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Bringing Touch to Life: Azoteq's IQS39x Haptic ICs Redefine User Feedback

Azoteq's IQS39x family combines capacitive sensing and haptic feedback in a single compact IC, enabling more responsive, intuitive, and reliable user interfaces for next-gen consumer, industrial, and wearable devices.

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24 Jun, 2025. 6 minutes read

Azoteq has launched the IQS39x family - compact haptic ICs that combine capacitive and inductive sensing with tactile feedback in a single chip. Ideal for Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) motors, the ICs feature an integrated H-bridge, multiple drive modes, and real-time auto-resonance tracking capabilities.

The ultracompact chip is the latest addition to Azoteq’s versatile product portfolio that already features solutions, such as:

  • PROXSENSE Modules  for trackpads

  • PROXFUSION Combination sensors

  • PROXSENSE Capacitive sensors

  • POWERSENSE Lighting and power solutions

Modern devices, from wearables to industrial controls, are moving away from mechanical buttons. But flat touch interfaces can feel unresponsive. That’s where haptics step in, restoring tactile feedback and enhancing user confidence, accuracy, and accessibility.

What is Haptic Feedback?

Haptic feedback has transformed the way we interact with digital interfaces by conveying information through the sense of touch, utilizing vibrations, forces, or motions. It can enhance accuracy in tasks by improving accessibility for visually and auditorily impaired individuals as well as by boosting overall user engagement with intuitive interactions. 

As digital interfaces become increasingly central to our lives, the demand for tactile and intuitive feedback is surging. From smartphones and smartwatches to robotics and industrial controls, users now expect more than just visual or audio cues. They want to feel their interactions. Haptic technology meets this need, enhancing user confidence, precision, and satisfaction. The tactile sensor market is projected to hit $57.1 billion by 2034, driven by booming adoption in consumer electronics and smart devices. To stay competitive, manufacturers are embracing haptics as a key differentiator, making digital experiences more natural, engaging, and human.

The Designer’s Dilemma: Making Touch Feel Right

Replacing mechanical buttons with sleek touch interfaces meets modern expectations, but it comes with real engineering design challenges:

  • Overlay Limitations: Touch sensitivity varies depending on the thickness and material of the overlays. Gloves, protective gear, or glass panels can make input detection unreliable.

  • Environmental Sensitivity: Temperature changes, humidity, and EMI can all interfere with capacitive touch, leading to missed or false inputs, especially in industrial or outdoor settings.

  • Electrical Noise: Nearby circuits and devices generate noise that disrupts touch accuracy. Designers must add shielding, filters, and tuning to maintain performance.

  • Complex Design Requirements: Developing a responsive, reliable capacitive interface requires specialized firmware, fine-tuned sensors, and meticulous PCB design, which slows down development and increases costs.

  • Production and Calibration Hurdles: Consistent performance requires iterative design, calibration, and testing, which add time and complexity to the manufacturing process.

What Makes Azoteq’s Haptic Portfolio Stand Out

Azoteq’s IQS39x family combines capacitive sensing and haptic feedback into a single, compact ASIC, making it essential for designers building next-generation interfaces. Whether you're designing for wearables, keyboards, or industrial controls, the IQS39x delivers performance, simplicity, and flexibility in one.

Why engineers love it

  • Ultra-Compact Design
     The sensor and haptic driver are combined in a single chip, minimizing footprint—perfect for miniaturized systems like controllers, wearables, and touch panels.

  • Simplified Architecture
     Fewer components mean reduced design complexity and precise system integration.

  • Responsive & Tunable
     Sensitivity can be fine-tuned via external components, optimizing performance even in low-power devices like IoT wearables.

  • Cost-Effective
     With a low BOM and fewer materials, it helps reduce development and manufacturing costs.

  • Precise Integration
     Designed with usability in mind, IQS39x ICs allow developers to move quickly from concept to prototype to production. Their preconfigured features and compact footprint make them ideal for both new designs and retrofits.

  • Plug-and-Play Simplicity
     With built-in haptic drivers and configurable modes, these ICs reduce the need for custom firmware or complex hardware redesigns—supporting fast development cycles and product iteration.

  • Developer-Friendly Tools
     Azoteq provides full support with evaluation kits, intuitive GUIs, and detailed documentation—making it easy to fine-tune performance and validate designs at every stage.

  • Low Software Overhead
     The ICs perform key processing tasks on-chip, reducing the burden on host processors. This means quicker setup, easier calibration, and faster time-to-market.

A deeper look at the IQS39x haptic family

From waveform control and resonance tracking to sensing architecture and power optimization, this family of ICs is engineered for precision, flexibility, and performance in demanding real-world applications.  

IQS39x Haptic Family Lineup

The IQS39x product range offers scalable options for a variety of design needs—from simple plug-and-play drivers to fully integrated sensing-and-feedback ICs. Each product in the family is tailored for specific use cases, balancing ease of implementation with advanced performance.

IQS391 – Basic Haptic Driver
 An entry-level, plug-and-play solution for basic LRA motor control. Ideal for simple haptic tasks where minimal setup and fast deployment are key.

IQS390 – Versatile Driver with Autoresonance
 Offers advanced drive capabilities with real-time closed-loop autoresonance, making it a great fit for mobile devices and other power-sensitive applications.

IQS397 – Robust Sensor + Driver Combo
 Combines capacitive touch sensing and haptic feedback with high noise immunity. Designed for reliable performance in electrically noisy or industrial environments.

IQS396 – ProxFusion® Integration with Advanced Control
 Delivers fully integrated sensing (capacitive, inductive, Hall-effect, etc.) alongside haptic output. Supports multiple input modalities and smart power management for complex interactive devices.

IQS326 – Rotary Sensing with Haptics
 Features precise Hall-based rotation detection with integrated haptics—ideal for scroll wheels, dials, and other rotary interface elements where tactile feedback enhances control.

The IQS39x product range.

Core Technologies: Powering Precision Haptics

LRA Motor Compatibility

The IQS39x family is fully optimized for Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) motors, with features that ensure consistent, energy-efficient performance:

  • Integrated H-Bridge: Drives LRA motors directly with bidirectional current, simplifying circuitry.

  • Closed-Loop Autoresonance: Real-time tracking maintains peak vibration amplitude across motor aging, temperature shifts, and mounting variations.

  • Smart Power Modes: Ultra-low-power operation and automatic power management extend battery life in portable devices.

  • Flexible Control: Trigger haptics via sensor events or I2C commands—ideal for custom workflows and modular design.

  • Built-In Protections: Internal safeguards defend both IC and motor, boosting reliability and longevity.

ProxFusion® Sensing Platform

Beyond haptics, IQS39x ICs integrate Azoteq’s multi-modal sensing architecture, combining:

  • Capacitive, inductive, Hall-effect, and temperature sensing—in a single package.

  • Customizable channels and sensor combos, adapting to diverse applications from sealed trackpads to rugged industrial interfaces.

  • Low-Power Optimization: Features like auto-calibration and wake-on-touch reduce energy draw.

  • Tactile UX Enhancements: ProxFusion supports virtual freewheel and gesture-based inputs, bringing smooth scrolling and intuitive feedback to flat surfaces.

  • Streamlined Development: On-chip processing reduces CPU load, speeds up development, and minimizes external circuitry.

Read more about the applications of this product range here.

A Smarter Way to Feel the Future

As devices become flatter, sleeker, and more intelligent, user expectations for interaction are rising. The IQS39x family from Azoteq meets these demands head-on—blending advanced haptic feedback with multi-modal sensing in a compact, easy-to-integrate package. Whether you’re designing for wearables, industrial controls, or smart home devices, these ICs offer the precision, reliability, and responsiveness needed to deliver next-generation experiences.

With built-in support for LRA motors, smart power management, and a flexible sensing platform, the IQS39x simplifies development while unlocking new possibilities for tactile interaction. Azoteq’s haptic solutions don’t just enhance interfaces; they offer a redefinition of how users connect with technology.

Ready to bring touch to life? Explore the IQS39x family and start building more intuitive, immersive experiences today.

References

  1. Research and Markets, "Tactile Sensors Market Opportunity, Growth Drivers, Industry Trend Analysis, and Forecast 2025-2034," Feb. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/6060371/tactile-sensors-market-opportunity-growth

  2. J. Smith, "Mechanical Buttons to Capacitive Sensing: A Step-by-Step Guide, Part I," EDN Network, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.edn.com/mechanical-buttons-to-capacitive-sensing-a-step-by-step-guide-part-i/

  3. Microchip Technology Inc., "Capacitive Touch Sensor Design Guide," Application Note DS00002934-B, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/aemDocuments/documents/TXFG/ApplicationNotes/ApplicationNotes/Capacitive-Touch-Sensor-Design-Guide-DS00002934-B.pdf

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  6. UX Primer, "Embracing Haptic Feedback: Incorporating Touch Sensations in Modern UX Design," 2024. [Online]. Available: https://articles.ux-primer.com/embracing-haptic-feedback-incorporating-touch-sensations-in-modern-ux-design-1e40097c6a4d

  7. Azoteq, "Haptic Solutions," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.azoteq.com/haptic-solutions/

  8. Azoteq, "IQS390 Datasheet," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/42/Azoteq_01_10_2025_iqs390_datasheet_v1_0-3539955.pdf

  9. Azoteq, "IQS397 Datasheet," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.azoteq.com/images/stories/pdf/iqs397_datasheet.pdf

  10. Azoteq, "ProxFusion Product Overview," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.azoteq.com/products/proxfusion/

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  12. Future Electronics, "Azoteq IQS7211A ProxFusion Combination Sensors," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.futureelectronics.com/resources/featured-products/azoteq-iqs7211a-proxfusion-combination-sensors

  13. Melexis, "LIN Real Plug-and-Play Bus System," 2023. [Online]. Available: https://media.melexis.com/-/media/files/documents/tech-talks/lin-real-plug-and-play-bus-system.pdf?sc_lang=en

  14. Fintech Futures, "GBT Developing EDA Technology for Automatic Generation of Integrated Circuits Layout IPs," 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.fintechfutures.com/press-releases/gbt-is-developing-an-eda-technology-for-automatic-generation-of-integrated-circuits-layout-ips

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  16. Azoteq, "Mouse Wheel Solutions," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.azoteq.com/mousewheel-solutions/

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About Azoteq PTY LTD

Azoteq is a fabless semiconductor company with a rich IP portfolio. We have more than 20 years sensing experience, and we specialize in multifunctional sensors that integrate capacitive, inductive,...

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