Southampton's Quantum Research Group, acquired by Atmel in March, is to move its touch control products over to Atmel processors, and is to retain its UK base.

"Some of our ICs were previously based on [Atmel] AVR processors, we also used to use Microchip microcontrollers," marketing director Stephan Thaler told Electronics Weekly.

Quantum's intellectual property is in the algorithms used to control standard MCU peripherals to sense appropriate capacitance changes.

The firm's Qprox capacitive touch ICs are actually pre-programmed, re-branded, microcontrollers.

QT100 was its first product, a simple one channel touch switch which was not based on an Atmel processor. "For example, we have introduced the QT100A which has the same function and footprint, although a different package," said Thaler. "Later this year we will introduce a version with the same footprint and package." - adding that existing customer for all products will continue to be supported."

With the US firm buying Quantum, what will happen to its headquarters in the south of England? "Design and support is currently in Southampton," said Thaler. "There are no plans to move, we are actually hiring."