These tests are  
performed during a dummy timeslot after the last enabled key.  
The sequence of tests are performed repeatedly during normal  
running once all initialization, include the burst spacing  
optimization in auto mode, is complete. During initialization, all  
2.14 Spread Spectrum Acquisitions  
QT60xx6 devices use spread-spectrum acquisition modulation.  
This has the effect of drastically reducing EMI effects on the  
signals, while reducing the level of detectable RF emissions.  
lQ  
7
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
FMEA error flags are cleared. Any FMEA errors will be reported  
as the tests are performed for the first time.  
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
X drive signal deviation  
Y line shorts to Vdd and Vss  
Y line shorts to other pins  
X to Y line shorts  
The FMEA testing is done on all enabled keys in the matrix, and  
results are reported via the serial interface through a dedicated  
status command (page 15). Disabled keys are not tested. The  
existence of an error is also reported in normal key reporting  
commands such as Report 1st Key, page 15.  
Cs capacitor checks including shorts and opens  
Vref test  
Assuming no detect events occur, the real time that elapses  
from the start of one sequence of FMEA tests to the start of the  
next, i.e. the FMEA sequence time, never exceeds 2s.  
Other tests incorporated into the devices include:  
ƒ
A test for signal levels against a preset min value (LSL  
setup, see Section 5.15, page 23). If any signal level falls  
below this level, an error flag is generated.  
Also, since the devices only communicate in slave mode, the  
host can determine immediately if the QT has suffered a  
catastrophic failure. The QT can also participate in  
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
CRC communications checks on all critical command and  
data transmissions.  
cross-checking the integrity of the host controller, and even  
reset the host if no communications have been heard from it in  
a short while (via the LED pin output, page 23).  
‘Last-command’ command to verify that an instruction was  
properly received.  
The FMEA tests performed are:  
Loss of communications reset of the host controller.  
ƒ
X drive line shorts to Vdd and Vss  
X drive line shorts to other pins  
For those applications requiring it, Quantum can supply sample  
FMEA test data on special request.  
ƒ
lQ  
8
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
2.17 Wiring  
Table 2.2 - Pin Listing  
Applies to all devices  
Pin  
1
2
Function  
I/O  
I/O  
O
Comments  
If Unused, Connect To..  
Leave open  
MOSI  
MISO  
SCK  
SPI data input  
SPI data output  
SPI clock input  
Reset low;  
Leave open  
Leave open  
3
I/O  
4
/RST  
I
Vdd  
has internal 30K ~ 60K pull-up  
Power, +5V  
5
6
7
8
9
Vdd  
Vss  
XT2  
XT1  
Rx  
P
P
O
I
-
-
Supply ground  
Leave open  
16 MHz 3-terminal resonator  
UART receive data input  
-
I
Vdd  
UART transmit data;  
10  
11  
12  
Tx  
WS  
O
I
Leave open  
has internal 20K ~ 50K pull-up  
Wake-up from sleep input and/or sync input  
Vdd  
-
Sample output. Also - When forced high before  
SMP  
I/O  
reset, induces ‘factory defaults’ into all setups.  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
27  
28  
29  
30  
31  
32  
33  
Y3A  
Y2A  
Y1A  
Y0A  
Vdd  
Vss  
X0  
X1  
X2  
X3  
X4  
X5  
X6  
X7  
Vdd  
Vss  
Vdd  
Y0B  
Y1B  
Y2B  
Y3B  
I
I
I
Y line connection  
Y line connection  
Y line connection  
Y line connection  
Power, +5V  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
-
I
P
P
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
P
P
P
I
Supply ground  
-
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
X matrix drive line  
Power, +5V  
Supply ground  
Power, +5V  
Y line connection  
Y line connection  
Y line connection  
Y line connection  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
-
-
-
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
Leave open  
I
I
I
34  
Y4A  
I
Y line connection  
Leave open  
35  
Y4B  
I
Y line connection  
36  
37  
38  
39  
40  
Y5A  
Y5B  
Vdd  
Vss  
I
I
Y line connection  
Leave open  
Y line connection  
P
P
O
Power, +5V  
-
-
Supply ground  
Status output / LED indicator drive  
LED  
Leave open  
1= Comms ready;  
41  
DRDY  
O
-
has internal 20K ~ 50K pull-up  
42  
43  
Vref  
S_Sync  
I
O
0.05V nominal +/-10% via external divider  
Scope Sync: Synchronization test signal  
-
Leave open  
SPI slave select;  
44  
/SS  
I
Leave open  
has internal 20K ~ 50K pull-up  
lQ  
9
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Figure 2.7 Wiring Diagram  
100nF  
100nF  
VDD  
100nF  
Vunreg  
+5V VREG  
+
+
4.7uF  
4.7uF  
26  
25  
24  
23  
X7  
X6  
X5  
X4  
X3  
X2  
X1  
X0  
X7  
X6  
X5  
X4  
X3  
X2  
X1  
X0  
4
RST  
RX7  
RX3  
1K  
1K  
RX6  
RX2  
1K  
1K  
SCOPE  
43  
S_SYNC  
SS  
RX5  
RX1  
1K  
1K  
44  
1
/SS  
MOSI  
MISO  
SCLK  
RX4  
RX0  
1K  
1K  
22  
21  
20  
19  
MOSI  
MISO  
SCK  
2
3
9
10  
11  
Rx  
Tx  
Rx  
Tx  
16  
30  
Y0  
Y1  
Y2  
Y3  
Y4  
Y5  
Y0A  
Y0B  
Y1A  
Y1B  
Y2A  
Y2B  
Y3A  
Y3B  
Y4A  
Y4B  
Y5A  
Y5B  
RY0 1K  
RY1 1K  
RY2 1K  
RY3 1K  
RY4 1K  
RY5 1K  
CS0  
CS1  
CS2  
CS3  
CS4  
CS5  
4.7nF  
4.7nF  
4.7nF  
4.7nF  
4.7nF  
4.7nF  
WAKE  
SYNC  
WS  
15  
31  
QT60326  
QT60486  
41  
40  
DRDY  
DRDY  
14  
32  
LED  
4.7K  
13  
33  
8
7
XT1  
XT2  
16 MHz 3-TERM  
RESONATOR  
Note 1  
Note 1  
Note 1  
Note 1  
34  
35  
36  
37  
6
18  
39  
28  
Vss  
Vss  
Vss  
Vss  
10K  
100  
VDD  
Note 1: Leave Y4A, Y4B, Y5A, Y5B  
unconnected for QT60326  
RS5 RS4 RS3 RS2 RS1 RS0  
Note:  
Use either UART or SPI comm port but not both. Device defaults to SPI communications but if it receives a UART byte at  
any time, locks into UART mode instead. See Table 2.2 for connections when pins are unused.  
lQ  
10  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
If the host desires to send a byte to the QT it should behave as  
follows:  
3 Serial Communications  
These devices can use either SPI or UART communications  
modes; it cannot use both at the same time. The part defaults to  
SPI mode unless it receives a byte over the UART interface. If a  
UART byte is received at any time, the UART interface is  
enabled and the SPI interface is totally disabled until after the  
next device reset.  
1. If DRDY is low, wait  
2. If DRDY is high: send a command to QT  
3. Wait 20µs (time S5 in Figure 3-3: DRDY is guaranteed to  
go low before this 20µs expires)  
4. Wait until DRDY is high (it may already be high again)  
5. Send next command or a null byte 0x00 to QT  
The host device always initiates communications sequences;  
the QT is incapable of chattering data back to the host. This is  
intentional for FMEA purposes so that the host always has total  
control over the communications with the QT60xx6. In SPI  
mode the device is a slave, so that even return data following a  
command is controlled by the host. In UART mode, the device  
will still only respond back to the host after a command, but the  
responses are not controlled by the host.  
It takes up to 1ms for DRDY to go high again after a command,  
except for a few commands listed in Section 4:  
0x01 (Setups load):  
0x0E (Get eeprom CRC):  
0x16 (Sleep):  
<20ms  
<20ms  
<5ms  
Other DRDY specs:  
Min time DRDY is low:  
1µs  
A command from the host always ends in a response of some  
kind from the QT. Some transmission types from the host or the  
QT employ a CRC check byte to provide for robust  
communications.  
Min time DRDY is low after reset:  
1ms  
3.2 SPI Communications  
SPI mode is selected by default after reset. There is no other  
configuration required to make the device operate in SPI mode.  
If a UART byte occurs before or even after SPI transmissions  
have taken place, the device will switch to UART mode and  
remain in that mode until the device is reset.  
A DRDY line is provided that handshakes transmissions.  
Generally this is needed by the host from the QT to ensure that  
transmissions are not sent when the QT is busy or has not yet  
processed a prior command. In UART mode this line is  
bi-directional, and the QT can use it to suspend transmissions  
back to the host if the host is busy.  
Initiating or Resetting Communications: After a reset, or,  
should communications be lost due to noise or out-of-sequence  
reception, the host should send a 0x0f (return last command)  
command repeatedly until the compliment of 0x0f, i.e. 0xf0, is  
received back. Then, the host can resume normal run mode  
communications from a clean start.  
Figure 3-1 Basic SPI Connections  
Host MCU  
QT60xx6  
Poll rate: The typical poll rate in normal ‘run’ operation should  
be no faster than once per 10ms; even 50ms is more than fast  
enough to extract status data using the 0x06 command (report  
first key: see page 15) in most situations. Streaming commands  
like the 0x0d command (dump setups: see page 15) or  
multi-byte response commands like 0x07 or 0x08 can and  
should pace at the maximum possible rate.  
P_IN  
P_OUT  
SCK  
MISO  
MOSI  
DRDY  
SS  
SCK  
MISO  
MOSI  
Run Poll Sequence: In normal run mode the host should limit  
traffic with a minimalist control structure (see also Section 4.23).  
The host should just send a 0x06 command until something  
requires a deeper state inspection. If there is more than one key  
in detect, the host should use 0x07 to find which additional keys  
are in detect. If there is an error, the host should ascertain the  
error type based on commands 0x0b and 0x0c and take  
appropriate action. Issuing a 0x07 command all the time is  
wasteful of bandwidth, requires more host processor time, and  
actually conveys less information (no error flags are sent via a  
0x07 command).  
Figure 3-2 Filtered SPI Connections  
Host MCU  
QT60xx6 Circuit  
X drives  
P_IN  
P_OUT1  
SCK  
DRDY  
Xn  
Yn  
Ra  
Ra  
Ra  
Ra  
(1 of 8  
Ca  
shown)  
SS  
Ca  
Ca  
SCK  
MISO  
MISO  
MOSI  
3.1 DRDY Pin  
Ca  
Y Lines  
(1 of 6  
DRDY is an open-drain output (in SPI mode) or bidirectional pin  
(in UART mode) with an internal 20K ~ 50K pull-up resistor.  
MOSI  
Ra  
1K  
shown)  
Ca  
Serial communications pacing is controlled by this pin. In either  
UART or SPI mode, the host is permitted to send data only  
when DRDY is high. In UART mode, the device additionally will  
hold up responses to the host if DRDY is being held low by the  
host. After a byte is received DRDY will always go low even if  
only for a few microseconds; during this period the host should  
not send data. Therefore, after each byte transmission the host  
should first check that DRDY is high again.  
P_OUT2  
RESET  
1nF  
Recommended Values of Ra & Ca  
SPI Clock Rate  
Ra  
Ca  
4MHz  
680  
33pF  
270pF  
470pF  
1nF  
400kHz  
1,000  
2,200  
2,200  
100kHz  
50kHz  
lQ  
11  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
SPI communications operates in slave mode only, and obeys  
DRDY control signaling. The clocking is as follows:  
New commands attempted during intermediate byte transfers  
are ignored.  
Clock idle:  
High  
Wake operation: The device can be put into sleep mode with a  
serial command, 0x16 (page 16) and then be awakened later  
with a 10µs minimum low level on the WS pin. With the /SS line  
tied to WS, the host can simply toggle /SS low for 10µs  
minimum to wake the part; the host should not send an actual  
SPI byte to prevent the device from seeing a byte it cannot  
properly interpret due to timing errors during wakeup.  
Clock shift out edge:  
Clock data in edge:  
Max clock rate:  
Falling  
Rising  
4MHz  
SPI mode requires 5 signals to operate:  
MOSI - Master out / Slave in data pin; used as an input for data  
from the host (master). This pin should be connected to the  
MOSI (DO) pin of the host device.  
The recommended method to reestablish communications after  
Wake from Sleep is to send the QT device a 0x0F ('Get Last  
Command' command) repeatedly until the correct response  
comes back (the command's own compliment, i.e. 0xF0).  
MISO - Master in / Slave out data pin; used as an output for  
data to the host. This pin should be connected to the MISO  
(DI) pin of the host. MISO floats when /SS is high to allow  
multi-drop communications along with other slave parts.  
SPI Line Noise: In some designs it is necessary to run SPI  
lines over ribbon cable across a lengthy distance on a PCB.  
This can introduce ringing, ground bounce, and other noise  
problems which can introduce false SPI clocking or false data.  
Simple RC networks and slower data rates are helpful to  
resolve these issues as shown in Figure 3-2.  
SCK - SPI clock - input only clock from host. The host must shift  
out data on the falling SCK edge; the QT60xx6 clocks data in  
on the rising edge. The QT60xx6 likewise shifts data out on  
the falling edge of SCK back to the host so that the host can  
shift the data in on the rising edge. Important: SCK must  
idle high; it should never float.  
CRC checks have also been added to critical commands in  
order to detect transmission errors to a high level of certainty.  
/SS - Slave select - input only; acts as a framing signal to the  
sensor from the host. /SS must be low before and during  
reception of data from the host. It must not go high again  
until the SCK line has returned high; /SS must idle high. This  
pin includes an internal pull-up resistor of 20K ~ 50K. When  
/SS is high, MISO floats.  
3.3 UART Communications  
See also SR setup parameter, page 23.  
UART mode is selected as soon as the QT receives any data  
on the UART Rx pin. There is no other configuration required to  
make the device operate in UART mode. Once UART is  
selected after a power-up, the device cannot switch to SPI  
mode unless the device is reset.  
DRDY - Data Ready - active-high - indicates to the host that the  
QT is ready to send or receive data. This pin idles high. This  
pin includes an internal pull-up resistor of 20K ~ 50K. In SPI  
mode this pin is an output only (i.e. open drain with internal  
pull-up).  
UART mode communications functions in the same basic way  
as SPI communications. The Baud rate is adjusted by means of  
setup parameter ‘SR’ (page 23). Once a new Baud rate has  
been set, the device must be reset for the new rate to take  
effect.  
The MISO pin on the QT floats in 3-state mode between bytes  
when /SS is high. This facilitates multiple devices on one SPI  
bus.  
The major difference with SPI mode is that the UART mode is  
asynchronous and so the host does not clock the QT. No  
framing /SS or clock signal is required, simplifying the interface  
greatly. Return data is sent from the QT back to the host when  
the data is ready.  
Null Bytes: When the QT responds to a command with one or  
more response bytes, the host should issue a null commands  
(0x00) to get the response bytes back. The host should not  
send new commands until all the responses are accepted back  
from the QT from the prior command via nulls.  
Figure 3-3 SPI Slave-Only Mode Timing (Fosc = 16MHz)  
S1: m125ns  
S2: [20ns  
S3: m25ns  
S4: [20ns  
S9: m250ns  
S5: [20µs S6: m1µs  
S7: m125ns  
S8: m125ns  
S6  
high via pullup-R  
S1  
DRDY  
(from QT)  
S5  
/SS  
(from Host)  
S3  
S9  
CLK  
(from Host)  
S7  
5
S8  
1
Data shifts in to QT on rising edge  
MOSI  
?
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
7
7
6
6
4
3
2
0
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
(Data from Host)  
{Command byte}  
Data shifts out of QT on falling edge  
{optional 2nd command byte}  
{null byte or next command to get QT response}  
S2  
S4  
3-state  
MISO  
(Data from QT)  
3-state  
?
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
?
5
4
3
2
1
0
?
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
data response  
lQ  
12  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Multi-drop capability: Tx floats within 10µs after each  
transmitted byte. This line can thus be shared with other UART  
based peripherals. Tx includes an internal 20K ~ 50K pull-up  
resistor to Vdd to prevent the line from floating down.  
Figure 3-5 UART Connections  
Host MCU QT60xx6  
Rx Tx  
Wake operation: The device can be put into sleep mode with a  
serial command, 0x16 (page 16) and then be awaked with a  
dummy byte from the host, if the Rx and WS pins are connected  
together. The first received UART byte from the host after a  
wake should be a 0xFF; any other byte value could create a  
framing error. The start bit of the 0xFF forms a convenient  
narrow wake pulse without being long enough to be interpreted  
as a byte during the wake operation.  
Rx  
DRDY  
Tx  
P_IN  
Simple RC networks and slower data rates are helpful to  
resolve these issues. CRC checks have been added to critical  
commands in order to detect transmission errors to a high level  
of certainty.  
The recommended method to reestablish communications after  
Wake from Sleep is to send a 0x0F ('Get Last Command'  
command) repeatedly until the correct response comes back  
(the command's own compliment, i.e. 0xF0).  
UART Timing Parameters: UART timings are as shown in  
Figure 3-4. Delay timings for parameters U2 and U3 are  
dependent on the specific command. See Section 4.  
Rx - Receive async data. This pin is an input only.  
Tx - Transmit async data. Drives out when transmitting but  
floats within 10µs of the end of the stop bit, to allow bussing  
with several similar parts. Tx should idle high, and it includes  
an internal 20K ~ 50K resistor to Vdd. Tx is push-pull when  
transmitting data for good drive characteristics.  
4 Control Commands  
Refer to Table 4.2, page 18 for further details.  
Suggested command sequencing: See Section 4.23, page 16.  
UART transmission parameters are:  
The devices feature a set of commands which are used for  
control and status reporting. The host device has to send the  
command to the QT60xx6 and await a response.  
Baud rate:  
Start bits:  
Data bits:  
Parity:  
9600 ~ 115,200  
1
8
None  
1
SPI mode: While waiting the host should delay for 20 µs from  
the end of the command, then start to check if DRDY is or goes  
high. If it is high, then the host master can clock out the  
resulting byte(s).  
Stop bits:  
DRDY in UART mode: Section 3.1 applies.  
DRDY is bi-directional in UART mode. DRDY can be pulled  
down by either the QT or the host (wire-AND), so that either  
device can be inhibited from sending data until the other is  
ready. The host should obey this control line or transmission  
errors can occur. The host should grant a 10µs grace period  
after clamping DRDY low in which it can still accept the start bit  
of a transmission from the QT.  
UART mode: After the command is sent, the QT will send back  
the response usually starting within 1ms. The host can clamp  
DRDY low (wire-AND logic) to inhibit a response if the host is  
not able to receive the transmission for a while.  
Command timeouts: Where a command involves multi-byte  
transfers in either direction, each byte must be transmitted  
within 100ms of the prior byte or the command will timeout. No  
error is reported for this condition; the command simply ceases.  
As explained in Section 3.1, DRDY is not clamped low  
immediately after the QT receives a byte; there can be up to a  
20µs delay from the end of the stop bit before DRDY goes low.  
Sampling of DRDY by the host should occur 20µs after the byte  
has been fully sent; if DRDY is already high at this point, or  
becomes high, then it is clear to send.  
Word return byte order: Where a word or long word is  
returned (16 or 24 bit number or bit pattern) the low order byte  
is sent or received first.  
Response delays: The device requires processing time to  
complete command requests and respond with an answer to  
the host. These timings are the same for SPI and UART modes.  
Most commands respond with data in 1ms maximum; timing  
parameters U2 and U3 in Figure 3-4 will thus be 1ms maximum  
for these commands. The exceptions are:  
Null Bytes: Unlike SPI mode, there is no reason to send null  
bytes to the QT in UART mode. The QT device will respond to  
commands with data when ready, subject to the DRDY line  
being high.  
UART Noise: In some designs it is necessary to run Tx and Rx  
over a lengthy distance. This can introduce ringing, ground  
bounce, and other noise problems which can corrupt data.  
0x01 (Setups upload):  
<20ms  
<20ms  
0x0E (Get eeprom CRC):  
0x16 (Sleep):  
<5ms  
Figure 3-4 UART Timing  
4.1 Null Command - 0x00  
Used to shift back data from the QT in SPI  
mode. Since the host device is always the  
master in SPI mode, and data is clocked in  
both directions, the Null command is  
U1: <=20us U2, U3: See text; U4: <10us  
DRDY (handshake)  
Rx (command from host)  
*
required frequently to act as a placeholder  
where the desire is to only get data back  
from the QT, not to send a command.  
floats high  
floats high  
U4  
*
Tx (response to host)  
U3  
U2  
Stop bit  
*
U1  
lQ  
13  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
In SPI communications, when the QT60xx6 responds to a  
command with one or more response bytes, the host can issue  
a new command instead of a null on the last byte shift  
operation.  
The host can monitor the progress of the recalibration by  
checking the status byte, using command 0x05, during the  
course of the calibration.  
A key will show an error flag (using command 0x8k) indicating  
the key has failed calibration if its signal is too noisy or if its  
signal is below the low signal threshold. A key is deemed too  
noisy if, at the end of calibration, the signal is no longer  
between its computed negative hysteresis level and positive  
thresholds.  
New commands during intermediate byte shift-out operations  
are ignored, and null bytes should always be used.  
4.2 Enter Setups Mode - 0x01  
This command is used to initiate the Setups block transfer from  
Host to QT.  
4.4 Force Reset - 0x04  
The command must be repeated 2x within 100ms or the  
command will fail; the repeating command must be sequential  
without any intervening command. After the 2nd 0x01 from the  
host, the QT will stop scanning keys and reply with the  
character 0xFE. In SPI mode this character must be shifted out  
by sending a null (0x00) from the host. This command  
suspends normal sensing starting from the receipt of the  
second 0x01. A failure of the command will cause a timeout.  
The command must be repeated 2x within 100ms or the  
command will fail; the repeating command must be sequential  
without any intervening command. After the 2nd 0x04, the  
device will reply with the character 0xFB just prior to executing  
the reset operation.  
After any reset, the device automatically performs a full key  
calibration on all keys.  
Each byte in the block must arrive at the QT no later than  
100ms after the previous one or a timeout will occur. Any  
timeout will cause the device to cancel the block load and go  
back to normal operation.  
The host can monitor the progress of the reset to see when the  
chip is operating again by checking the status byte for  
recalibration, by repeatedly issuing command 0x05 (see below).  
If no response comes back, the command was not received and  
the device should preferably be reset by the host just in case  
there are any other problems.  
4.5 General Status - 0x05  
This command returns the general status bits. This command is  
not as useful as the 0x06 command for routine use. The bits  
returned from 0x05 are as follows:  
If 0xFE is received by the host from the QT, then the host  
should begin to transmit the block of Setups to the QT. The  
DRDY line handshakes the data. The delay between bytes can  
be as short as 10µs but the host can make it longer than this if  
required, but no more than 100ms. The last two bytes the host  
should send is the CRC for the block of data only (ie the CRC  
should not include the command in its calculation).  
BIT  
7
Description  
Reserved  
6
1= communications failure  
1= FMEA failure detected  
1= eeprom corrupt  
1= Mains sync error  
1= calibration has failed on an  
enabled key or, an LSL failure  
1= any key in calibration  
1= any key in detect  
5
4
3
After the block transfer the QT will check the CRC and respond  
with 0x00 if there was an error. Regardless, it will program the  
internal eeprom. If the CRC was correct it will reply with a  
second 0xFE after the eeprom was programmed.  
2
1
0
If there was an error in the block transfer the device will restore  
the last known good Setups from Flash memory the next time  
the device is reset. However until that point, the device will  
attempt to operate using the new Setups block even if it is  
corrupt. Note that some Setups do not take effect until the part  
is reset (e.g. Baud rate).  
Notes:  
Bit 6: Set if a communications failure. This can be reset by  
sending command 0x0f (“last command command”) repeatedly  
until a response of 0xf0 is received.  
Bit 5: Set if an FMEA error was detected during operation. See  
Section 2.16. A further amplification of what the FMEA error  
consisted of is described in Section 4.12.  
At the end of the full block load sequence, the device restarts  
sensing without recalibration. Most of the setups in the block  
will take effect immediately, but it is important to reset the  
device after a block load to make all the changes effective  
and permanent. See Section 4.4.  
Bit 4: Set if eeprom corruption was detected. If this happens, it  
is recommended that the device be reset. If a reset does not  
cure the problem, the Setups block should be reloaded (Section  
4.2) and the device reset again.  
Command response timing: Responses to the bytes in the  
setups block (both DRDY and return byte at the end) by the  
part can take as long as 20ms each.  
Bit 3: Set if there was a mains sync error, for example there  
was no Sync signal detected within the allotted 100ms amount  
of time. See Section 5.12. This condition is not necessarily fatal  
to operation, however the device will operate very slowly and  
may suffer from noise problems if the sync feature was required  
for noise reasons.  
4.3 Cal All - 0x03  
This command must be repeated 2x within 100ms or the  
command will fail; the repeating command must be sequential  
without any intervening command.  
Bit 2: Reports either a cal failure (failed in 5 sequential  
attempts) on any enabled key or, that an enabled key has a  
very low signal reference value, lower than the user-settable  
LSL value (Section 5.15).  
After the 2nd 0x03 from the host, the QT will reply with the  
character 0xFC. Shortly thereafter the device will recalibrate all  
keys and restart operation.  
Bit 1: Set if any key is in the process of calibrating.  
Bit 0: Set if any key is in detection (touched).  
If no 0xFC comes back, the command was not properly  
received and the device should preferably be reset.  
lQ  
14  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
A CRC byte is appended to the response to the 0x05 command;  
this CRC folds in the command value 0x05 itself initially.  
4.10 Report Deltas for All Keys - 0x0a  
Returns the delta signal values with respect to the reference  
levels for all keys. Each value is an 8-bit unsigned number  
representing {reference - signal}; negative results are truncated  
to zero, i.e. those where the signal rises above the reference  
value. This command returns 48 bytes. No CRC is appended to  
the return, so the data should not be considered secure. The  
byte for key 0 is returned first.  
4.6 Report 1st Key - 0x06  
Reports the first or only key to be touched, plus indicates if  
there are yet other keys that are also touched.  
The return bits are as follows:  
BIT  
7
Description  
If the delta value attempts to exceed 255, the result is limited to  
255.  
1= more than 1 key is active  
1= any error condition is present  
Key bit 5  
6
5
4.11 Report Error Flags for All Keys - 0x0b  
Returns six bytes which show error flags as a bitfield for all  
keys. Key 0 reports in bit 0 of the first byte returned; key 47 is  
reported in bit 7 of the last byte returned. See Table 4.1 and  
Table 5.3, page 25.  
4
Key bit 4  
3
Key bit 3  
2
Key bit 2  
1
Key bit 1  
0
Key bit 0  
One type of error reported with this command is the signal  
being below its limit point (Section 5.15).  
Bits 5..0 encode for the first detected key in range 0..47. If no  
keys are active, these 6 bits are all 1’s (0x3F, 63 decimal when  
bits 6, 7 are masked off).  
A key that is in calibration also is reported as an error in the  
response since it cannot operate as a key while it is calibrating.  
This type of error flag is self-cleared once the key exits from  
calibration. A calibration error flag due to an actual cal error can  
be found thereafter using command 0x8k (Section 4.21).  
If 2 or more keys in detection, bit 7 is set and the host should  
interrogate the part via the 0x07 command to read out all the  
key detections. This one command should be the dominant  
interrogation command in the host interface; further commands  
can be issued if the response to 0x06 warrants it. For example,  
if there is an error flag, command 0x05 can be sent to find the  
cause. If bit 7 is set, the command 0x07 can be sent to find  
further keys in detection.  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x0b itself initially.  
Note that these error bits exclude FMEA failure modes.  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x06 itself initially.  
4.12 Report FMEA Status - 0x0c  
Returns one byte which shows the FMEA error status of the X  
and/or Y matrix scan lines. If an X line is in error, the  
corresponding bit (below) is set. If a Y line has an FMEA error,  
the entire field is set to ones (0xFF).  
4.7 Report Detections for All Keys - 0x07  
Returns six bytes which indicate all keys in detection if any, as a  
bitfield. Key 0 reports in bit 0 of the first byte returned; key 47 is  
reported in bit 7 of the last byte returned. See Table 4.1 and  
Table 5.3, page 25.  
Due to the physics of matrix wiring, a fault on any Y line will  
cause faults to be reported on all X lines as well. It is not  
possible to separate out these faults for reporting purposes.  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x07 itself initially.  
b7  
b6  
b5  
b4  
b3  
b2  
b1  
b0  
X7  
X6  
X5  
X4  
X3  
X2  
X1  
X0  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x0c itself initially.  
Table 4.1 Bit fields for multiple key reporting and  
key numbering  
Key #  
Bit Number (X line #)  
For more information see Section 2.16.  
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
0
0
7
6
5
4
3
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
4.13 Dump Setups Block - 0x0d  
This command causes the device to dump the entire internal  
Setups block back to the host.  
15  
23  
31  
39  
47  
14  
22  
30  
38  
46  
13  
21  
29  
37  
45  
12  
20  
28  
36  
44  
11  
19  
27  
35  
43  
10  
18  
26  
34  
42  
9
8
17  
25  
33  
41  
16  
24  
32  
40  
If the transfer is not paced faster than 100ms per byte the  
transfer will be aborted and the device will time out. This can  
happen if the host is also controlling DRDY.  
During the transfer, sensing is halted. Sensing is resumed after  
the command has finished.  
4.8 Report Signals for All Keys - 0x08  
Returns the raw signal values for all keys. Each value is a 16-bit  
number, and there are 48 words returned. No CRC is appended  
to the return, so the data should not be considered secure. The  
low byte of key 0 is returned first.  
A 16-bit CRC is appended to the response; this CRC is the  
same as the Setups table CRC and is sent LSByte first.  
4.14 Eeprom CRC - 0x0e  
4.9 Report References for All Keys - 0x09  
Returns the reference values for all keys. Each value is a 16-bit  
number, and there are 48 words returned. No CRC is appended  
to the return, so the data should not be considered secure. The  
low byte of key 0 is returned first.  
This command returns the 16-bit CRC calculated from the  
eeprom contents. The CRC is sent back LSByte first. The CRC  
sent back is the same CRC that is appended to the end of the  
Setups block.  
lQ  
15  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
This command requires substantial amounts of time to process  
and return a result; it is not recommended to use this command  
except perhaps on startup or very infrequently.  
A recommended method to reestablish communications after  
Wake from Sleep is to send the QT device a 0x0F ('Last  
Command' command) repeatedly until the correct response  
comes back (the command's own compliment, i.e. 0xF0).  
Command response timing: The response to this command  
If Sync mode is also enabled, the part will assume the wakeup  
pulse is also a sync signal, and resume scanning starting with  
Key 0 (which is not necessarily where it left off scanning when it  
went to sleep).  
can take as long as 20ms.  
No CRC is appended to the response.  
4.15 Return Last Command - 0x0f  
WS Note: The device checks the WS pin and waits for it to  
return high before the part actually begins sleep. There is a  
timeout limit on this wait of ~2s; if the WS pin has not gone high  
after this time, the part will reset itself.  
This command returns the last received command character, in  
1’s complement (inverted). If the command is repeated twice or  
more, it will return the inversion of 0x0f, 0xf0.  
If a prior command was not valid or was corrupted, it will return  
the bad command as well. This command also will reset the  
communications error flag (Section 4.5).  
4.20 Data Set for One Key - 0x4k  
Returns the data set for key k, where k = {0..47} To form this  
command, the key number is logical-OR’d into the byte 0x40.  
This command returns 5 bytes, in the sequence:  
No CRC is appended to the response.  
Signal (2 bytes)  
4.16 Internal Code - 0x10  
Reference (2 bytes)  
This command returns an internal code, as a value from 0..255.  
Normal Detect Integrator (1 byte)  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x10 itself initially.  
Signal and Reference are returned LSByte first.  
No CRC is appended.  
4.17 Internal Code - 0x11  
This command returns an internal code word (3 bytes) of the  
part for factory diagnostic purposes.  
4.21 Status for Key ‘k’ - 0x8k  
Returns a bitfield for key ‘k’ where k is from {0..47}. The bitfield  
indicates as follows:  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x11 itself initially.  
BIT  
7
Description  
1= reserved  
4.18 Internal Code - 0x12  
1= reserved  
6
This command returns an internal code word (2 bytes) of the  
part for factory diagnostic purposes.  
1= reserved  
5
1= key is enabled  
4
1= key is in detect  
3
No CRC is appended to the response.  
1= signal ref < LSL (low signal error)  
1= key is undergoing calibration  
1= cal on this key failed 5 times  
2
1
4.19 Sleep - 0x16  
0
The command must be repeated 2x within 100ms or the  
command will fail. After the 2nd 0x16 from the host, the device  
will reply with the character 0xE9, then sleep. On wake from  
Sleep, the device will issue a 0x01 character back to the host.  
Bit 2 - LSL notes: See page 23.  
A CRC byte is appended to the response; this CRC folds in the  
command 0x8k itself initially.  
Communications response timing: Responses to this  
command may take from a few microseconds up to 5ms,  
depending on what the device was doing at the moment the  
command arrived.  
4.22 Cal Key ‘k’ - 0xck  
This command must be repeated 2x within 100ms or the  
command will fail; the repeating command must be sequential  
without any intervening command.  
After the response, the device will enter low power sleep mode  
until awakened by a >10µs low level on the WS pin. When it  
wakes, it will resume current operation in the state from which it  
exited and attempt to send a 0x01 code back to the host to  
signal that it is ready to communicate again.  
This command functions the same as 0x03 CAL command  
except this command only affects one key ‘k’ where ‘k’ is from 0  
to 47.  
The chosen key ‘k’ is recalibrated in its native timeslot; normal  
running of the part is not interrupted and all other keys operate  
correctly throughout. This command is for use only during  
normal operation to try to recover a single key that has failed or  
is not calibrated correctly.  
During Sleep the DRDY pin is held low, and released once the  
device awakes and is ready to return the 0x01 code.  
The WS pin can be connected to Rx or /SS to provide a ‘free’  
wakeup connection from the host controller. In SPI mode with  
/SS tied to WS, a /SS toggle (any low pulse of at least 10µs)  
under software control from the host controller without an actual  
SPI transmission will wake the device.  
Returns the 1’s compliment of 0xck just before the key is  
recalibrated.  
In UART mode, with Rx tied to WS a 0xFF byte should be sent  
to provide a pulse on WS. The start bit of the 0xFF forms a  
convenient, narrow wake pulse without being long enough to be  
interpreted as a byte during the wake operation.  
4.23 Command Sequencing  
To interface the device with a host, the flow diagram of Figure  
4-1, page 17, is suggested. The actual settings of the Setups  
block used should normally just be the default settings except  
lQ  
16  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Figure 4-1 Suggested Communications Flow  
Power On or Hardware Reset  
0x0F  
Get  
'Last command'  
0x0E  
Setups CRC  
Check  
0x01  
Load Setups  
Block  
0x04  
Force Reset  
0xF0  
returned  
Setups CRC  
failed 1x  
0xF0 not  
returned  
CRC is OK  
No key,  
no error  
Setups CRC failed 2x  
0x06  
Report 1st Key  
~10ms Delay  
0x05  
Get  
General Status  
Any Error Flag  
(highest  
precedence)  
2 Keys  
Detected  
m
0x0F  
Get  
Only 1 Key  
in Detect  
Comms  
Error  
'Last command'  
(clear error)  
0x07  
Report all  
detections  
Keys OK  
eeprom corrupt, or  
calibration fail, or  
FMEA fail, or  
Internal Host  
Processes  
multiple errors  
resolvable  
error  
Key Detection(s) Processing  
Error Handling  
Comms with  
QT  
FMEA Calibration  
Error  
Stuck Key  
Detected  
Error  
Note: CRC errors or incorrect  
responses should cause  
each transmission to retry  
Done  
0x0B  
0x0C  
Get  
FMEA Status  
0xck  
Cal Key 'k'  
Get  
Errors for All  
Keys  
where changes are specifically required, such as for sensitivity,  
timing, or AKS changes.  
Error handling takes place whenever an error flag is detected,  
or the device stops communicating (not shown). The error  
handling procedure is up to the designer, however normally this  
would entail shutting down the product if the error is serious  
enough (for example, a key that will not calibrate, or a FMEA  
class error).  
The circles in this drawing are communications interchanges  
between host and sensor. The rectangles are internal host  
states or processing events. If any communications exchange  
fails, either the device will fail to respond within the allotted time,  
or the response CRC will be incorrect, or the response will be  
out of context (the response is clearly not for the intended  
command). In these cases the host should just repeat the  
command.  
Normally it is not required to reload the setups, since the device  
itself stores a backup copy of these in Flash memory should the  
eeprom become corrupt. However the host should reset the QT  
so that the device will copy the Flash setups to eeprom, and  
then the QT should check that the eeprom CRC code is correct.  
Only if this fails should the eeprom be reloaded by the host.  
One exception to this rule is just after powerup, since a CRC  
error in the eeprom setups at this point is clearly a critical error  
that would require reloading. This happens at the factory, during  
the very first powerup cycle.  
The control flow will spend 99% of its time alternating between  
the two states within the dashed rectangle. If a key is detected,  
the control flow will enter ‘Key Detection Processing’.  
Stuck Key Detection processing (0xck) is optional, since the  
device contains the max on-duration timeout function and can  
therefore recalibrate the stuck key automatically. However, the  
host can recalibrate stuck keys with greater flexibility if the  
recalibration timeouts are set to infinite and the host recalibrates  
them under specific conditions.  
The ‘Last Command’ command can be used at any time to clear  
comms error flags and to resynchronize failed communications,  
for example due to timing errors etc.  
lQ  
17  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Table 4.2 Command Summary  
Page  
Hex  
Name  
Description  
#/Cmd # rtnd Rtn range CRC  
Notes  
Flushes pending data from QT; one required to extract each response  
0x00 Null command  
Used to get data back in SPI mode  
1
1
0..0xFF  
-
13  
byte.  
First 0xFE issued when ready to get data, second 0xFE issued when  
all loaded and burned; else timeout.  
If 2 commands not received in 100ms, times out and no response is  
issued. Part will timeout if each byte not received within 100ms of  
previous byte.  
Enter Setups, stop sensing; followed by block  
load of binary Setups of length ‘nn’. Command  
must be repeated 2x consecutively without any  
intervening command in 100ms to execute.  
Sensing auto-restarts, however, the device  
should be reset after the block load to ensure  
all new setups will take effect.  
0xFE  
+ 0xFE  
If CRC failure, returns 0x00 instead of 0xFE  
Enter Setups  
2 + nn  
+ 2  
2
0x01  
OR  
16 Data block length is ‘nn’ + 2 (CRC-16). LSL and CRC should be sent  
low byte first. A CRC of 0x0000 is also acceptable in which case  
the CRC is not checked.  
14  
mode  
0xFE  
+ 0x00 (err)  
Internal EEPROM will update regardless of CRC health, but, if the  
CRC is bad, the EEPROM will be declared invalid and thus on  
reset the EEPROM will be restored from flash backup, overwriting  
the desired (but corrupt) new setups.  
Force device to recalibrate all keys; reenters  
RUN mode afterwards automatically; 0x03  
must be repeated 2x consecutively without any  
intervening command in 100ms to execute  
Force device to reset. Command must be  
repeated 2x consecutively without any  
intervening command in 100ms to execute  
Returns 1’s complement of command to acknowledge cmd once the  
cal has been initiated.  
0x03 CAL all  
2
2
1
1
0xFC  
0xFB  
-
14  
14  
If 2 commands not received in 100ms, times out and no response is  
issued.  
Returns 1’s complement of command to acknowledge command prior  
0x04 Force reset  
-
to reset. If 2 commands not received in 100ms, times out and no  
response is issued.  
Bit 7: reserved  
Bit 6: 1= comms error: unrecognized command received  
This bit can be reset by 0x0F cmmd  
Bit 5: 1= FMEA failure  
Bit 4: 1= eeprom is corrupt  
0x05 General status  
Get general part status.  
1
2
2
0..0xFF  
8
Bit 3: 1= line sync failure  
14  
Bit 2: 1= cal failed 5 times on an enabled key, or, an enabled key has  
a low reference (Ref < lower sig lim)  
Bit 1: 1= any key in calibration  
Bit 0: 1= any key is in detect  
Last return byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data  
Bit 7: 1= indicates 2 or more touches if set.  
Bit 6: 1= any of the following prevail: calibrating, key(s) failed cal 5  
times, sync fail, comms error, FMEA failure, EEPROM corrupt.  
Bits 5..0: indicates key number (0..47) of first key touched; reads  
0x3F (63 decimal) if no touch. 2nd return byte is CRC-8 of cmmd  
+ return data  
0x06 Report 1st key  
Get indication of first touched key + others  
1
0..0xFF  
8
15  
0..0xFF  
6 bytes  
0x07 Report all keys  
0x08 Signals for all  
Sends back all key detect status bits (bitfield)  
Sends back all key signal levels  
1
1
7
8
-
Last return byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data  
15  
15  
0..0xFFFF  
Returns block data for all keys’ signals  
The low order byte is returned first.  
96  
48 words  
lQ  
18  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Page  
Hex  
Name  
Description  
#/Cmd # rtnd Rtn range CRC  
Notes  
0..0xFFFF  
Returns block data for all keys’ references.  
0x09 References for all Sends back all key reference levels  
1
96  
-
15  
48 words  
The low order byte is returned first.  
0..0xFF  
Returns block data for all keys’ signal deltas from refs,  
{reference - signal}; Unsigned binary bytes, in range 0..255.  
0x0a Deltas for all  
Sends back all key delta signals from ref  
1
48  
-
15  
48 bytes  
0..0xFF  
0x0b Error flags for all  
0x0c FMEA status  
Error bit fields  
1
1
7
2
8
8
Last return byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data  
15  
15  
6 bytes  
FMEA bitfield on X, Y lines  
0..0xFF  
Last return byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data  
Dump of fixed length ‘nn’ followed by CRC-16  
Returns Setups block area followed by CRC.  
Scanning is halted and then auto-restarted  
after the cmd has completed.  
CRC is same as CRC at end of Setups block load.  
LSL and CRC words are sent back to host low byte first.  
Part will timeout if each byte not transmitted within 100ms of previous  
byte. (This can happen if DRDY is driven by the host).  
0..0xFF  
0x0d Dump Setups  
0x0e Eeprom CRC  
1
1
nn+2  
2
16  
15  
15  
nn+2 bytes  
CRC-16 only on Setups array section of eeprom  
Get eeprom CRC  
0..0xFFFF  
16 This CRC is the same as the CRC at the end of Setups block load.  
This word is returned low byte first.  
Returns 1’s compliment of last command even if bad. Resets the  
0x0F Return last cmmd Returns last command received  
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
2
0..0xFF  
0..0xFF  
-
16  
16  
16  
16  
communications error flag.  
Return internal  
0x10  
0x11  
0x12  
Diagnostic code for factory use.  
Diagnostic code for factory use.  
Diagnostic code for factory use.  
8
8
Returns internal code. 2nd byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data  
code  
Return internal  
Returns internal code. Last byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data.  
The low order byte is returned first.  
0..0xFFFFFF  
0.0xFFFF  
code  
Return internal  
code  
Diagnostic code for factory use. The low order byte is returned first.  
Returns 1’s complement of command to acknowledge; wakes on INT,  
meanwhile sleeps in low power mode; 0x01 when restarted. If 2  
commands not received in 100ms, times out and no response is  
issued.  
Enter sleep; Command must be repeated 2x  
consecutively without any intervening  
command in 100ms to execute.  
0x16 Sleep  
2
1
1 + 1 0xE9 + 0x01  
-
-
16  
16  
DRDY is held low while the part is asleep. DRDY is released high  
once awake and ready to return the 0x01.  
Get signal, ref, Norm DI for key k {0..47}  
0..FF  
Diagnostic use only, not to be relied upon (no CRC). Signal and ref  
0x4k Data for 1 key  
5
Signal: 2 bytes; Ref: 2 bytes; Norm DI: 1 byte  
Each byte  
are Tx as 2 bytes, LSB first.  
Bits 7..5: reserved  
Bit 4: 1= key is enabled  
Bit 3: 1= key is in detect  
0x8k Status for key ‘k’  
0xck CAL key ‘k’  
Get status byte for key ‘k’ {0..47}  
1
2
2
1
0..FF  
8
-
Bit 2: 1= (Ref < LSL)  
16  
16  
Bit 1: 1= key is in calibration  
Bit 0: 1= calibration of this key failed 5 times  
Second return byte is CRC-8 of cmmd + return data  
Used in Run mode. Normal sensing of other keys not affected. CAL of  
‘k’ only takes place in the key’s normal timeslot.  
Returns the ones compliment of the cmd char, once the cal is  
scheduled.  
Force calibration of key # k where k= 0..47.  
Command must be repeated 2x consecutively  
without any intervening command in 100ms to  
execute  
~0xck  
lQ  
19  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
occurs only after a recalibration when an object is touching  
the key and is subsequently removed. The desire is normally  
to recover from these events quickly.  
5 Setups  
The devices calibrate and process all signals using a  
number of algorithms specifically designed to provide for  
high survivability in the face of adverse environmental  
challenges. They provide a large number of processing  
options which can be user-selected to implement very  
flexible, robust keypanel solutions.  
Positive hysteresis: PHYST is fixed at 12.5% of the positive  
threshold value and cannot be altered.  
Positive threshold levels are programmed in using the Setup  
process on a per-key basis.  
User-defined Setups are employed to alter these algorithms  
to suit each application. These setups are loaded into the  
device in a block load over one of the serial interfaces. The  
Setups are stored in an onboard eeprom array. After a  
setups block load, the device should be reset to allow the  
new Setups block to be shadowed in internal Flash ROM  
and to allow all the new parameters to take effect. This reset  
can be either a hardware or software reset.  
Typical values:  
1 to 4  
(5 to 8 counts of threshold; 4 is internally added to  
PTHR to generate the threshold)  
Default value:  
(6 counts of threshold)  
2
5.3 Drift Compensation - NDRIFT, PDRIFT  
Signals can drift because of changes in Cx and Cs over time  
and temperature. It is crucial that such drift be compensated,  
else false detections and sensitivity shifts can occur.  
Refer to Table 5.1, page 24 for a list of all Setups.  
Block length issues: The setups block is 247 bytes long to  
accommodate 48 keys. This can be a burden on smaller host  
controllers with limited memory. In larger quantities the  
devices can be procured with the setups block  
Drift compensation (Figure 5-1) is performed by making the  
reference level track the raw signal at a slow rate, but only  
while there is no detection in effect. The rate of adjustment  
must be performed slowly, otherwise legitimate detections  
could be ignored. The devices drift compensate using a  
slew-rate limited change to the reference level; the threshold  
and hysteresis values are slaved to this reference.  
preprogrammed from Quantum. If the application only  
requires a small number of keys (such as 16) then the  
setups table can be compressed in the host by filling large  
stretches of the Setups area with nulls.  
Many setups employ lookup-table value translation. The  
Setups Block Summary on page 26 shows all translation  
values.  
When a finger is sensed, the signal falls since the human  
body acts to absorb charge from the cross-coupling between  
X and Y lines. An isolated, untouched foreign object (a coin,  
or a water film) will cause the signal to rise very slightly due  
to an enhancement of coupling. This is contrary to the way  
most capacitive sensors operate.  
Default Values shown are factory defaults.  
5.1 Negative Threshold - NTHR  
The negative threshold value is established relative to a  
key’s signal reference value. The threshold is used to  
determine key touch when crossed by a negative-going  
signal swing after having been filtered by the detection  
integrator. Larger absolute values of threshold desensitize  
keys since the signal must travel farther in order to cross the  
threshold level. Conversely, lower thresholds make keys  
more sensitive.  
Once a finger is sensed, the drift compensation mechanism  
ceases since the signal is legitimately detecting an object.  
Drift compensation only works when the signal in question  
has not crossed the negative threshold level.  
The drift compensation mechanism can be made asymmetric  
if desired; the drift-compensation can be made to occur in  
one direction faster than it does in the other simply by  
changing the NDRIFT and PDRIFT Setups parameters. This  
can be done on a per-key basis.  
As Cx and Cs drift, the reference point drift-compensates for  
these changes at a user-settable rate; the threshold level is  
recomputed whenever the reference point moves, and thus it  
also is drift compensated.  
Specifically, drift compensation should be set to compensate  
faster for increasing signals than for decreasing signals.  
Decreasing signals should not be compensated quickly,  
since an approaching finger could be compensated for  
partially or entirely before even touching the touch pad.  
However, an obstruction over the sense pad, for which the  
The amount of NTHR required depends on the amount of  
signal swing that occurs when a key is touched. Thicker  
panels or smaller key geometries reduce ‘key gain’, i.e.  
signal swing from touch, thus requiring smaller  
NTHR values to detect touch.  
The negative threshold is programmed on a  
per-key basis using the Setup process. See table,  
page 26.  
Figure 5-1 Thresholds and Drift Compensation  
Typical values:  
3 to 8  
(7 to 12 counts of threshold; 4 is internally  
added to NTHR to generate the threshold).  
Reference  
Default value:  
(10 counts of threshold)  
6
Hysteresis  
Threshold  
5.2 Positive Threshold - PTHR  
The positive threshold is used to provide a  
mechanism for recalibration of the reference point  
when a key's signal moves abruptly to the  
positive. This condition is not normal, and usually  
Signal  
Output  
lQ  
20  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
sensor has already made full allowance for, could suddenly  
be removed leaving the sensor with an artificially suppressed  
reference level and thus become insensitive to touch. In this  
latter case, the sensor should compensate for the object's  
removal by raising the reference level relatively quickly.  
If FDIL = 1, the device functions conventionally; each  
channel acquires only once in rotation, and the normal detect  
integrator counter (NDIL) operates to confirm a detection.  
Fast-DI is in essence not operational.  
If FDIL m 2, then the fast-DI counter also operates in addition  
Drift compensation and the detection time-outs work together to the NDIL counter.  
to provide for robust, adaptive sensing. The time-outs  
If Signal [ NThr: The fast-DI counter is incremented towards  
provide abrupt changes in reference calibration depending  
on the duration of the signal 'event'.  
FDIL due to touch.  
If Signal >NThr then the fast-DI counter is cleared due to  
lack of touch.  
NDRIFT Typical values:  
(2 to 3.3 seconds per count of drift compensation)  
NDRIFT Default value: 10  
(2.5s / count of drift compensation)  
9 to 11  
Disabling a key: If NDIL =0, the key becomes disabled.  
Keys disabled in this way are pared from the burst sequence  
in order to improve sampling rates and thus response time.  
PDRIFT Typical values:  
3 to 5  
(0.4 to 0.8 seconds per count of drift compensation;  
translation via LUT, page 26)  
NDIL Typical values:  
NDIL Default value:  
FDIL Typical values:  
FDIL Default value:  
2, 3  
2
4 to 6  
5
PDRIFT Default value:  
4
(0.6s / count of drift compensation)  
5.4 Detect Integrators - NDIL, FDIL  
NDIL is used to enable keys and to provide signal filtering.  
To enable a key, its NDIL parameter should be non-zero (ie  
NDIL=0 disables a key).  
5.5 Negative Recal Delay - NRD  
If an object unintentionally contacts a key resulting in a  
detection for a prolonged interval it is usually desirable to  
recalibrate the key in order to restore its function, perhaps  
after a time delay of some seconds.  
To suppress false detections caused by spurious events like  
electrical noise, the device incorporates a 'detection  
The Negative Recal Delay timer monitors such detections; if  
a detection event exceeds the timer's setting, the key will be  
automatically recalibrated. After a recalibration has taken  
place, the affected key will once again function normally  
even if it is still being contacted by the foreign object. This  
feature is set on a per-key basis using the NRD setup  
parameter.  
integrator' or DI counter mechanism that acts to confirm a  
detection by consensus (all detections in sequence must  
agree). The DI mechanism counts sequential detections of a  
key that appears to be touched, after each burst for the key.  
For a key to be declared touched, the DI mechanism must  
count to completion without even one detection failure.  
The DI mechanism uses two counters. The first is the ‘fast  
DI’ counter FDIL. When a key’s signal is first noted to be  
below the negative threshold, the key enters ‘fast burst’  
mode. In this mode the burst is rapidly repeated for up to the  
specified limit count of the fast DI counter. Each key has its  
own counter and its own specified fast-DI limit (FDIL), which  
can range from 1 to 15. When fast-burst is entered the QT  
device locks onto the key and repeats the acquire burst until  
the fast-DI counter reaches FDIL, or, the detection fails  
beforehand. After this the device resumes normal key  
scanning and goes on to the next key.  
NRD can be disabled by setting it to zero (infinite timeout) in  
which case the key will never auto-recalibrate during a  
continuous detection (but the host could still command it).  
NRD is set using one byte per key, which can range in value  
from 0..254. NRD above 0 is expressed in 0.5s increments.  
Thus if NRD =120, the timeout value will actually be 60  
seconds. 255 is not a legal number to use.  
NRD Typical values:  
NRD Default value:  
NRD Range:  
20 to 60 (10s to 30s)  
20 (10s)  
0..254 (, 0.5s .. 127s)  
The ‘Normal DI’ counter counts the number of times the  
fast-DI counter reached its FDIL value. The Normal DI  
counter can only increment once per complete scan of all  
keys. Only when the Normal DI counter reaches NDIL does  
the key become formally ‘active’.  
5.6 Positive Recalibration Delay - PRD  
A recalibration can occur automatically if the signal swings  
more positive than the positive threshold level. This condition  
can occur if there is positive drift but insufficient positive drift  
compensation, or, if the reference moved negative due to a  
NRD auto-recalibration, and thereafter the signal rapidly  
returned to normal (positive excursion).  
The net effect of this is that the sensor can rapidly lock onto  
and confirm a detection with many confirmations, while still  
scanning other keys. The ratio of ‘fast’ to ‘normal’ counts is  
completely user-settable via the Setups process. The total  
number of required confirmations is equal to FDIL times  
NDIL.  
As an example of the latter, if a foreign object or a finger  
contacts a key for period longer than the Negative Recal  
Delay (NRD), the key is by recalibrated to a new lower  
reference level. Then, when the condition causing the  
negative swing ceases to exist (e.g. the object is removed)  
the signal can suddenly swing back positive to near its  
normal reference.  
If FDIL = 5 and NDIL = 2, the total detection confirmations  
required is 10, even though the device only scanned through  
all keys only twice.  
It is almost always desirable in these cases to cause the key  
to recalibrate quickly so as to restore normal touch  
The DI is extremely effective at reducing false detections at  
the expense of slower reaction times. In some applications a  
slow reaction time is desirable; the DI can be used to  
intentionally slow down touch response in order to require  
the user to touch longer to operate the key.  
operation. The time required to do this is governed by PRD.  
In order for this to work, the signal must rise through the  
lQ  
21  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
positive threshold level PTHR continuously for the PRD  
period.  
larger keys can be altered to compensate for this without  
causing problems with key suppression.  
After the PRD interval has expired and the auto- recalibration Adjacent key suppression works to augment the natural  
has taken place, the affected key will once again function  
normally. PRD is set on a per-key basis.  
moisture suppression of narrow gated transfer switches  
creating a more robust sensing method.  
The functioning of the PRD setting is determined by an offset  
to a lookup table, found on page 26. The values of time can  
range from 0.1s to 25s. Setting the parameter to 0 will  
disable the feature.  
AKS Default value:  
0 (Off)  
5.9 Oscilloscope Sync - SSYNC  
Pin 43 (S_Sync) can output a positive pulse oscilloscope  
sync that brackets the burst of a selected key. More than one  
burst can output a sync pulse as determined by the Setups  
parameter SSYNC for each key.  
PRD Typical values:  
PRD Default value:  
PRD Range:  
5 to 8 (0.7s to 2.0s)  
6 (1 second)  
0..15 (, 0.1 .. 25s)  
This feature is invaluable for diagnostics; without it,  
observing signals clearly on an oscilloscope for a particular  
burst is very difficult.  
5.7 Burst Length - BL  
The signal gain for each key is controlled by circuit  
parameters as well as the burst length.  
This function is supported in Quantum’s QmBtn PC software  
via a checkbox.  
The burst length is simply the number of times the  
charge-transfer (‘QT’) process is performed on a given key.  
Each QT process is simply the pulsing of an X line once, with  
a corresponding Y line enabled to capture the resulting  
charge passed through the key’s capacitance Cx.  
SSYNC Default value:  
0 (Off)  
5.10 Negative Hysteresis - NHYST  
The devices employ programmable hysteresis levels of  
6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, or 50%. The hysteresis is a percentage  
of the distance from the threshold level back towards the  
reference, and defines the point at which a touch detection  
will drop out. A 12.5% hysteresis point is closer to the  
threshold level than to the signal reference level.  
QT60xx6 devices use a fixed number of QT cycles which are  
executed in burst mode. There can be up to 64 QT cycles in  
a burst, in accordance with the list of permitted values shown  
in Table 5.4.  
Increasing burst length directly affects key sensitivity. This  
occurs because the accumulation of charge in the charge  
integrator is directly linked to the burst length. The burst  
length of each key can be set individually, allowing for direct  
digital control over the signal gains of each key individually.  
Hysteresis prevents chatter and works to make key detection  
more robust. Hysteresis is used only once the key has been  
declared to be in detection, in order to determined when the  
key should drop out.  
Apparent touch sensitivity is also controlled by the Negative  
Threshold level (NTHR). Burst length and NTHR interact;  
normally burst lengths should be kept as short as possible to  
limit RF emissions, but NTHR should be kept above 6 to  
reduce false detections due to external noise. The detection  
integrator mechanism also helps to prevent false detections.  
Excessive amounts of hysteresis can result in ‘sticking keys’  
that do not release. Conversely, low amounts of hysteresis  
can cause key chatter due to noise or minor amounts of  
finger motion.  
The hysteresis levels are set for all keys only; it is not  
possible to set the hysteresis differently from key to key.  
BL Typical values:  
BL Default value:  
BL possible values:  
2, 3 (48, 64 pulses / burst)  
2 (48 pulses / burst)  
16, 32, 48, 64  
NHYST Typical values: 0, 1 (6.25%, 12.5%)  
NHYST Default value:  
1 (12.5%)  
5.11 Dwell Time - DWELL  
5.8 Adjacent Key Suppression - AKS  
These devices incorporate adjacent key suppression (‘AKS’ -  
patent pending) that can be selected on a per-key basis.  
AKS permits the suppression of multiple key presses based  
on relative signal strength. This feature assists in solving the  
problem of surface moisture which can bridge a key touch to  
an adjacent key, causing multiple key presses. This feature  
is also useful for panels with tightly spaced keys, where a  
fingertip might inadvertently activate an adjacent key.  
The Dwell parameter in Setups causes the acquisition  
pulses to have differing charge capture durations. Generally,  
shorter durations provide for enhanced surface moisture  
suppression, while longer durations are usually more  
compatible with EMC requirements. Longer dwell times  
permit the use of larger series resistors in the X and Y lines  
to suppress RFI effects, without compromising key gain  
(Section 2.8).  
This setup lets the designer trade off one requirement for  
with the other.  
AKS works for keys that are AKS-enabled anywhere in the  
matrix and is not restricted to physically adjacent keys; the  
device has no knowledge of which keys are actually  
physically adjacent. When enabled for a key, adjacent key  
suppression causes detections on that key to be suppressed  
if any other AKS-enabled key in the panel has a more  
negative signal deviation from its reference.  
DWELL typical value:  
DWELL default value:  
1 (187.5ns)  
1 (187.5ns)  
DWELL possible values: 0, 1, 2 (125, 187.5, 312.5ns  
)
5.12 Mains Sync - MSYNC  
This feature does not account for varying key gains (burst  
length) but ignores the actual negative detection threshold  
setting for the key. If AKS-enabled keys have different sizes,  
it may be necessary to reduce the gains of larger keys to  
equalize the effects of AKS. The signal threshold of the  
The MSync feature uses the WS pin. The Sleep and Sync  
features can be used simultaneously; the part can be put into  
Sleep mode, but awakened by a mains sync signal at the  
desired time.  
lQ  
22  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
External fields can cause interference leading to false  
detections or sensitivity shifts. Most fields come from AC  
power sources. RFI noise sources are heavily suppressed  
by the low impedance nature of the QT circuitry itself.  
The Baud rate can be adjusted to one of 5 values from 9600  
to 115.2K baud.  
SR Default value:  
0 (9600 Baud)  
Noise such as from 50Hz or 60Hz fields becomes a problem  
if it is uncorrelated with acquisition signal sampling;  
5.15 Lower Signal Limit - LSL  
This Setup determines the lowest acceptable value of signal  
level for all keys. If any key’s reference level falls below this  
value, the device declares an error condition in the key  
status bits (Sections 4.5, 4.6, 4.8, 4.11).  
uncorrelated noise can cause aliasing effects in the key  
signals. To suppress this problem the WS input allows bursts  
to synchronize to the noise source. This same input can also  
be used to wake the part from a low-power Sleep state.  
Testing is required to ensure that there are adequate  
margins in this determination. Key size, shape, panel  
material, burst length, and dwell time all factor into the  
detected signal levels.  
The noise sync operating mode is set by parameter MSYNC  
in Setups.  
The sync occurs only at the burst for the lowest numbered  
enabled key in the matrix; the device waits for the sync  
signal for up to 100ms after the end of a preceding full matrix  
scan, then when a negative sync edge is received, the matrix  
is scanned in its entirety again.  
This parameter occupies 2 bytes of the setups table. The low  
order byte should be sent first.  
LSL Default value:  
100 (recommended value)  
0..2047  
LSL Possible range:  
The sync signal drive should be a buffered logic signal, or  
perhaps a diode-clamped signal, but never a raw AC signal  
from the mains. The device will sync to the falling edge.  
5.16 LED / Alert Output - LED  
Refer also to Table 5.2 page 25 for details.  
Since Noise sync is highly effective and inexpensive to  
implement, it is strongly advised to take advantage of it  
anywhere there is a possibility of encountering low frequency  
(i.e. 50/60Hz) electric fields. Quantum’s QmBtn software can  
show such noise effects on signals, and will hence assist in  
determining the need to make use of this feature.  
Pin 40 is designed to drive a low-current LED or to be used  
as a status and error signaling mechanism for the host  
controller, primarily for FMEA purposes.  
One use for this pin is to alert the host that there is key  
activity, in order to limit the amount of communication  
between the device and the host. The LED pin should ideally  
be connected to an interrupt pin on the host that can detect  
an edge, following which the host can proceed to poll the  
device for key activations.  
If the sync feature is enabled but no sync signal exists, the  
sensor will continue to operate but with a delay of 100ms  
from the end of one scan to the start of the next, and hence  
will have a slow response time. A failed Sync signal (one  
exceeding a 100ms period) will cause an error flag (see  
commands 0x05, 0x06).  
Note that LED polarity can be reversed in the setups byte.  
Table 5.2, on page 25 shows the possible internal conditions  
that can cause the LED pin to go active. The various items in  
the table are logical-OR’d together.  
MSYNC Default value:  
MSYNC Possible range:  
0 (Off)  
0, 1 (Off, On)  
The LED pin can even be used as a watchdog for the host,  
to reset it should the host fail to send regular transmissions  
to the QT (bit 0 of LED byte). The comms timeout required to  
generate the ‘reset’ signal is about 2 seconds of inactivity. If  
this feature is enabled, it does not become effective until the  
first command is received from the host; therefore, it is  
assumed that there is at least some initial host activity for  
this feature to work.  
5.13 Burst Spacing - BS  
The interval of time from the start of one burst to the start of  
the next is known as the burst spacing. This is an alterable  
parameter which affects all keys. The burst spacing can be  
viewed as a scheduled timeslot in which a burst occurs. This  
approach results in an orderly and predictable sequencing of  
key scanning with predictable response times.  
Shorter spacings result in a faster response time to touch;  
longer spacings permit higher burst lengths and longer  
conversion times but slow down response time.  
Note that the LED state will be preserved during sleep.  
LED Default value:  
0x6c  
(see Table 5.2, page 25 for details)  
An automatic setting is also available that performs a ‘best  
fit’ timeslot determination for each key’s acquisition burst.  
The fit is determined on power-up each time and is fixed  
thereafter until reset again.  
5.17 Host CRC - HCRC  
The setups block terminates with a 16-bit CRC, HCRC, of  
the entire block. The formulae for calculating this CRC and  
the 8-bit CRC also used in the device are shown in Section  
7. The low order byte should be sent first.  
See Table 5.4 (page 26) for possible values.  
BS Default value:  
0 (Automatic)  
BS Possible range:  
0..11 (Auto, 500µs .. 3ms)  
5.14 Serial Rate - SR  
The possible Baud rates are shown in Table 5.4. The rate  
chosen by this parameter only affects UART mode. SPI  
mode is slave-only and can clock at any rate from DC up to  
4Mhz.  
lQ  
23  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Table 5.1 Setups Block  
Setups data is sent from the host to the QT in a block of hex data. The block can only be loaded in Setups mode following two 0x 01 commands (page 14). The devices this  
datasheet pertain to have the same block length. Refer also to Table 5.4, page 26 for further details, and all of Section 5.  
Item  
#
Key  
Default  
Byte Parameter  
Symbol Bytes Valid range Bits Scope Value Description  
Page  
20  
Neg thresh  
0
NTHR  
PTHR  
NDRIFT  
PDRIFT  
NDIL  
NTHR = 0..15  
PTHR = 0..15  
NDRIFT = 0..15  
PDRIFT = 0..15  
NDIL = 0..15  
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
2
Lower nibble = Neg Threshold - take operand and add 4 to get value  
Upper nibble = Pos Threshold - take operand and add 4 to get value  
Lower nibble = Neg Drift comp - Via LUT  
1
2
3
4
48  
48  
48  
48  
Pos Thresh  
20  
Neg Drift Comp  
48  
10  
4
20  
21  
21  
Pos Drift Comp  
Upper nibble = Pos Drift comp - Via LUT  
Normal DI Limit  
96  
2
Lower nibble = Normal DI Limit, values same as operand (0 = disabled burst)  
Upper nibble = Fast DI Limit, values same as operand (0 does not work)  
Range is in 0.5 sec increments; 0 = infinite; default = 10s (operand = 20)  
Range is { infinite, 0.5...127s }; 255 is illegal to use  
Lower nibble = PRD, via LUT, default = 6 (1 sec)  
Fast DI Limit  
FDIL  
FDIL = 0..15  
5
144 Neg recal delay  
Pos recal delay  
NRD  
0..254  
8
1
20  
PRD  
BL  
PRD = 0..15  
BL = 0..3  
4
2
1
1
4
2
1
4
4
1
1
6
2
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
21  
22  
22  
22  
22  
22  
22  
23  
Burst Length  
Bits 5, 4: = BL, via LUT, default = 48 (setting =2)  
5
192  
48  
AKS  
AKS  
AKS = 0, 1  
1
Bit 6 = AKS, 1 - enabled  
Scope Sync  
Neg Hysteresis  
240 Dwell Time  
Mains Sync  
SSYNC  
NHYST  
DWELL  
MSYNC  
BS  
SSYNC = 0, 1  
NHYST = 0..3  
DWELL = 0..2  
MSYNC = 0, 1  
BS = 0..11  
1
Bit 7 = Scope sync, 1 = enabled  
48  
48  
48  
48  
device  
Lower nibble = Neg hysteresis, all keys; default = 12.5%  
Bits 5, 4 = Dwell time, 3 values via LUT, default = 187.5ns  
Bits 6 = Mains sync, negative edge, 1 = enabled; default = 0 (off)  
Lower nibble = burst spacing; default = 0 (automatic)  
6
7
1
1
Burst spacing  
241  
Serial rate  
SR  
SR = 0..4  
Upper nibble = serial rate via LUT - 9600, 19.2K, 38.4K, 57.6K, 115.2K (UART) 23  
Lower limit of acceptable signal; below this value, device declares an error.  
8
9
242 Lower signal Limit  
244 LED Function  
245 Host CRC  
LSL  
LED  
2
1
0..2047  
0..255  
0..65K  
16  
8
48  
100  
0x6c  
-
23  
The low order byte should be sent first.  
device  
device  
Controls what the LED does; see table, below.  
23  
23  
CRC-16 of above setups, does NOT include CRC of command itself. The low  
order byte should be sent first. See also CRC notes, page 29.  
10  
HCRC  
2
16  
Block length  
247  
CRC Note: A CRC calculator for Windows is available free of charge from Quantum Research on request.  
lQ  
24  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Table 5.2 LED Function Control Byte Bits  
See also page 23. The LED pin can be used to indicate a variety of things in combination. The LED control byte controls which states make the LED pin active. The active state can  
also be set either high or low by changing bit 7 in this byte. One purpose for these functions is to provide an FMEA-compliant mechanism for fault detection via an alternative path to  
the serial comms path. Another is to provide an interrupt signal to a host controller to reduce the amount of required comms traffic. Another reason is to simply light an LED on a  
sensing fault, a keypress, or a comms failure for diagnostic purposes.  
Bit  
1 =  
0 =  
Default  
7
6
5
4
3
2
LED pin is active high polarity  
Active on any key error: (cal, cal failed, low sig)  
Active on any keypress  
Active while in sleep  
Active on eeprom error  
LED pin is active low polarity  
Key errors have no effect  
Not active on any keypress  
Inactive on Sleep  
Inactive on eeprom error  
Inactive on Mains sync error  
0
1
1
0
1
1
Active on Mains sync error  
Active on comms error (unrecognized command): LED pin is set active on error,  
inactive again when ‘get last cmd’ is called, or part is reset.  
1
Inactive on comms error  
0
Host watchdog. Active if no host comms within any 2s period. Host reset pulse  
length is 150ms. The host watchdog is not enabled until the first valid cmd  
is received from the host.  
Communications unmonitored  
0
0
Table 5.3 Key Mapping  
Some commands return bit fields related to keys. For example, command 0x07 (report all keys) returns 6 bytes containing flag bits, one per key, to indicate which keys are reporting  
touches. The following table shows the byte and bit order of the keys. The table contains the key number reported in each bit.  
The key number is related to the X and Y scan lines which address each particular key. Each byte in the return stream represents one set of keys along a Y line, i.e. up to 8 keys.  
Thus, key 0 is at location X0,Y0 and key 29 is at location X5,Y3. .  
Bit (X line)  
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
0
0
7
6
5
4
3
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
15  
23  
31  
39  
47  
14  
22  
30  
38  
46  
13  
21  
29  
37  
45  
12  
20  
28  
36  
44  
11  
19  
27  
35  
43  
10  
18  
26  
34  
42  
9
8
17  
25  
33  
41  
16  
24  
32  
40  
Byte  
(Y line)  
Note: Byte 0 is returned first.  
lQ  
25  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
Table 5.4 Setups Block Summary  
Typical values: For most touch applications, use the values shown in the outlined cells. Bold text items indicate default settings. The number to send to the QT is the number in  
the leftmost column (0..15), not numbers from the table. The QT uses a lookup table internally to translate 0..15 to the parameters for each function.  
NRD is an exception: It can range from 0..254 which is translated from 1= 0.5s to 254= 127s with zero = infinity.  
Parameter  
Index  
NTHR  
PTHR NDRIFT PDRIFT NDIL  
FDIL  
NRD  
secs  
PRD  
BL  
Scope  
Sync  
Number counts counts  
secs secs counts counts  
secs  
pulses  
AKS  
NHYST DWELL MSYNC  
BS  
UART  
Per key Per key Per key Per key Per key Per key  
Per key  
0 (Infinite)  
0.5 .. 127s  
Per key  
0 (Infinite)  
0.1  
Per key Per key Per key Global  
Global  
Global  
- Off -  
On  
Global  
- Auto -  
500µs  
Global  
-9,600-  
19,200  
0
1
2
4
5
4
5
0.1  
0.2  
0.1  
0.2  
Key off  
1
unused  
1
16  
32  
- Off -  
- Off -  
6.25%  
125ns  
On  
On  
-12.5%- -187.5ns-  
6
- 6 -  
0.3  
0.3  
- 2 -  
2
0.2  
- 48 -  
25%  
312.5ns  
750µs  
38,400  
Default=  
10s  
3
4
5
6
7
8
7
8
7
0.4  
0.6  
0.8  
1
0.4  
3
4
3
4
0.3  
0.5  
0.7  
- 1 -  
1.5  
2
64  
50%  
1,000µs  
57,600  
8
- 0.6 -  
0.8  
1
1,250µs 115,200  
1,500µs  
9
9
5
- 5 -  
6
- 10 -  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
6
1,750µs  
1.2  
1.5  
1.2  
1.5  
2
7
7
2,000µs  
8
8
2,250µs  
9
2
- 2.5 -  
3.3  
4.5  
6
9
9
3.2  
4.5  
6
2,500µs  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
2.5  
3.3  
4.5  
6
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
2,750µs  
3,000µs  
16  
17  
16  
17  
9
12.3  
17.5  
25  
18  
19  
18  
19  
7.5  
10  
7.5  
10  
lQ  
26  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
6 Specifications  
6.1 Absolute Maximum Electrical Specifications  
Operating temp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40OC ~ +105OC  
Storage temp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -55OC ~ +125OC  
VDD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.5 ~ +5.5V  
Max continuous pin current, any control or drive pin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ±10mA  
Short circuit duration to ground, any pin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . infinite  
Short circuit duration to V , any pin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . infinite  
Voltage forced onto any pDinD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.6V ~ (Vdd + 0.6) Volts  
Frequency of operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17MHz  
Eeprom setups maximum writes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 write cycles  
6.2 Recommended operating conditions  
V
DD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4.75 ~ 5.25V  
Supply ripple+noise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5mV p-p max  
Cx transverse load capacitance per key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 ~ 20pF  
Fosc oscillator frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16MHz +/-2%  
6.3 DC Specifications  
Vdd = 5.0V, Cs = 4.7nF, Freq = 16MHz, Ta = recommended range, unless otherwise noted  
Parameter  
Notes  
Description  
Min  
Typ  
Max  
Units  
Iddr  
Idds  
Vr  
Supply current, running  
Supply current, sleep  
Vdd internal reset voltage  
Low input logic level  
High input logic level  
Low output voltage  
25  
mA  
µA  
V
V
V
V
V
µA  
bits  
kW  
kW  
20  
4
Vil  
0.8  
0.6  
Vhl  
Vol  
Voh  
Iil  
Ar  
Rp  
Rrst  
2.2  
4mA sink  
1mA source  
High output voltage  
Vdd-0.7  
Input leakage current  
Acquisition resolution  
Internal pullup resistors  
Internal /RST pullup resistor  
±1  
11  
50  
60  
9
20  
30  
DRDY, /SS, TX pins  
6.4 Timing Specifications  
Vdd = 5.0V, Cs = 4.7nF, Freq = 16MHz, Ta = recommended range, unless otherwise noted  
Parameter  
Description  
Min  
Typ  
Max  
Units  
Notes  
T
BS  
Burst spacing  
500  
3,000  
µs  
Adjustable parameter via Setups  
Pulse spacing, average  
@ dwell = 125ns  
1.80  
1.90  
2.00  
2.75  
2.80  
2.92  
Tpc  
Fqt  
µs  
@ dwell = 187.5ns  
@ dwell = 312.5ns  
Burst frequency range  
@ dwell = 125ns  
364  
357  
342  
556  
526  
500  
kHz  
Spread spectrum range  
@ dwell = 187.5ns  
@ dwell = 312.5ns  
S1  
S2  
S3  
S4  
S5  
S6  
S7  
S8  
S9  
Fck  
È /SS to first È CLK edge  
È CLK to valid MISO  
Last Ç CLK to Ç /SS  
Ç /SS to 3-state MISO  
Ç /SS to falling DRDY  
DRDY low pulse width  
CLK low pulse width  
CLK high pulse width  
CLK period  
125  
ns  
ns  
ns  
ns  
µs  
µs  
ns  
ns  
ns  
SPI parameter controlled by host  
SPI parameter controlled by QT  
SPI parameter controlled by host  
SPI parameter controlled by QT  
SPI parameter controlled by QT  
SPI parameter controlled by QT  
SPI parameter controlled by host  
SPI parameter controlled by host  
SPI parameter controlled by host  
SPI parameter controlled by host  
20  
25  
20  
20  
1
125  
125  
250  
SPI Clock rate  
4
MHz  
lQ  
27  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
6.5 Mechanical Dimensions  
A
44  
42  
40  
38  
36  
34  
35  
43  
41  
39  
37  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
33  
32  
31  
30  
29  
28  
27  
26  
25  
24  
23  
p
P
L
10  
11  
13  
15  
17  
19  
21  
20 22  
12  
14  
16  
18  
a
e
o
H
h
E
Package Type: 44 Pin TQFP  
Millimeters  
Inches  
Max  
SYMBOL  
Min  
Max  
Notes  
Min  
Notes  
a
A
e
9.90  
10.10  
12.21  
0.20  
0.75  
0.15  
1.20  
0.45  
0.80  
8.00  
7
SQ  
SQ  
0.386  
0.458  
0.003  
0.018  
0.002  
-
0.394  
0.478  
0.008  
0.030  
0.006  
0.047  
0.018  
0.031  
0.315  
7
SQ  
SQ  
11.75  
0.09  
0.45  
0.05  
-
E
h
H
L
0.30  
0.80  
8.00  
0
0.012  
0.031  
0.315  
0
p
P
o
BSC  
BSC  
BSC  
BSC  
6.6 Marking  
TQFP Part  
TA  
Number  
Keys  
32  
48  
Marking  
QT60326-AG  
QT60486-AG  
-400C to +1050C  
-400C to +1050C  
QT60326-AS-G  
QT60486-AS-G  
lQ  
28  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
7 Appendix  
7.1 8-Bit CRC Software C Algorithm  
// 8 bits crc calculation. Initial crc entry value must be 0.  
// polynomial = X8 + X5 + X4 + 1  
// data is an 8 bit number; crc is an unsigned 8 bit number  
// repeat this function for each data block byte, folding the result  
//  
back into the call parameter crc  
unsigned char eight_bit_crc(unsigned char crc, unsigned char data)  
{
unsigned charindex; // shift counter  
unsigned charfb;  
// intermediate test bit  
index = 8;  
do  
// initialize the shift counter  
// loop 8 times  
{
fb = (crc ^ data) & 0x01;  
data >>= 1;  
crc >>= 1;  
if(fb)  
{
}
crc ^= 0x8c;  
} while(--index);  
return crc;  
}
7.2 16-Bit CRC Software C Algorithm  
// 16 bits crc calculation. Initial crc entry value must be 0.  
// The message is not augmented with 'zero' bits.  
// polynomial = X16 + X12 + X5 + 1  
// data is an 8 bit number, unsigned  
// crc is a 16 bit number, unsigned  
// repeat this function for each data block byte, folding the result  
//  
back into the call parameter crc  
unsigned long sixteen_bit_crc(unsigned long crc, unsigned char data)  
{
unsigned char index; // shift counter  
crc ^= (unsigned long)(data) << 8;  
index = 8;  
do  
{
// loop 8 times  
if(crc & 0x8000)  
{
}
else  
crc= (crc << 1) ^ 0x1021;  
{
}
crc= crc << 1;  
} while(--index);  
return crc;  
}
A CRC calculator for Windows is available free of charge from Quantum Research.  
lQ  
29  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
0-ohm SMT Jumper  
Y
7.3 1-Sided Key Layout  
This key design can be made on a 1-sided SMT PCB. A single 0-ohm jumper  
allows the wiring to be done on a single side with full pass-through of X and Y  
traces to allow matrix connections to be made across a large number of keys.  
Key size, shape, and number of interleavings can be varied substantially from  
this drawing. The below drawing shows 6 interleave white spaces; only a  
double interleave is required in the case of smaller keys.  
The PCB is bonded to a panel on its underside, and the fields fire through the  
PCB, adhesive, and panel in that sequence. This results in a very low cost  
design.  
X
X
Y
7.4 PCB Layout  
Shown is an example 32-key PCB layout using inexpensive 1-sided CEM-1 or FR-1 PCB laminate. The key layouts follow the  
design rules of Figure 2-6 (page 5) and as shown above.  
lQ  
30  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
NOTES  
lQ  
31  
QT60486-AS R8.01/0105  
lQ  
Copyright © 2003-2005 QRG Ltd. All rights reserved  
Patented and patents pending  
Corporate Headquarters  
1 Mitchell Point  
Ensign Way, Hamble SO31 4RF  
Great Britain  
Tel: +44 (0)23 8056 5600 Fax: +44 (0)23 8045 3939  
admin@qprox.com  
www.qprox.com  
North America  
651 Holiday Drive Bldg. 5 / 300  
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 USA  
Tel: 412-391-7367 Fax: 412-291-1015  
The specifications set out in this document are subject to change without notice. All products sold and services supplied by QRG are  
subject to our Terms and Conditions of sale and supply of services which are available online at www.qprox.com and are supplied with  
every order acknowledgement. QProx, QTouch, QMatrix, QLevel, and QSlide are trademarks of QRG. QRG products are not suitable for  
medical (including lifesaving equipment), safety or mission critical applications or other similar purposes. Except as expressly set out in  
QRG's Terms and Conditions, no licenses to patents or other intellectual property of QRG (express or implied) are granted by QRG in  
connection with the sale of QRG products or provision of QRG services. QRG will not be liable for customer product design and  
customers are entirely responsible for their products and applications which incorporate QRG's products.  
Development Team: Dr. Tim Ingersoll, Samuel Brunet, Hal Philipp  

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