CapSense MBR3 Evaluation Kit

doctorcdf over 3 years ago

CapSense® MBR3 is Cypress’s solution for quickly and easily replacing mechanical buttons with sleek and reliable capacitive-sensing user interfaces. The CapSense MBR3 family is the world’s easiest capacitive-sensing solution that allows you to design with the click of a mouse using our GUI-based software tool, EZ-Click™.

CapSense MBR3 combines the best of CapSense features including SmartSense™ Auto-Tuning, robust water tolerance and best-in-class proximity sensing while delivering reliable performance under all conditions. The CapSense MBR3 family comes in four small packages that are suited for various capacitive-sensing designs.

Features

Easiest-to-Design

CapSense MBR3 requires no firmware development – these devices are register configurable by any I2C host, like PSoC, Arduino or the Raspberry Pi
EZ-Click™ GUI-based software tool configures devices without the need to write any code

SmartSense Auto-Tuning

A CapSense algorithm that continuously compensates for system, manufacturing and environmental changes
Eliminates the need for manual tuning during all product design phases

Robust Water Tolerance

CapSense MBR3 works under water droplets, rain, mist and other liquids
Ensures no false touches even under streaming water

Industry's Best Capacitive Proximity Sensing

Achieve up to 30cm in proximity sensing distance
Implement advanced features like wake-on-approach to support ultra-low power applications

Reliable Performance

Advanced sensing algorithms ensure reliable performance even in noisy environments
Implement designs with Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of > 100:1

Webinar

Join us on May 29th for a webinar entitled "Designing Capacitive User Interfaces for Single Board Computers [RESCHEDULED]". Designing Capacitive User Interfaces for Single Board Computers [RESCHEDULED].

Product Video

Bonus: Raspberry Pi

As a bonus to our testers, each Capsense MBR3 Evaluation Kit will be shipped with a Raspberry Pi so the full potential of this product can be further explored.

Terms & Conditions

Testers will be selected on the basis of quality of applications: we expect a full and complete description of why you want to test this particular product.
Testers are required to produce a full, comprehensive and well thought out review within 2 months of receipt of the product.
Failure to provide this review within the above timescale will result in the enrolee being excluded from future Road Tests.

RoadTest Reviews

Comment List

Top Comments

malakai over 10 years ago +4

Matthew Buza has shared a sample Python script using the I²C connections to the Raspberry Pi in the following link:

CY3280-MBR3 Example with Raspberry Pi
doctorcdf over 10 years ago +4

Many thanks to all who applied; it's clear that this product has inspired a lot of potential projects. As ever, it's not an altogether easy matter to make a choice, however this time we've picked:…
cy.gul over 10 years ago in reply to DAB +3

Hi DAB,

As such, the CapSense MBR3 products are not designed to detect water droplets. In fact, it has available features to ignore water droplets and ensure the buttons still work in the presence of moisture…

b4ux1t3 over 10 years ago

Quick question: Once I post a review, am I able to edit it later? I'm having some troubles with interfacing with the Pi (Not due to the kits failings, but my own), but wanted to go ahead and put up my first impressions and my non-I2C testing results.
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Workshopshed over 10 years ago in reply to ipv1

My next set of testing is going to look at different front cover materials, polycarbonate, acrylic etc.
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ipv1 over 10 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

Well I am looking to use it as a part of a prototype for an industrial automation product for one of my clients. I usually don't offer solutions that take time to implement because I prepare prototypes ahead of time and this is one such case. It has tremendous potential since it is MBR i.e. a mechanical button replacement and will come handy if I can put in an IP-65 box and drill no holes for the buttons keeping the box at it's rating. I will be looking at final cost and BOM and will keep you posted.
Many thanks for the support.
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Nitin_Bhaskar over 10 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

Thanks Andy, for your valuable suggestion. Accidentally I had set the voltage to 1.8v. I populated 0 Ohms resistors R84 and R85 and the device starting talking.:).
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Workshopshed over 10 years ago in reply to ipv1

The PCB design for the evaluation board is in the documentation you can download from the website, there is also an example schematic in the datasheet. The design details are included both in document form but also in the form of a spreadsheet which is installed with the software and can be launched from a menu in EZClick. Lots of rules need to be followed, for example, size and shape of sensor pads and not putting inputs and outputs next to each other. I'd be interested to hear how you get on designing a PCB.
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ipv1 over 10 years ago

Mine just showed up today. Looks good... Now can I design my own demo app? Reference design and PCB design support anywhere?
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Workshopshed over 10 years ago in reply to Nitin_Bhaskar

The only things that I've read in the manual that might cause that is setting the voltage to 1.8v (without adding the resistors) and changing the I2C address. The userguide should have details on what to do if you've done either of those.

Otherwise cy.gul might be able to help.
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Nitin_Bhaskar over 10 years ago

I received my kit today. Thanks to element14. But unfortunately my Capsense MBR3 is not responding to any of the commands. I tried to "apply config" of water tolerance and after that Capsense MBR3 is not getting detected. Anyone facing similar issues?
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Workshopshed over 10 years ago

More testing CapSense Evaluation Kit - Gloves
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astro27 over 10 years ago

just received my kit.. Thank you element14 and doctorcdf
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CapSense MBR3 Evaluation Kit

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