AN2966
Application note
Capacitor selection guide for STM8T141
and touch sensing library-based capacitive sensors
Introduction
Capacitors feature some non-ideal characteristics that unfortunately limit their use in certain
applications. The objective of this application note is to help designers in selecting the right
sampling capacitor (C
undesirable characteristics. For STM8T141 devices, the specific power mode selected and
the proximity sensitivity will also directly influence this decision.
) for their applications by investigating the most important
S
November 2011 Doc ID 15600 Rev 2 1/8
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Charge transfer acquisition principle overview AN2966
1 Charge transfer acquisition principle overview
The STM8T and touch sensing library-based capacitive sensors use the charge transfer
acquisition principle to sense changes in capacitance. The electrode capacitance (C
charged to a stable reference voltage (V
for STM8T141 devices and VDD for general
REG
purpose STM8/STM32 devices). The charge is then transferred to a known capacitor
referred to as the sampling capacitor (C
the C
capacitor reaches an internal reference voltage (V
S
V
for general purpose STM8/STM32 devices). The number of transfers required to reach
IH
). This sequence is repeated until the voltage on
S
for STM8T141 devices and
TRIP
the threshold depends on the size of the electrode capacitance and represents its value.
To ensure stable operation of the solution, the number of transfers needed to reach the
threshold is adjusted by an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter which compensates for
environmental changes such as temperature, power supply, moisture, and surrounding
conductive objects.
Since the CS capacitor is an integral part of the design, it is important to consider the nonideal effects of capacitors.
X
) is
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AN2966 Capacitor characteristics
)2
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2%3)$5!,
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2 Capacitor characteristics
The most common short comings of capacitors are the following:
● Series resistance
● Series inductance
● Parallel resistance (leakage current)
● Non-zero temperature coefficient
● Dielectric absorption (DA) or soakage
● Dissipation Factor
The three most important characteristics that need to be examined are non-zero
temperature coefficient, dissipation factor and dielectric absorption (DA). The effect of these
non-ideal characteristics on the operation of the system will be briefly examined in the
following sections.
2.1 Dielectric absorption or soakage
Dielectric absorption (DA) or soakage can be detrimental to the operation and accuracy of
capacitive sensors that rely on a stable reference capacitor.
DA is caused by the charge that is soaked-up in the dielectric and remains there during the
discharge period. The charge then trickles back out of the dielectric during the relaxation
period and cause a voltage to appear on the C
capacitor. This phenomenon effectively
S
creates a memory effect in the capacitor. The size of the offset voltage is dependant on the
relaxation time between transfers and the discharge time of the C
phenomenon is illustrated in
Figure 1. The residual charge bleeds back (I
capacitor. This
S
RESIDUAL
) through
the insulation resistor (IR) to cause a voltage offset on the CS capacitor.
Figure 1. Model of dielectric absorption
This offset voltage influences the sensitivity of the system by reducing the number of
transfers needed to reach the internal reference voltage threshold and may cause false
proximity detections to occur.
By choosing a capacitor with a low dielectric absorption factor, a higher sensitivity level can
be selected, ensuring a more stable and reliable design with improved proximity detections.
Refer to
Ta bl e 1 for a comparison of dielectric absorption factors for the different types of
capacitor dielectrics.
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Capacitor characteristics AN2966
2.2 Non-zero temperature coefficient
To ensure trouble free operation over the final application operating temperature range, it is
important to select a capacitor featuring a stable temperature coefficient.
Dielectrics like PET, PEN, PPS and NPO usually have higher temperature characteristics
than normal ceramic capacitors and are thus recommended.
2.3 Dissipation factor
The dissipation factor is an indication of the energy loss, usually in the form of heat.
Capacitors with a high dissipation factor generally cause self-heating which affects the
capacitance. This change in capacitance in turn affects the number of charge transfers
needed to reach the internal reference voltage threshold.
This also emphasizes the need to choose a dielectric with a stable temperature coefficient.
Please refer to
Ta bl e 1 for a comparison of the dissipation factors for the various dielectrics.
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AN2966 Capacitor comparison
3 Capacitor comparison
Ta bl e 1 compares the most important characteristics that need to be reviewed when
selecting a CS capacitor.
Table 1. Characteristics of film SMD capacitors
Operating temperature (°C) −55 to 125 −55 to 125 −55 to 140 −55 to 125 −55 to 125 −55 to 125
ΔC/C with temperature (°C) ±5 ±5 ±1.5 ±1 ±1 ±10
Dissipation factor
(%)
Dielectric absorption (%) 0.5 1 0.05 0.6 2.5 n.a.
ESR Low Low Very low Low
Reliability High High High High Moderate Low
PET PEN PPS NPO X7R Tantalum
1 kHz 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.1 2.5 8
10 kHz 1.5 1.5 0.25 0.1
100 kHz 3.0 3.0 0.5 0.1
Moderate to
high
high
The PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) dielectric and the NPO ceramic capacitors performs
excellently in all categories. The PET (metallized polyester) and the PEN (metallized
polyphenylene naphthalate) capacitors also perform quite well and can be used in all touch
sensing applications.
Tantalum capacitors should be avoided as they have a very high dissipation factor and a
high effective series resistance (ESR). X7R ceramic capacitors can be used in certain
applications when a less sensitive proximity level is required.
STM8T141 capacitive sensor have selectable low power modes with zoom in which the
performance of the X7R dielectric is not acceptable due to its high dissipation factor and
capacitance change over temperature. DA has also a considerable influence on application
operation in low power modes with zoom, due to the fact that the time between charge
transfers varies.
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Conclusion AN2966
4 Conclusion
As explained, the sampling capacitor characteristics play an important role in the correct
and stable operation of a capacitive sensing application. Consequently, it is necessary to
select it carefully.
Recommendations for the STM8T141 capacitive sensor are summarized below:
● When the STM8T141 low power modes with zoom are used, PET, PEN, PPS or NPO
capacitor types must be used.
● If the STM8T141 is used for proximity detection, PET, PEN, PPS or NPO capacitor
types should be used.
● If the STM8T141 is used for touch detection, all capacitor types except tantalum can be
used.
Recommendations for touch sensing library based capacitive sensors are summarized
below:
● If the solution uses an MCU low power mode to reduce overall power consumption,
PET, PEN, PPS or NPO capacitor types should be used.
● If the solution uses linear or rotary touch sensors, PET, PEN, PPS or NPO capacitor
types should be used.
● If the solution uses only touchkey sensors, all capacitor types except tantalum can be
used.
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AN2966 Revision history
5 Revision history
Table 2. Document revision history
Date Revision Changes
04-May-2009 1 Initial release.
Document updated to include only STM8T141 and touch
sensing library-based capacitive sensors. Other changes
include:
Section 1: Charge transfer acquisition principle overview:
renamed and content rewritten.
Section 2: Capacitor characteristics: renamed.
TRIP
’
14-Nov-2011 2
Section 2.1: Dielectric absorption or soakage: replaced ‘V
by ‘internal reference voltage threshold’.
Section 2.2: Non-zero temperature coefficient: last sentence
updated.
Section 2.3: Dissipation factor: added ‘charge’ to ‘charge
transfers’; replaced ‘V
’ by ‘internal reference voltage
TRIP
threshold’.
Section 3: Capacitor comparison: layout and small text
changes.
Section 4: Conclusion: added.
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AN2966
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