Types
Overview | Applications and Characteristics | Integration | Types
TOUCHSCREEN TYPES:
Resistive Touch Screen Technology: A resistive touch screen panel is coated with a thin metallic electrically conductive and resistive layer that causes a change in the electrical current. This change in current is then registered as a touch event and sent to the controller for processing. Resistive touch screens offer approximately 75% optical clarity (some premium films and/or glass finishes may allow up to 85%) however these layers can be damaged by the use of sharp objects.
4 and 5 Wire Resistive Touch Screens: Resistive technologies with 4 or 5 wire offer a similar construction. They consist of a glass or acrylic substrate that is coated with electrically conductive and resistive layers. The thin layers are separated by transparent spacer dots. When pressure is applied in a specific location, a contact is created by the two layers coming into contact with each other. As a result, an electrical current travels through the screen causing a change in the current and a touch event is then registered.
- Benefits of 4 and 5 wire :
- Good touch resolution
- Pressure sensitive, will work with a non conductive contact
- Not affected by outdoor elements
- Cost competitive
- Benefit 5 wire :
- Offers a longer lifespan than 4 wire technology
- Disadvantages:
- Can be damaged by the use of sharp objects
- Optical clarity of 75 % to 85 % for the 4 wire version
- Optical clarity of 75 % for the 5 wire version
Capacitive Touch Screens: A capacitive touch screen consists of a glass substrate with a capacitive (charge storing) material coating on its surface. Circuits located at corners of the screen measure the capacitance of a person's touch/contact with the screen. Frequency changes are measured determining the X and Y coordinates of the touch event. Capacitive-type touch screens are very durable and have a high level of optical clarity.
Some typical applications are: restaurant monitors, industrial control panels as well as POS/POP applications.
- Advantages:
- High touch resolution
- Optical clarity up to 90 %
- Resistant to dirt, grease and moisture
- Disadvantages :
- Requires finger contact for confirmation
- The device will not function with any non-conductive contacts
- More expensive than the resistive models
Some other touch screen technologies include:
- PenTouch Capacitive, Surface Acoustic Wave
- Near Field Imaging and Infrared
Each type of screen has unique characteristics. Please contact GGI International if you have any questions or would like assistance selecting a touch technology for your next application.
Overview | Applications and Characteristics | Integration | Types