January 13, 2014 – CHICAGO – Newark element14 and Texas Instruments (TI) have created the HapTouch™ BoosterPack that allows developers to rapidly integrate haptics technology into their designs. The HapTouch™ BoosterPack combines MSP430TCH5E haptics MCUs and TI’s DRV2603 haptic driver into a familiar game controller form factor.

The new BoosterPack can be plugged into TI’s MSP430™ Value Line LaunchPad evaluation kit to demonstrate the ease of configuring capacitive touch buttons that provide audio-to-haptics feedback.

Priced at $25, the new BoosterPack is ideal for a wide range of professional engineering and developer projects and comes with a comprehensive software development kit. It is available from Newark element14 in North America, element14 in Asia Pacific and Farnell element14 in Europe.

David Adams, Senior Director of Technology Development, Newark element14, said: “The new HapTouch BoosterPack from TI and Newark element14 allows developers to quickly design HMI in gaming, mobile and computer accessories, industrial control panels and consumer electronics. Newark element14 has the industry’s largest selection of development kits to support all types of project design. Our continued investment in inventory means we are now also able to support in the low to mid volume production space as well.”

The new MSP430TCH5E haptics-enabled microcontrollers allow users to add vibrational feedback to all capacitive touch buttons, sliders and wheels on mobile computing and gaming devices, smart TV remotes, cameras, printers, industrial control panels, point-of-sale terminals and toys.

MSP430TCH5E MCUs allow developers to easily add and tune 122 different haptics effects, including effect chaining and audio-to-haptics functionality.

The new MSP430TCH5E MCUs can be further configured with TI’s open source MSP430™ Capacitive Touch Software Library. Developers can also leverage the new PC-based MSP430 Capacitive Touch Pro graphical user interface tool to evaluate, diagnose and tune capacitive touch button, slider and wheel designs in real time, featuring user-configurable ranging, recording and printing options.

About Newark element14

Newark element14 is a high-service distributor of technology products and engineering solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair. Newark element14 brings together the latest products, services and development software, all connected to an innovative online engineering community where purchasers and engineers can access peers and experts, a wide range of independent technical information and helpful tools. Whether researching a new technology, designing an electronic product, or looking for parts to repair an existing system, Newark element14 is the trusted source to find the answers and parts they need to keep projects on the fast track, right from the start. Newark element14 is the operating business of Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl) in North America.



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