Touchscreen

Technology Comparison
Capacitive Systems Resistive
SAW Infrared Resistive
Projected Surface 4/5/8 wire
Technology Capacitive Capacitive
Surface acoustic Light
electric field thru electric field on Analog Digital
waves interruption
material(s) material surface

Input Method Finger, Finger, Finger, gloved Finger, gloved Finger, gloved Finger, gloved
gloved finger, conductive finger, or soft finger, or finger, or finger or
conductive stylus tip stylus stylus pen stylus pen stylus pen
stylus

Activation Programmable Non- Non- N/A Non- Non-

Sensitivity customizable customizable customizable customizable
Mechanically Mechanically
tuned tuned

Activation N/A N/A N/A N/A Mechanically Mechanically

Pressure tuned tuned

Featuring ADVANCED INPUT, MEMTRON, and LRE MEDICAL Products

Use with Gloves Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Sensor Thick glass - Typically soda Glass only Any substrate Typical Typical
Substrate some plastics lime glass of no polyester film polyester film
Types possible substrate
with choices picture frame Glass Glass
depending
on use &
interactions

Gestures Yes Limited Yes Yes Yes - dual Yes requires

(Single touch touch uses constant
to drag & drop, special pressure
pinch/zoom) controller

Multi-touch Yes No No Yes Limited Yes

Stable Required at Yes required Yes required None Yes required Required at
Calibration set up periodically periodically required periodically set up

Best Good Neutral Poor Worst

 Capacitive Systems Resistive
SAW Infrared Resistive
Projected Surface 4/5/8 wire
Technology Capacitive Capacitive
Surface acoustic Light
electric field thru electric field on Analog Digital
waves interruption
material(s) material surface
Surface High, more Medium, High, more High, more Typical Typical Low
Hardness than 9H varies on any than 9H than 9H Low, only 3H to medium
protective Can be
coating picture frame Glass Glass

Durability/ High, Medium, Low, highly High Low, easily Low, easily
Longevity solid-state solid-state susceptible damaged damaged
technology design to stress by foreign by foreign
protected through or wear in objects and objects and
thru thin or thin rigid mechanical / or harsh / or harsh
thick rigid substrates; construction cleaners. cleaners.
substrates; medium level over time Highly Highly
highly shock/ of shock subject to subject to
impact and impact wear under wear under
resistant resistance heavy use heavy use
Surface or Best units Does not Adversely Potential Typical Typical
Environmental immune work when affected by for false construction construction
to water, wet or moist moisture, actuation or easily easily
Contaminants moisture surface dead zones scratched scratched
and other contaminants from surface and degrades and degrades
contaminants and contaminants with UV with UV
or chemical changes in exposure; exposure;
cleaners; temperature varying varying
wide performance performance
temperature at different at different
range temperatures temperatures

Glass Glass

Transmissivity Very good Very good Very good No distortion Distortion Distortion due
Optics >92% >92% >92% 100% due to to coatings
Featuring ADVANCED INPUT, MEMTRON, and LRE MEDICAL Products

coatings <82%
<82%
Ease of Complex Simple - Complex Simple - Simple Simple
Integration front surface requires
sensitive to bezel
metal integration
Compliance Needs Needs
(EMC, ESD, etc). a good a good
compliance compliance
strategy strategy

Size 2” to12” with 6.4” to 32” Good for all 8” to 150” Good for Good for 6.4”,
ITO up to sizes if this 6.4”, 8.4”, 8.4”, and
Recommendation 100+” with high-end and 10.4”. 10.4”. Very
micro fine technology Very good good for
wires required for 12.1” and 12.1” and
higher higher

Cost: High Moderate Moderate Moderate Low Low

Touch Panel
High High Moderate Moderate Low Low
Cost:
Touch Controller

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Headquarters Caoheijing High Tech Park
600 W. Wilbur Avenue 530 N. Franklin Street Hofer Straße 5 6th Floor, Block 87
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208-765-8000 989-652-2656 +49 (0) 9081-800-1 Shanghai, China

eit.sales@esterline.com © Copyright 2012 Esterline Corporation. All rights reserved. Trademarks and trade names
www.esterline.com/interfacetechnologies are property of their representative owners. Right reserved to make changes to products
and services described herein without prior notice. Revision B.02 2012-01