ITO Touch supply a comprehensive range of both resistive and capacitive touch screen solutions. But what exactly is the difference between resistive and capacitive touch display technology? Here’s everything you need to know about the difference between resistive and capacitive touch screen technology.
Resistive Touch Displays
Consisting of a combination of resistive and conductive ITO layers separated by insulating spacers, resistive touch screens use pressure to ‘convert’ a touch into the desired action.
Touching the screen causes the conductive layers to touch. The software controlling the device in question recognises the resulting change in current at the point of contact and translates it to the required function at that point.
Offering a visible transmission rate of 70%, resistive displays are durable and comparatively reliable, but are prone to accidental input/activation (i.e. in pockets, bags, etc.) and general wear & tear may eventually result in lack of response.
They also respond to single-touch commands only, which means that unlike capacitive screens, they cannot be used to enlarge images, for example.
Capacitive Touch Display Technology
Capacitive display screens, on the other hand, do not use pressure but changes in an electrical field’s flow of currents. The two main types of capacitive displays are projective and surface capacitive displays.
The former type uses grids of columns and rows with separate chips allowing sensing of current changes, while the latter, surface capacitive type combines an evenly distributed ITO film and sensors on each of the screen’s corners.
With both types, an electrostatic field is generated across the screen. When the screen is touched by a finger, a minute electrical charge is transmitted to said finger, resulting in a drop of current (voltage) at that point. This drop is then recognised and translated into the required action/function by the device’s software.
Offering significantly better transmission rates (90%) than resistive screens, capacitive touch screens are less prone to suffer from wear & tear (due to no pressure being required) and cannot be activated by accident.
Durable, designed to withstand even harsh conditions and offering both enhanced clarity and accuracy, capacitive screens can also be used for multi-touch functions, which, of course, makes them the most suitable solution for applications like, for example:
- Smart phones, tablets and other consumer electronics devices
- In-dash automotive, naval, military and aviation displays;
- Medical, R&D and science displays;
- Educational, manufacturing & processing displays;
- Switch boards, ATMs (cash points) and more
Contact Us
Diamond Coatings can provide capacitive touch display screens:
- On substrates including glass, acrylic and other flexible/rigid plastics
- Complete with all required patterning, bonding & connections
- Fully shielded (optional)
- With other finishing options (i.e. hard coat, anti-reflective (AR) and/or special optical coatings; optional)
To learn more/discuss your capacitive screen requirements, please give our team of experts a call on +44 (0) 8451 360 603 or +44 (0) 121 550 9430 today.