Outdoor environments pose unique challenges for touchscreens – requiring robust construction and exceptional performance under harsh conditions like wet environments, extreme temperatures, vandalism, and electromagnetic interference. Discover the essential features that will enable your touchscreen solutions to not only survive, but thrive, in difficult outdoor conditions.
Rain, condensation, and even user interactions with wet fingers can interfere with touch sensitivity. Capacitive touchscreens, which are the most common, rely on changes in the electric field to detect touch and since water conducts electricity, water can disrupt these signals.
To address these challenges, advanced touch controllers, like those from EETI (e.g. EETI IC chips) should be used. These controllers are specifically designed to distinguish between unintended water interference and genuine user interactions.
With Avnet’s fine-tuning process, touch parameters can be precisely adjusted to ensure accurate response under wet conditions.
Thick tempered or laminated glass (6-10mm) prevents shattering and provides the impact resistance needed for outdoor use, making protective glass layers essential for vandal-proof durability.
In cold climates or industrial environments, touchscreens must function flawlessly even when users are wearing gloves. The added barrier of gloves reduces the capacitance that controllers rely on, making signal detection more challenging.
Advanced EETI touch ICs are precisely calibrated to recognize these lower signals, ensuring seamless responsiveness. Whether gloves are made of cotton, leather, latex, or even thicker materials, EETI touch ICs are built to adapt.
Avnet’s fine-tuning process can optimize the controllers sensitivity to ensure response to a wide range of glove types without compromising accuracy.
Outdoor environments are often full of electromagnetic noise from various electronic systems such as power lines, cellular towers and industrial equipment, all of which can disrupt touchscreen functionality.
Achieving EMI resistance requires robust shielding, grounding, and filtering technologies. EETI controllers are designed with these features to ensure stable, interference-free operation. It is also important that touch systems are compliant with electromagnetic emission regulations, preventing the touchscreen itself from interfering with other devices. EETI controllers are built with EMC standards in mind, ensuring that the touch interface meets regulatory requirements.
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Avnet’s expertise in tuning these controllers further strengthens their resistance, ensuring the touchscreen not only resist external electromagnetic disturbances but thrive in high-noise environments.
Outdoor touchscreens must withstand extreme temperatures and constant exposure to sunlight without sacrificing performance. UV rays can degrade many materials over time, and temperature fluctuations can impact touch sensitivity. EETI touch ICs are engineered for wide temperature ranges – from -40°C to +85°C – ensuring reliable operation in any climate, from freezing winters to scorching summers.
To protect against UV damage and ensure readability, UV-resistant coatings are also essential. High-brightness displays, paired with anti-glare coatings, keep screens visible in direct sunlight, while optically clear touch layers ensure maximum visibility without compromising responsiveness.
To achieve peak outdoor performance, customization is key. Beyond hardware capabilities, precise tuning of touchscreens is essential to optimize for unique environmental conditions. Avnet Displays collaborates with manufacturers and integrators to fine-tune touch controllers, enhancing features like:
Ready to build an outdoor touchscreen that thrives in the outdoors? Let Avnet Displays bring the expertise and precision tuning needed for optimal outdoor performance.
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Stefano Rosato - Director, Technical Touch Technology at Avnet Stefano Rosato is director of technical touch technology in the Display Solutions team at Avnet. Stefano helps customers solve touch challenges and supports customers through the whole design-in phase for touchscreen integration. With deep knowledge about PCAP technology, along with its design-in rules, tuning and pattern designs, Stefano is a leading expert in the touchscreen industry.Read More |
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