Microchip Technology CAP1 Series User manual

2013 Microchip Technology Inc. DS50002221A-page 1
CAP1xxx Evaluation Board User’s Guide

CAP1xxx Evaluation Board User’s Guide
DS50002221A-page 2 2013 Microchip Technology Inc.
1 Overview
This document provides a description of the software and hardware used to demonstrate the features
of the Microchip CAP1xxx Family of RightTouchTM multiple-channel capacitive touch controllers and
LED drivers. Two evaluation boards are covered in this User's Manual. The CAP1188 evaluation board
contains the largest, full-featured version of the CAP11xx family. The other devices in this family are
the CAP1166, CAP1128, CAP1126, CAP1133, and CAP1106. Likewise, the CAP1298 evaluation board
contains the largest, full-featured version of the CAP12xx family. The other devices in this family are
the CAP1296, CAP1293, CAP1208, CAP1206, and CAP1203.
1.1 References
Readers should be familiar with or have access to the datasheet for the device and the schematic for
the evaluation board.
The datasheet is included with the CD provided with the evaluation board, and can also be
downloaded from the Microchip website at http://www.microchip.com/mtouch.
The schematic is included with the CD provided with the evaluation board.
1.2 The RightTouch Evaluation System
The evaluation system has three major parts, as shown in Figure 1.1:
Customer-provided Windows PC
CAP1xxx graphical user interface (GUI) software (based on National InstrumentsTM LabVIEWTM
software)
CAP1xxx Evaluation Board - either the CAP1188 or CAP1298 versions (see Figure 1.2)

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Figure 1.1 CAP1xxx Evaluation System
CAP1188 Device Capacitive
Sensors
LED
Drivers
PIC16F1454
CAP11xx
Evaluation
Board
I2C
PC
with CAP1xxx GUI
USB
CAP1298 Device Capacitive
Sensors
LED
Drivers
PIC16F1459
CAP12xx
Evaluation
Board
I2C
PC
with CAP1xxx GUI
USB

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1.2.1 Capacitive Sensing Device on the Evaluation Board
The CAP1188 device was chosen for the evaluation board because it has the most sensors and LEDs
in the CAP11xx family.
Note: The CAP1114 and CAP1214 devices, each with 14 sensors and 11 LED drivers, contain
additional features such as slider support which will be highlighted in their own evaluation
board.
The CAP1298 device was chosen for the evaluation board because it is the superset device in the
family, meaning it has the most sensors and features in the CAP12xx family including the signal guard.
The CAP1188, CAP1166, CAP1128, CAP1126, CAP1133, and CAP1106 are similar, with the exception
of the number of capacitive sensor inputs and LED drivers, as shown in Table 1 . 1 .
Figure 1.2 CAP1xxx Evaluation Board Top View

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The CAP1298, CAP1296, CAP1293, CAP1208, CAP1206, and CAP1203 part of the same family and
so have a very similar feature set, with the major exception being of the number of capacitive sensor
inputs and the guard output, as shown in Table 1. 2 .
1.2.2 Major Components on the Evaluation Board
Figure 1.3 shows the component side of the CAP1188 evaluation board and highlights some of the
important components.
Table 1.1 CAP11xx Device Differentiation
DEVICE NUMBER OF LED DRIVERS NUMBER OF CAPACITIVE
SENSOR INPUTS
CAP1133 3 3
CAP1106 0 6
CAP1126 2 6
CAP1166 6 6
CAP1128 2 8
CAP1188 8 8
Table 1.2 CAP12xx Family Device Differentiation
DEVICE NUMBER OF CAPACITIVE
SENSORS GUARD
CAP1203 3 No
CAP1293 3 Yes
CAP1206 6 No
CAP1296 6 Yes
CAP1208 8 No
CAP1298 8 Yes

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Figure 1.3 Evaluation Board Component Side View
PIC16F1455
USB
5V to 3.3V
Regulator
PIC16F1455
Programming
Header
CAP1188
8-pin
Communication
Header
PIC16F1459
USB
PIC16F1459
Programming
Header
CAP1298
8-pin
Communication
Header

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2 Software and Hardware Installation
To begin using the CAP1xxx evaluation board, you only need to supply power by plugging in the USB
connector. However, in order to further evaluate the features of the CAP device, the CAP1xxx GUI
must be installed on a Windows-based computer with a USB port.
2.1 GUI Software Installation
Begin by inserting the CD provided with the evaluation board into the computer. Run the Setup.exe
program located in the root directory of the CD. This steps through the CAP1xxx GUI installation, which
takes less than a minute. Figure 2.1 shows the initial installation screen, which displays briefly as the
setup program loads.
Figure 2.1 Software Installation Step 1

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Click Next in the Destination Directory window, shown in Figure 2.2. For proper operation, the files
must be installed in the default locations. The default location for the software files is C:\Program
Files\Microchip\Microchip CAP1xxx GUI and for the LabVIEWTM software is C:\Program Files\National
Instruments.
In order to use the LabVIEWTM software, the license agreement must be accepted (see Figure 2.3).
Figure 2.2 Software Installation Step 2
Figure 2.3 Software Installation Step 3

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Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. During installation, shortcuts will be
created on the Windows Start Menu and on the desktop. When installation is complete, the program
will automatically run and begin looking for the PIC16F145x USB to I2C bridge. (see Figure 2.4).
Figure 2.4 RightTouch Evaluation Software Start-up Screen

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2.2 USB Bridge Installation
To complete the installation, connect the USB mini connector to the EVB and the standard USB
connector to any available USB port on the PC. If the USB Bridge driver has not previously been
installed on the selected USB port, the “Find New Hardware” wizard will pop up on the PC’s screen.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. See Figure 2.5 through
Figure 2.8 for a step by step view of the installation.
Once installation of the USB Bridge is complete, the GUI software will begin communications with the
device on the EVB.
Figure 2.5 USB Bridge Driver Installation Step 1