Microchip Enhances Robotic Tactile Sensing with High-Speed Capacitance Digitizer

Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has introduced the ATFCD52 capacitance digitizer for tactile sensing in robotic grippers and humanoid hands.

Rhea-AI Summary

Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has introduced the ATFCD52 capacitance digitizer for tactile sensing in robotic grippers and humanoid hands. The device converts signals from two-dimensional capacitive sensor arrays into digital data that an external processor can use to calculate contact forces.

It supports up to 52 channels and frame rates of up to 800 Hz, depending on sensor-array size. Microchip designed it to detect small capacitance changes associated with tactile sensor deformation. The device is available for purchase, with a development board and configuration software supporting evaluation.

Key Figures

Maximum channels: up to 52 channels Sensor array lines: up to 32 TX by 20 RX lines Parallel analog front ends: 20 +2 more

Maximum channels

up to 52 channels

ATFCD52 device capacity

Sensor array lines

up to 32 TX by 20 RX lines

Two-dimensional capacitive sensor arrays

Parallel analog front ends

20

On-chip receive-line acquisition

Maximum frame rate

up to 800 Hz

Depends on sensor-array size

Capacitance resolution

below 1 femtofarad (fF)

ATFCD52 sensitivity

Key Terms

capacitance digitizer, analog front ends, frequency hopping, oversampling

4 terms

capacitance digitizer technical

"introduced the ATFCD52 high-speed capacitance digitizer"

An electronic module or integrated circuit that measures electrical capacitance and converts that measurement into a digital output. It typically injects a known signal or charges a sensor, detects the resulting change in charge or timing caused by the sensor's capacitance, and uses internal circuitry (a capacitance-to-digital converter or ADC) to produce a numeric value usable by a microcontroller or computer. Readings are affected by wiring, grounding, temperature and nearby materials, so these devices normally require calibration and filtering to distinguish real sensor changes from noise or environmental drift.

analog front ends technical

"Twenty parallel on-chip analog front ends simultaneously acquire all receive lines"

Analog front ends (AFEs) are electronic circuit modules that receive, condition, and prepare real-world analog signals (such as voltage from sensors, microphones, or medical electrodes) for further processing, typically by analog-to-digital converters. They commonly perform functions like amplification, filtering, multiplexing, offset correction and impedance matching so the subsequent digital circuitry sees signals at the right level and with unwanted noise removed. AFEs are specialized for the type of signal and application, so their performance limits (bandwidth, noise, dynamic range) directly affect how accurately the system can measure or monitor the original analog source.

frequency hopping technical

"Frequency hopping and oversampling also help mitigate this interference"

A radio transmission method that repeatedly changes the carrier frequency according to a predetermined sequence so the sender and receiver hop together across a set of channels. The pattern can be pseudorandom or code-controlled and must be synchronized at both ends; frequency hopping spreads a signal over a wider band to reduce interference, make interception or jamming harder, and meet regulatory rules for shared spectrum. It requires coordination (timing and agreed channel list), introduces switching overhead that can limit effective data rate, and is distinct from other spread‑spectrum methods that change phase or code rather than frequency.

oversampling technical

"Frequency hopping and oversampling also help mitigate this interference"

Oversampling is a statistical sampling technique that deliberately selects a larger share of observations from a specific subgroup than that subgroup’s proportion in the overall population so the subgroup will have enough cases for reliable analysis or reporting. After data are collected, analysts normally apply weights or adjustments so the final results represent the true population proportions; without such weighting, oversampling can distort overall estimates.

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ATFCD52 device supports dense capacitive sensor arrays, providing detailed tactile data for real-time grip control and early slip detection

CHANDLER, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliable robotic manipulation requires more than vision, particularly when handling soft, fragile or irregular objects. Cameras can locate an object, but tactile sensing provides the contact information needed to determine how firmly it is held and whether it is beginning to slip. Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has introduced the ATFCD52 high-speed capacitance digitizer to convert signals from fine-grid, two-dimensional capacitive sensor arrays into high-sensitivity digital data. An external processor can use this data to calculate normal and shear forces, helping robotic grippers and dexterous humanoid hands adjust how they grasp and manipulate objects.

“Robots have become increasingly capable of seeing and understanding their surroundings, but the ability to feel and respond to physical contact remains a critical challenge,” said Giovanni Fontana, senior director of Microchip’s human machine interface division. “The ATFCD52 is designed to deliver the real-time tactile data that serves as a foundation for the development of more dexterous robots and the advancement of physical AI.”

Supporting up to 52 channels with up to 32 transmit (TX) by 20 receive (RX) lines, the ATFCD52 enables dense, two-dimensional capacitive sensor arrays that capture data across the contact surface. Twenty parallel on-chip analog front ends simultaneously acquire all receive lines, enabling frame rates of up to 800 Hz, depending on the size of the sensor array. This high-speed acquisition helps the system detect the onset of a slip and adjust the grip before objects are dropped or crushed.

Further enhancing performance, the ATFCD52 is designed to resolve capacitance changes below 1 femtofarad (fF), providing the sensitivity needed to detect subtle tactile sensor deformation. This level of sensitivity is particularly important for light touch where capacitance changes can be extremely small and difficult to distinguish in noisy electrical environments. In robotic systems, these signals can be difficult to distinguish from electrical noise generated by servo motors, power electronics and switching regulators. Frequency hopping and oversampling also help mitigate this interference, supporting tactile sensing in electrically noisy environments.

For system-level processing, the ATFCD52 can be paired with Microchip MCUs, MPUs or FPGAs depending on application performance requirements. Developers can select a processing architecture appropriate for localized control or higher-throughput computation while incorporating the capacitance digitizer into a broader Microchip system solution. Beyond robotics, the ATFCD52’s flexibility makes it suitable for applications such as augmented reality and gaming accessories, data-collecting gloves and foot mats and wearable sensing such as electronic skin. Visit the website to learn more about Microchip’s full portfolio of robotics solutions.

Development Tools
The ATFCD52 is supported by the EV-ATFCD52 development board to help customers evaluate their capacitive sensor designs, tactile sensor materials and stack-ups. The ATFCD52 Configurator software enables user parameter configuration and real-time data logging to help accelerate evaluation and design-in.

Availability
The ATFCD52 high-speed capacitance digitizer can be purchased directly from Microchip or contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor.

Resources
High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

• Application image: https://www.flickr.com/gp/microchiptechnology/610WR97hF4

About Microchip Technology:
Microchip Technology Inc. is a broadline supplier of semiconductors committed to making innovative design easier through total system solutions that address critical challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies and durable end markets. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio supports customers throughout the design process, from concept to completion. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support and delivers solutions across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo and the Microchip logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

Editorial Contact:
Amber Liptai
480-792-5047
amber.liptai@microchip.com