Touch screen technology is available as resistive or capacitive, both functioning slightly different, offering optimisation of touch screen performance for varied applications.
Functionality and optical performance can be increased by the use of ITO coatings within capacitive and resistive touch screens.
Resistive Touch Screens
Resistive touchscreens are currently the most common type of touchscreen in use due to their low cost and ease of use.
These screens are usually made up of two layers. The outer layer of the screen is usually a clear polycarbonate layer while the inside layer is often made of glass or PET film.
Resistive touchscreens rely upon the mechanical pressure exerted by a stimulus to detect movement.
Resistive screens are most commonly used in manufacturing, ATMs and medical technology. Due to the way they are designed the screens are typically single touch devices, only capable of reading a single touch at a time.
A benefit of resistive touch screens is that they are capable of being used while wearing gloves, unlike most capacitive screens.
The downside of resistive touch screens is increased glare due to the extra reflective surfaces and less accurate input.
Capacitive Touch Screens
Capacitive touch screens and displays are used across many industries.
There are two types and capacitive screens, that function slightly differently. While the surface capacitive screens use an electrode in each corner to detect touch, the projected capacitive screens use a matrix of capacitors to project an electrostatic field which allows the screens to detect touch.
Our touch panels screens are manufactured using index-matching technology, which ensures capacitive screens with a visible transmission rate equal to that of uncoated glass and plastic.
Capacitive screens are often used in consumer electronics such as laptops, phones and tablets, due to their ability to register multiple touches at once and a high visible transmission.
In the automotive industry, capacitive touch screens are also used, in capacitive touch light lenses for automotive overhead consoles.
Capacitive touch screens and displays are used across many industries, with applications in research and development, industrial and scientific control panels or displays.
Capacitive screens are most used in consumer electronics such as laptops, phones and tablets due to their ability to register multiple touches simultaneously and tendency for longer life. Capacitive screens also have a higher visible transmission of around 90 percent.
The disadvantages of capacitive screens are the higher cost and that they are more susceptible to water and dust damage.
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