Sensor Glass (SG) contains rows and columns of transparent, conductive Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). When touched, ITO warps into an irregular surface warping when you press against it; its controller IC and firmware then transform this signal into digital touch position data.
Touch monitors manufacturers PCAP sensors offer convenient multi-touch gesture support with finger, stylus and glove use and support swiping, pinching and rotating actions for enhanced public-facing use. Their advantages make them the perfect solution for industrial applications or public demonstrations.
What is PCAP?
Projected capacitive pcap touch panels technology was initially designed for smartphones and tablet computers. This touch screen interface features superior optical clarity, scratch resistance, multi-touch capability – even when thick gloves are worn – reliable multi-touch capability, reliable multi-point recognition of multiple points of contact, as well as supporting swipe, rotate pinch zoom gestures.
Operates using a sensor grid placed between an LCD panel and cover glass. A touch from a finger or stylus activates it, and its self-capacitance detects where your touch occurred.
On a sensor surface, electrodes are arranged in a diamond-shaped matrix. As soon as voltage is applied to this grid, these electrodes produce a capacitive electromagnetic field; when something disrupts this field, such as touching it with something conductive, this causes a change in capacitance which is registered by a touch controller and later translated into its location on an X/Y grid.
How do PCAP touch screens work?
Resistive touchscreens are often the go-to solution for industrial applications that demand durability and performance, however new PCAP touch technology is becoming more and more popular due to its improved optical clarity, durability, reliability under thick gloves, and other environmental conditions.
PCAP touch screens utilize an interlaced grid of conductive rows and columns connected by conductor wires that form capacitive displays. When someone touches their finger to one of these conductive rows or columns, current is reduced in that region of the grid, enabling electronics to detect where a touch has taken place.
Sensors respond to single finger touches, multi-touch functionality and gestures such as swipes, pinches and zooming. A key advantage of this technology is that it operates behind insulating layers or screen protectors such as tempered glass, smudge resistant glass or vandal proof glass; also its rear-mounted conductive matrix is protected from scratches or cracks which could compromise other touch technologies using Infrared (IR) or Resistive sensors.
How do PCAP touch controllers work?
When an electrically conducting finger or object touches the screen, they contribute to altering electromagnetic fields by pulling or adding to them, altering its strength and making changes visible through sensor readings that can then be recognized as input by downstream touch controllers.
PCAP technology stands out from other touch technologies on the market by recognising multi-touch, supporting dual touch, pinching and rotating gestures as well as durable scratch, abrasion and vandal resistance, making it suitable for commercial and industrial environments.
PCAP touch controllers are attached to the flex tail of touch screens using Chip on Flex (COF). Their sensor’s X and Y matrix detects touch points by analysing variations in an electric field created by capacitor rows and columns – without physical pressure required, making this ideal for gloved and passive stylus touches. Furthermore, their controller ICs offer advanced features such as noise immunity, water handling capabilities and thick cover lenses for additional support.
What are the advantages of PCAP touch technology?
PCAP touchscreens deliver value to end users through their wide array of features, not just accuracy. Multi-touch gesture recognition is supported, enabling more complex commands to be executed by users using only one finger or stylus input.
Additionally, these screens boast superior optical performance when used with different cover lenses and film substrates. Furthermore, they can be ruggedized using chemical strengthening agents as well as saltwater/waterproof coatings to withstand use in harsh environments.
Conclusion
Industrial PCAP touchscreens can be manufactured to work under challenging operating conditions with thick gloves by employing special surface treatments and touch controller firmware algorithms that distinguish a touch from liquid droplets or electromagnetic interference, and this advanced capability enables these screens to be utilized across a range of manufacturing and other industrial applications requiring ruggedness, scratch resistance and high touch precision. NVD provides patented PCAP products which can be tailored specifically for customer requirements through customized sensor stacks, bonding techniques, cover lens materials/finishes/finishes/touch controller tunings/tunings/touch controller tunings etc.
