In the industrial world, the capacitive touchscreen can be a sensitive soul. It performs beautifully under ideal conditions, but this is a luxury most industries can’t afford. So, you can think of our new resistive ‘force-sensing’ technology as its rugged, outdoorsy sibling: ready for a real-world where things just need to get done, regardless of gloved hands, wet surfaces and extreme temperatures.
It’s a ‘force’ to be reckoned with (if you’ll excuse the pun), detecting and measuring the physical pressure applied to a surface, and it’s a completely fresh approach to HMI design. Buttons can be put behind almost any material for the kind of rugged, reliable and safety-critical applications that traditional touch solutions just can’t match.
Where capacitive technology reacts to proximity or moisture, our ‘force-sensing’ solution works with pressure. High-sensitivity sensors sit behind your surface of choice and can detect even the slightest changes when this material is pressed – precise enough to recognize a very light touch (around 100g), even through 0.8mm stainless steel.
In our experience, users notice immediately and it makes a tangible – and very welcome – difference to the way they use the screen:
But in all this excitement, let’s not forget the product designers. This opens up a world of new material options for them, creating huge commercial advantage. Buttons can be hidden behind metal, glass, plastic, wood or even stone. Honestly, there are materials we probably haven’t even considered and that’s great – smoothing the path for exciting new innovations is what we do best.
The upshot is that designers can create products which are more durable and naturally resistant to water and dust without compromising usability and aesthetics. And it’s engineered for the long haul, outlasting traditional mechanical alternatives with a lifespan that exceeds 10 million actuations.
And while you definitely don’t need us to give you ideas of how to use this, we’ve already seen this technology put to elegant use across a number of applications, in particular those where durability and reliability are red lines:
Industrial controls, such as ATMs, coded locks, and outdoor equipment where temperature fluctuations and humidity are everyday design challenges.
In medical & healthcare settings, force-sensing technology is great for creating hygienic, easy-to-clean surfaces for dental equipment and patient monitoring systems.
Safety is the number one priority in the automotive industry, and this technology is perfect for center consoles, door handles and start buttons.
Sleek aesthetics turn smart home appliances from purely functional to distinctive design choices.
Of course, it’s not our place to put the pressure on, but we think this is a solution that is definitely worth getting in contact for. And promise there will be absolutely no more puns when you do.
Our Avnet Displays come in a range of form-factors and our display-experts are on hand to guide you in the creation of display or touch solutions that meet your requirements. Find out how Avnet Displays can propel your product innovation and get in touch today.
There’s a word we really like here at Avnet Displays: simplification. Our engineers ask themselves, “how can we make this easier for our customers and their end-users?” and “what will it take to make using this display as simple as possible?”
There’s a word we really like here at Avnet Displays: simplification. Our engineers ask themselves, “how can we make this easier for our customers and their end-users?” and “what will it take to make using this display as simple as possible?”
Let us know about your product or your challenge and our team will get in touch to discuss how we can help.
