SigmaSense is a company specializing in touch sensing technology, and they have announced plans to showcase their next-generation solutions at Display Week 2023. This technology, referred to as software-defined sensing, promises to deliver superior levels of speed, accuracy, resolution, and immunity to noise (unwanted disturbance in an electrical signal). These improvements could potentially allow for quicker delivery of information and the creation of innovative user experiences that have never been seen before.
One key aspect of SigmaSense’s technology is multi-dimensional sensing. This feature opens up a world of possibilities for user experiences that were previously difficult or even impossible to achieve. For instance, the technology supports 3D touch, multi-surface touch, and multi-user touch, capabilities that could prove beneficial in a wide array of applications. These could include industrial devices built for rugged environments, mobile devices, foldable devices (a growing trend in the smartphone market), and digital signage applications.
Another noteworthy aspect of the SigmaSense technology involves its robust performance in harsh environments. With a high speed, low latency touch experience that can function outdoors, underwater, and even with thick gloves, SigmaSense is redefining what’s possible for devices used in demanding conditions. This is a major advancement because traditionally, touch technology performance has been known to degrade significantly under such conditions. Additionally, this technology exhibits low power consumption and low electromagnetic interference (EMI), which are critical factors in any electronic device design.
SigmaSense is also focusing on redefining sensor fusion and channel sharing with a single controller. This technology enables simultaneous operation of various touch inputs like the display area, buttons, sliders, or dials. Traditional mechanical switches can be replaced with these touch functions located on the edge, top, or backside of a device. Sensors now have the ability to share multiple channels and reuse channels, with multiple sensing functions defined through software via a programmable touch controller.
SigmaSense is bringing forward breakthroughs for foldable designs and new sensor materials, like PEDOT, which are known for their high optical quality. With this technology, reliable touch operation on a flexible sensor that can be folded is now a reality. The touch operation doesn’t degrade at the folding point while in the folded position. This is accompanied by an adaptive noise-canceling feature, which provides a new level of noise tolerance and touch signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
