TOUCH SCREENS: Design Guide

Since being invented in the early 1970s, touch screen technology has experienced slow but steady embracement by con-
sumer and industrial product designers. The popularity of touch screens has recently experienced unprecedented growth,
as they have become the standard input method for smartphones as well as computer tablets. As more and more users
have embraced the light touch characteristics of touch screens, many other industries have been exploring whether this
technology is well suited for their products. Like all technology, there are many tradeoffs associated with implementing
touch screens into your products. This design guide has been compiled to help engineers understand the basic elements of
touch screen technology as well as the many respective design considerations.

Components of a Touch Screen System

Software

Controller
Display
Touch Sensor

Touch Sensor Display Controller Software Driver

The touch screen component acts as
the device for which the user actually
touches. The touch screen most
always utilizes a layer of clear, rigid
material such as glass or plastic sheet.
Additionally, the touch screen utilizes a
clear conductive layer that interfaces to
the touch sensing electronics.
These full color displays The controller is a set of electronic Depending on the system
are often either of the components that translate the for which the touch screen
LCD or TFT variety. A message sent by the touch sensor. will be used, likely software
multitude of off the shelf The controller interprets the location will need to be configured to
displays are commercially for which the touch sensor was ensure that the touch sensor
available. In some appli- pushed. These components are pro- and controller interfaces
cations, custom displays grammable and among other things properly with the operating
are utilized. control the sensitivity of the sensor. system of the equipment.

The Anatomy of a Touch Screen*

Film w/ITO (conductive coating)

Tail/Cable
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive
Glassw/ITO (conductive coating)

Conductive Busses

*Typical Construction of a Resistive Touch Screen

 Common Types of Touch Screens
Resistive
Resistive Touch Panels rely on pressure to create an electrical current change between conductive planes of material. The
top surface is typically Polyester (PET) and the second conductive layer is glass. Both layers are coated with Indium Tin
Oxide (ITO) and separated by a spacer material. This type of touch panel has high resistance to many liquids. The two
layers of conductive ITO are usually aligned in an X-Y matrix and are made in a 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 wire configuration. Resistive
touch panels are typically lowest in cost. The disadvantage is due to having to press down, the PET is prone to scratching
and/or puncture.

Capacitive

There are two types of Capacitive touch panels, Surface Capacitance and Projected Capacitance. Both consist of an insu-
lator similar to glass and a conductive coating ITO. The body is the conductor, therefore creating a change in the elec-
trostatic field of the touch panel. This type of touch panel is very durable due to a hard coating on the first surface of the
top material.

Surface Capacitance touch panels have a glass insulator sandwiched between two ITO layers. The change in capacitance
is measured relative to the four corners of the part. Projected Capacitance touch panels have a glass first surface, two con-
ductive planes separated by a spacer and a backing film or glass layer. The X-Y matrix of the conductive planes allow for a
more accurate sensing system. It also allows for multiple touches to be detected at the same time.

Surface Acoustic Wave

Surface Acoustic Wave touch panels utilize ultrasonic waves that spread over the first surface of the touch panel. When
the panel is touched, the wave is interrupted. Two sets of transducers are used to sense the location of this interruption.
Surface Acoustic Wave touch panels allow for the best display of graphics but are often the most costly touch panel option.

Infrared

Infrared touch panels consist of an array of X-Y photodetectors and IR LED pairs aligned around the edges of the screen.
The horizontal and vertical LED beams are disrupted when a touch occurs allowing the sensors to determine the position of
the touch with high accuracy. This system does not require a bare finger for conductivity as other types do, allowing for a
wide variety of input devices. The clarity of Infrared touch panels is very clear, but sensitive to other contaminates that can
be interpreted as a touch.

Standard vs. Custom

When considering what size of touch screen to utilize, it is prudent to consider whether you will want to utilize an off-the-shelf
touch screen or whether to design a custom size. Of course planning on a custom touch panel often means that a custom dis-
play will be required. If a standardization is a priority, it is prudent to first investigate the characteristics and availability of the
display. There are many standard available touch screen sizes from which to choose.

Model # Frame Size(mm) Viewable Area(mm) Active Area(mm) Model # Frame Size(mm) Viewable Area(mm) Active Area(mm)
SSI-R5-4/3-8-A 182.60*140.80 168.00*127.20 164.80*123.00 SSI-R5-4/3-15-B 322.00*245.50 309.50*233.50 303.50*227.50
SSI-R5-4/3-8.4-A 196.09*149.86 174.80*132.20 171.40*128.80 SSI-R5-4/3-17-A 356.00*286.50 343.00*275.50 337.00*269.50
SSI-R5-4/3-8.4-B 186.90*142.30 173.80*131.20 171.40*128.80 SSI-R5-4/3-17.1-A 365.40*290.18 343.00*275.40 340.00*272.40
SSI-R5-4/3-10.4-A 248.92*186.69 219.90*167.83 215.90*163.83 SSI-R5-4/3-17.1-B 357.80*295.80 343.00*275.50 339.00*271.50
SSI-R5-4/3-10.4-B 228.70*173.40 215.58*162.75 211.58*158.75 SSI-R5-4/3-19-A 393.40*316.65 380.90*305.65 377.30*302.05
SSI-R5-4/3-12.1-A 271.27*205.74 252.87*191.40 248.87*187.40 SSI-R5-4/3-19.2-A 402.00*326.20 387.00*311.70 381.00*305.70
SSI-R5-4/3-12.1-B 261.80*199.80 249.80*188.50 246.80*185.50 SSI-R5-4/3-20.1-A 430.50*330.50 413.00*311.00 409.00*307.00
SSI-R5-4/3-15-A 332.90*248.90 311.10*235.10 307.10*231.10 SSI-R5-4/3-21.3-A 454.00*344.00 438.00*330.00 432.00*324.00
 Model # Frame Size(mm) Viewable Area(mm) Active Area(mm) Model # Frame Size(mm) Viewable Area(mm) Active Area(mm)
SSI-R5-W-7-A 166.50*104.00 154.60*93.64 152.40*91.44 SSI-R5-W-17-A 382.20*246.80 371.20*233.50 367.20*229.50
SSI-R5-W-8.9-A 213.36*129.55 198.27*116.60 195.07*113.40 SSI-R5-W-18.5-A 429.86*254.00 414.40*235.00 409.80*230.40
SSI-R5-W-10.2-A 235.60*147.59 225.40*136.45 222.00*133.20 SSI-R5-W-19-A 426.60*272.10 414.20*261.10 411.20*257.30
SSI-R5-W-12.1-A 275.82*177.90 264.12*166.20 261.12*163.20 SSI-R5-W-21.6-A 496.50*292.20 481.50*272.60 477.50*268.60
SSI-R5-W-15.4-A 345.00*224.00 335.00*211.00 331.00*207.00 SSI-R5-W-22-A 493.70*320.10 477.70*300.10 473.76*296.10
SSI-R5-W-15.6-A 359.30*209.50 347.93*196.94 344.23*193.54 SSI-R5-W-24-A 546.40*352.00 522.40*328.00 518.40*324.00

SSI Model # Frame Size(mm) Viewable Area(mm) Active Area(mm) SSI Model # Frame Size(mm) Viewable Area(mm) Active Area(mm)
SSI-C-7-A 166.70*104.20 153.60*92.64 152.40*91.44 SSI-C-17.1-A 356.60*290.38 341.80*274.20 340.00*272.40
SSI-C-8.4-A 185.20*145.20 174.00*131.40 170.40*127.80 SSI-C-19-A 402.69*328.50 388.98*316.31 366.60*298.27
SSI-C-10.6-A 233.10*179.80 218.50*168.50 213.90*163.90 SSI-C-19.2-A 401.60*324.60 380.50*305.20 376.30*301.10
SSI-C-12.1-A 272.47*205.94 251.67*190.20 248.87*187.40 SSI-C-22-A 493.70*320.10 477.70*300.10 473.76*296.10
SSI-C-15.1-A 330.40*254.20 314.00*240.00 309.00*235.00

Touch Panels and Membrane Switches

Many designs require discrete keypads to be incorporated in conjunction with a touch screen. The marriage of these two input
technologies is often driven either by user preference or in some cases industry regulations. The touch panel is attached to the
back side of the membrane switch using pressure sensitive adhesive. A common method is cutting away the overlay material of
the membrane switch and then adhering the touch screen from behind, exposing the surface area of the touch screen. Some
OEMs feel the ledge that is created between the overlay of the membrane switch and the touch screen is less than desirable. In
order to create a seamless interface between these two components, optically clear adhesive can be used to bond the membrane
switch and the touch screen together.

OPTICALLY CLEAR
ADHESIVE
Membrane Switch

Touch Screen

Class 1000 clean rooms are used to lami-

nate the touch screen to the membrane
switch using optically clear adhesive
(OCA).

Mounting Touch Screens to Displays

The two most common ways of attaching a touch screen to the corresponding display is either by the air gap method or by us-
ing optically clear adhesive (OCA). With the air gap method, a band of adhesive around the perimeter bonds the touch screen to
the LCD display. The OCA method, as described above, utilizes a layer of optically clear adhesive that covers the entire surface
area of the touch screen. The primary benefit of the OCA method is that it cuts down on some of the reflections that can be cre-
ated by having a space between the display and the touch screen.
Tradeoffs of Various Touch Panel Types

Type Strength Weakness

Resistance Least Expensive Type Not as durable as capacitance
Capacitance Very Minimal Actuation Force Required Can not operate with gloves
Surface Acoustic Wave Best Clarity Most expensive
Infrared Can use gloves, stylus, pen, etc. Sensitive to dust/dirt
Potential false actuations when hovering

Typical Specifications: Typical Drawing:

Linearity Deviation 1.0%

Electrical
Insulation Resistance 20m/25V(DC)
Durability Life Span 50 million touches
Operation Temperature -20C70C
Environmental
Storage Temperature -40C85C
Temperature/Humidity 70C/90%RH/500 hrs.
Heat Cycle 70C/500 hrs
Reliability
Cold Cycle -40C/500 hrs
Thermal Cycle -40C-70C x 100 cycles
Surface Hardness 7H
Mechanical
Activation Force 10 grams
Optical Transparency 90% +/- 2%

Sketch/Notes:

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