INTRODUCTION TO TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY

A touch screen is an input device that

allows users to operate a computing device by just touching the display screen.
The display screen has a sensitive glass

overlay and used to give the desired input by touching it.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS:
To recognize one or more fingers

touching a display. To interpret the command that this represents . To communicate the command to the appropriate application.

TOUCH SENSORS
A touch screen sensor is a clear glass

panel with a touch responsive surface which is placed over a display screen so that the responsive area of the panel covers the viewable area of the display screen. The sensor generally has an electrical current or signal going through it and touching the screen causes a voltage or signal change. This voltage change is used to determine the location of the

Picture showing a touchscreen

ADVANTAGES:
User friendly. Increases input speed. Reduces input errors.

DISADVANTAGES:
Cause stress on human fingers when

used for more than a few minutes at a time, since significant pressure can be required for certain types of touchscreens. Use of finger may result in an ambiguous point of contact with the screen.

DISADVANTAGES:
Suffer from the problem of

fingerprints on the display.

Presence of sunlight may reduce

the efficiency of some touchscreens like IR touchscreens.

APPLICATIONS:
User interactive displays like ATMs. Personal digital Assistants(PDAs). Satellite navigation devices. Mobile phones. Video games.

FUTURE TRENDS (soft touchscreen)

OVERVIEW
A touchscreen basically comprises of

three things. Touch overlay on the screen Controller Software Driver

1. TOUCH

OVERLAY

It is the sensing portion placed

over the screen for detection and is transparent covering the viewable area of the display screen. The sensing technique used may vary depending upon the technology.

2. CONTROLLER
The

controller is actually a hardware that connects between the touch sensor and the PC. It takes information from the touch sensor and translates it into information that PC can understand

3. Software Driver
The driver is a software that allows

the touch screen and computer to work together. It tells the operating system how to interpret the touch event information that is sent from the controller.

TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGIES

Resistive Dispersive Signal (DST) Acoustic Infrared

RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN
A

resistive touchscreen panel is composed of several layers, the most important of which are two thin, metallic, electrically conductive layers separated by a narrow gap.

When an object, such as a finger

presses down on a point on the panel's outer surface the two metallic layers become connected at that point.

 The panel then behaves as a pair of

voltage dividers with connected outputs. This causes a change in the electrical current which is registered as a touch event and sent to the controller for processing.

LAYERS OF THE RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN:

1. Polyester Film . 2. Top Resistive Layer. 3. Conductive Transparent Metal

Coating. 4. Bottom Resistive Layer . 5. Insulating Dots . 6. Glass Substrate

ADVANTAGES OF RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN

Activated by any stylus High touch point resolution Low power requirements

DISADVANTAGES OF RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN

Reduced optical clarity

Polyester surface can be damaged

DISPERSIVE SIGNAL
this system uses sensors to detect

the mechanical energy in the glass that occurs due to a touch.

Complex algorithms then interpret

this information and provide actual location of the touch.

the

Mechanical waves created with touch

Advantages
No need for additional elements on

screen

Provide

excellent optical clarity , since mechanical vibrations are used

Any object can be used to generate

these events, including fingers and stylus

Continued...
Touch unaffected by surface

contaminants, such as dirt, dust..

Operation unaffected by surface

damage.

Disadvantages
More expensive to integrate.

Only available for displays

ACOUSTIC(SAW)
Surface

acoustic wave (SAW) technology uses ultrasonic waves that pass over the touchscreen panel.

Transducers mounted at the edge of

a glass overlay to emit ultrasonic sound waves along two sides

 Waves

are reflected across the surface of the glass and received by sensors.

A finger or stylus absorbs some of the

acoustic energy and the controller measures the amplitude change of the wave to determine touch location.

Acoustic wave touch overlay

Advantages
Good optical clarity Z-axis capability Durable glass front

Disadvantages
Requires finger or sound absorbing

stylus .
Signal affected by surface liquids or

other contaminants.
Difficult to industrialize.

TECHNOLOGY RESISTIVE

COMPARISON OF TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGIES

SAW IR CAPACITIV E 5 Yr. 3 Yr. 2 Yr.

DURABILITY 5 Yr.

STABILITY

HIGH

HIGHER HIGH

OK

TRANSPARENC OK Y

GOOD

GOOD

OK

TECHNOLOGY RESISTIVE

COMPARISON OF TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGIES

SAW IR CAPACITIV E Anything Finger/ AnythingConductive Pen

TOUCH

INTENSE LIGHT- Good RESISTANT

Good

Good

Bad

TECHNOLOGY RESISTIV E RESPONSE TIME <10ms

COMPARISON OF TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGIES

SAW IR CAPACITIV E 10ms <20ms <15ms

TECHNOLOG RESISTIVE Y MONITOR OPTION CRT

COMPARISON OF TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGIES

SAW IR CAPACITIV E CRT CRT or LCD CRT or LCD

WATERPROOF Good

Ok

Ok

Good