Optrex develops capacitive touch switch technology

The company said the technology offers high standards of optimal performance for human-machine interfaces, handheld terminals, gaming, medical equipment, and point-of-sale and mobile applications.

The capacitive touch screens respond to fingertip input control without requiring application of any pressure.

The structures are very robust and the sensor elements will not wear out, according to Optrex America.

Lifetimes are approximately 100 million touches.

Optrex's capacitive touch switch solutions are claimed to provide good clarity and ease of design.

Improved visibility results from less reflectivity and higher transparency of the image displayed through the touch panel and allows for a thinner touch screen in front of the LCD (up to 0.5-0.7mm thick in the viewing area).

Transparency is a minimum of 95 per cent and reflection is less than 15 per cent.

The capacitive touch screens also have a wide operating temperature of -20C to +70C.

Touch screens utilising Optrex's technology are more compact, lighter in weight, more durable (including better resistance to liquids) and easier to clean.

Display solutions incorporating Optrex's capacitive touch technology are currently available for demonstration and new product designs include 3.0in (T-55149), 3.5in transmissive (T-55343) and 3.5in transflective (T-51963).

Additional sizes in 5.7in (T- 55265) and 6.5in (T-51750) diagonal will soon be available.

Optrex can provide the touch switch solution alone or in combination with a TFT LCD.