Adding a twist to your touch display

By Stefano Rosato | 18 December 2024

If there’s one thing we are used to when we’re operating anything, it’s knobs and dials. We enjoy their familiar tactile experience when we control settings, like volume or menus. Somehow, a 100% touchscreen experience often isn’t enough and there is a real and very human satisfaction in the physical feedback when we ‘touch that dial’.

Certainly, it’s something our industrial, automotive or commercial customers have been asking for. So, we’ve created a way to integrate this experience into our touch displays without requiring any holes drilled or modifications to the display surface. Our PCAP solution simply glues the knob/dial to the display and achieves this by using the capacitive touch technology which is inherent to PCAP screens. The result is a look that is modern and sleek, maintains the integrity of the screen and still gives the user that very real feeling of control.

Beyond the aesthetics

Yes, it looks great, but we’ve also made sure that it is highly functional and high performing in various applications. For example, infotainment and climate control systems, industrial control panels and medical devices.

  • Tough

Traditional rotary encoders often require drilling or holes in the display surface. Ours doesn’t disrupt the protective glass layer of the touchscreen, maintaining the screen’s IP-rated sealing, making it ideal for rugged environments or applications where waterproofing is critical.

  • Precision touch and control

The knob is designed to work harmoniously with the PCAP sensors for precise rotational control over volume, brightness or other parameters without compromising the touch functionality of the display.

  • Integration with SIS controllers

Complex algorithms distinguish between accidental and intentional touches. So, the rest of the screen remains fully responsive to touch gestures like swipes and pinches.

  • Flexible design

Capacitive technology means it can be placed virtually anywhere on the touchscreen surface offering flexibility in design. Users can adjust its location, making it customizable to their specific interface or application needs.

Specifications
Outer Diameter: Inner Diameter: Height:
47.6 mm 19.7 mm 9.6 mm

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We believe in ease and effectiveness, working with the user to create designs which work. This is a perfect example of how traditional physical control and modern touchscreen technology can simplify design, reduce installation complexity and enhance user interaction. And still maintain the durability and aesthetics for applications required across industrial or consumer applications.

About Author

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

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.