How Different Types Of Touch Screens Work

Touch screen technology has become very popular in industrial and retail products. They’ve also exploded into areas such as PDAs, tablet PCs, airport kiosks and other technologies. Touch screen technology makes our life faster and more convenient by allowing users to quickly and accurate input and access information.

There are many forms of touch screen technology, which we will address in this article. We will also explain how the touch screen technology works. Of all the touch screen technology, we will address three: Resistive, capacitive and surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology.

Resistive

Resistive touch screen panels are the most commonly used and the least expensive type of touch screen. These screens are coated with electrically conductive and resistive layers. Insulating spacers separate the two conductive or resistive layers. When pressure is applied to the screen, by a finger or other objects, the layers are brought into electrical contact which causes a switch closure and a command is registered.

Resistive touch screens are widely used due to their durability. Outside elements rarely affect the performance of the screen, which deem these type of touch screens the most practical to use in areas of large use and demanding environments.

Examples of resistive screens are point-of sale kiosks, debt card checkout areas and other technologies we use everyday.

The figure below shows pressure being applied to a resistive touch screen, causing a electircal contact when the two layers come in contact with each other.

Capacitive

Capacitive touch screen panels are much different than resistive panels in the way that they function. These screens are coated with those stores electrical charges. The coating is typically indium tin oxide, which allows the capacitive touch screen to continuality carry an electrical charge.

When the panel is touched, a charge is created and that specific information is sent to be processed. Unlike its resistive counterpart, capacitive touch screens must be touched by a human finger or some sort of conductive device being held by a human hand.

Capacitive screens also offer a high clarity display than that of a resistive touch screen.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)

Surface Acoustic technology is the most advanced touch panel types of the other discussed in this article. This type of touch screen is glass with a string of transducers and reflectors and registers touches using acoustic waves. When touched, the wave is absorbed and the touch is registered and sent to be processed.

Since the panel is made of all glass the clarity is superior to the other touch screen types. The durability is also superior due to the fact that SAW screens don’t have any type of outer layer, just the glass. With no layers; however, SAW screens are susceptible to the environment and may be damaged.

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