PSOC 4000T: Advancements in Sensing Technology and Power Efficiency

PSOC 4000T – Multi-Sense MCU is the latest iteration of the PSOC 4000 family by Infineon Technologies. It has an upgraded SNR, Liquid Tolerance, and Capacitive and Inductive Sensing capabilities. There’s a bonus of ultra-low power requirements. It provides a low-cost alternative to the combination of MCU and external ICs.

PSOC 4000 Family

The PSOC 4000 family is a range of 32-bit microcontrollers based on the Arm Cortex®-M0/M0+ architecture with advanced HMI abilities. Their advanced sensing capabilities, which are derivative of Multi-Sense, and programmable peripherals provide a high degree of adaptability. This widens the scope of applications.

CAPSENSE- A Game Changer

The PSOC 4000T stands out with Infineon’s 5th generation CAPSENSE, which enables its Multi-Sense It is CAPSENSE only, which allows for a 10x lower power consumption and a 10x higher SNR, as stated by Infineon.

It contains one of the first always-on touch-sensing features in the industry. Thus allowing HMI operation with extremely low active and standby power consumption, extending the battery life of battery-powered devices. The PSOC 4000T avoids false activation by a range of liquids (including highly conductive salt water), guaranteeing smooth operation in wet and high-moisture conditions.

Specifications

• 32-bit MCU Subsystem
• CPU {48-MHz Cortex 48-MHz -M0+}
• Flash Memory {64 KB}
• SRAM {8KB}
• GPIOs {x21}
• Inductive sensing {up to 8 Inductive Inputs}
• Liquid level sensing {High Resolution, Countless stack-up}
• Hover Touch
• Active touch detection and tracking at 200 µA (average)
• CAPSENSE {19 Sense Pins, Ultra-Low Power Wake on Touch (WoT), 5th Generation}
• Power supply range {1.71 V to 5.5 V}
• Low-power modes {Deep Sleep at 2.5 µA}
• Serial communication {1 SCB with programmable I2C, SPI, or UART, 1 SCB having I2C only}
• 16-bit Timer Counter Pulse-Width Modulator (TCPWM) {x2}
• Clocks {Internal main oscillator (IMO)- 24 MHz to 48 MHz, Internal low-speed oscillator (ILO)- 40 kHz}
• Power supply monitoring {POR, BOD}
• Supported kit {CY8CPROTO-040T, CY8CPROTO-040T-MS}
• Supported IDE {ModusToolbox Software}

Additionally, long-range proximity detection up to 30 cm is possible with the Advanced Proximity Interface. Directional proximity can be achieved using personalized gestures.

Inductive Sensing in PSOC 4000T

Apart from the CAPSENSE, Infineon has developed Inductive sensing, which reduces sensitivity to noise and enhances durability compared to existing techniques that are often affected by external noise and manufacturability issues. This technology is highly complementary to capacitive sensing, allowing for the creation of metal-based and waterproof designs. Inductive sensing provides superior noise immunity and a broadened operating frequency range.

Liquid Sensing in PSOC 4000T

Lastly, non-invasive and non-contact liquid sensing technology provides a more economical and precise alternative to traditional mechanical sensors and standard capacitive methods. This system shows resilience against environmental variables, including temperature and humidity. Additionally, the foam rejection, residue rejection, and reliable work with varying air gaps between the sensor and the container of the Liquid sensing provide an edge over other liquid sensors. Liquid sensing brings greater intelligence to package handling beverages,including robotic vacuum cleaners, soap dispensing in washing machines, espresso machines, humidifiers, etc.

Modus Toolbox Software

On the Software end of things, the ModusToolbox software is a comprehensive development platform for Infineon’s PSOC 4000T MCUs. The development tools available for creating new embedded applications (from the management of software components to the configuration of device peripherals). Integrated debugging features provide fully integrated programming and debugging support via standard programming connections and SWD interfaces.

Diagrammatically, this MCU can be seen as:

The Future of PSOC 4000T

Low power consumption allows for good usage of the PSOC 4000T in wearables and hearables.

Capacitive compatible inductive sensing works with metal touch buttons on refrigerators or robust HMIs for underwater devices such as cameras.

Users can also utilize this MCU in IoT applications, in addition to its particular uses.

All of the above, along with the improved HMI abilities and Always-On feature, are just some plus points of this microcontroller.

More information on the Infineon PSOC 4000T can be found at Infineon’s official store.

Additionally, the official guide on the PSOC 4 family