Microchip expands maXTouch M1 controller range for automotive display formats
Microchip Technology has expanded its maXTouch M1 touchscreen controller family, extending support to a broader range of Automotive display sizes and formats as in‑vehICle interfaces continue to evolve.
The expanded portfolio now covers displays ranging from large free‑form widescreen formats of up to 42 inches to compact screens between 2 and 5 inches. The newly highlighted ATMXT3072M1‑HC and ATMXT288M1 controllers are designed to accommodate a wide variety of display configurations while supporting emerging technologies such as organic light‑emitting diode (OLED) and microLED panels.
The M1 series uses Microchip’s proprietary Smart Mutual touch acquisition technology alongside advanced signal‑processing algorithms. According to the company, this approach improves the touch signal‑to‑noise ratio by up to 15 dB compared with previous generations, helping to mAIntain reliable touch detection in environments with high capacitive loads and display‑related electrical noise.
This capability is particularly relevant for large, thin displays such as on‑cell OLEDs, where embedded touch electrodes are more susceptible to interference. Increased capacitive loading and noise coupling in these designs can raise the risk of missed or false touch inputs when using conventional capacitive solutions.
“Fuelled by evolving user expectations and the rise of software‑defined vehicles, automotive cockpit displays are rapidly changing, and OEMs are pushing the boundaries in size, shape and technology to deliver more immersive and intuitive user experiences,” said Giovanni Fontana, director of Microchip’s human machine interface division. “This expansion of our maXTouch M1 family addresses the complexities of integrating touch into these next‑generation displays, offering robust and secure touch detection for a diverse array of formats.”
For larger displays, the ATMXT3072M1‑HC is designed to support continuous touch sensor layouts that span both the instrument cluster and centre information display. The controller can be used in both left‑hand and right‑hand drive vehicles with a single Hardware design, potentially reducing the need for region‑specific variants and simplifying global vehicle programmes. The continuous sensor design is intended to maintain consistent optical performance across varying ambient lighting conditions.
Microchip said the host‑client architecture of the ATMXT3072M1‑HC allows the system to appear as a single maXTouch device to the host microcontroller, eliminating the need for an external processor to combine touch coordinates. Interaction between client devices is managed by the maXTouch host controller, helping to streamline system integration.
At the smaller end of the display spectrum, the ATMXT288M1 targets compact automotive interfaces such as analogue clock replacements and AI‑based driver assistance displays, where space constraints are a key design consideration. The controller is packaged in a Thin Profile Fine‑Pitch Ball Grid Array (TFBGA60), which Microchip says reduces printed circuit board area by 20 per cent compared with its previous smallest automotive‑qualified maXTouch device.
The ATMXT288M1 is the first controller in the M1 family to use a TFBGA package, making it suitable for space‑constrained applications that incorporate OLED or microLED displays.
