CapSense MBR3 Evaluation Kit

Just updated my review http://www.element14.com/community/roadTestReviews/1819 after reading the datasheet and register techical manual one more time.

It turned out I had some 20A rated 0Ω resistors in my workshop, they just needed cutting to size.

Finally got I2C working so that I could post a full review. Check it out here. I will be adding a few pictures and so forth, but my conclusions are all written down.

An idea I just saw on the adafruit website is using conductive tape to make up your capacitive sensors. Perhaps an alternative to the evaluation kit would be a breakout board and a selection of different conductive tape shapes.

Swapped browsers and got my images uploaded. So here's my latest results.

CapSense Evaluation Kit - Microcontroller Control

There's a big button on the right of this web page

http://www.cypress.com/capsensembr3/

Although you might also be able to get some via cy.gul

The demos worked out fine. It's really simple to use. I do not have the code to interface with RPi but I found some code on the element14 blog and created a repository on GITHUB. Will be working to connect it with an arduino. I am also in the process of designing a PCB based on an Arduino and the Capsense. Anyone know where I can get sample devices for a prototype?

In today's testing I've experimented with different front panel materials CapSense Evaluation Kit - Front panel materials

Next thing to try - CY3280-MBR3 Example with Arduino (Uno/Mega)

That makes sense. I probably should have thought of that.

Hi,

you can always create blog posts about it as you make progress, and then link to these posts when making the actual review.

Frederick

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.

My next set of testing is going to look at different front cover materials, polycarbonate, acrylic etc.

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.

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.:).

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.

Mine just showed up today. Looks good... Now can I design my own demo app? Reference design and PCB design support anywhere?

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.

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?

More testing CapSense Evaluation Kit - Gloves

just received my kit.. Thank you element14 and doctorcdf