Projected-Capacitive Touch Panel

May 17, 2015

Ryan Gehm

Tianma NLT America is introducing a new touch screen technology developed by NLT Technologies, Ltd. The new 8.4-in XGA is an amorphous-silicon thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) module with a "Wet & Glove" projected capacitive (PCAP) touch sensor bonded to the front, which enables operation even when the screen is wet and/or the operator is wearing gloves. It provides dry screen tracking, water buildup tracking, and single glove operation, even in a wet environment. PCAP touch panels are being adopted in a range of industrial equipment, according to the company, for the enhanced features they provide, such as flush surface designs, multi-touch functionality, and gesture operation. Touch coordinates are detected using a combination of mutual-capacitance and self-capacitance sensors, and a proprietary sensitivity adjustment tool enables operation while wearing 2-mm (0.08-in) thick gloves. Wet & Glove touch technology also supports various design options, such as bonding method or surface treatments. Treatments to protect against fingerprints or reduce glare, for example, are accommodated, so end-product designers can set specifications to suit a range of usage scenarios.