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A touch screen is computer display screen that is sensitive to human touch, allowing a user to
interact with the computer by touching pictures or words on the screen. Touch screen are
used with information kiosks (an interactive computer terminal available for public use, as
one with internet access or site specific information), computer based training devices, and
system designed to help individuals who have difficulty in manipulating a mouse or
keyboard. Touch screen technology can be used as an alternative user interface with
application that normally requires a mouse, such as a web browser. Some applications are
designed specifically for touch screen technology, often having larger icon and link than
typical PC application. Monitors are available with built in touch screen kit. A touch screen
kit includes a touch screen panel, a controller, and a software driver. The touch screen panels
are is a clear panel attached externally to the monitors that plug in to a serial or a universal
serial Bus (USB) port a bus Card installed in side the computer. The touch screen panel
registers touch event and passes these signal to controller. The controller then processes the
signals and sends the data to the processor. The software driver translates the touch events
into mouse events. Driver can be provided for both Window and Macintosh operating
systems. Internal touch screen kits are available but require professional installation because
the must be installed inside the monitors.
Fig 1.1
Ten stockholders founded Elo-graphics, Inc. in March 1971, to produce Graphical data
Digitizers for use in research and industrial application, with the, principal being Dr. Sam
Hurst. He was on leave from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to tech at the University of
Kentucky for two years, where he was faced with a need to read a huge stack of strip chart
data. It would have taken two graduate student s approximately two month to do the task. He
started to thinking of a way to read the and during the process, the “Elo-graph” (Electronic
graphics) coordinate measuring system and Elo-graphics the company were born. The
University Kentucky research foundation applied for and was granted a patent on the Elo-
graph. The foundation granted an exclusive license to Elo-graphics.
The touch screen is one of the easiest to use and most intuitive of all PC interface of
choices fro a wide variety of applications. A touch interface to allows users to navigate a
computer system by touching icon or links on the screen.
User interface PCs are quickly becoming the control device of choices for the plant floor,
machine control and any application where the user interface is important. This change has
not been without its difficulties. One challenge industrial PC manufacturers have faced is
simplifying the human machine interface while maintaining accuracy of input. Industrial
grade touches Screen system have quickly become the input device of choice for several
reasons. Touch systems generally have no additional hardware to mount and protect, such as
a mouse or keyboard. A flat panel display can also be sealed by the factory to prevent damage
from dust and water. The ultra thin nature of a touch screen on a LCD saves critical space,
which is a vital for most application.
Durability is tested to over 35 million finger touches with no over performance degradation.1
million-touch life max.
Design Flexibility: -
• Fatigue: high
• Footprint: no
1. Resistive
A resistive touch screen panel is composed of several layers, the most important of which are
two thin, metallic, electrically conductive layers separated by a narrow gap. When an object,
such as a finger, presses down on a point on the panel's outer surface the two metallic layers
become connected at that point: the panel then behaves as a pair of voltage dividers with
connected outputs. This causes a change in the electrical current which is registered as a
touch event and sent to the controller for processing.
fig 5.1
fig 5.1.1
They are all constructed similarly in layers-a back layer such as glass with a uniform resistive
coating plus a polyester coversheet, with the layers separated by tiny insulating dots. When
the screen is touched, it pushes the conductive coating on the coversheet against the coating
on the glass, making electrical contact. The voltages produced are the analog representation
of the position touched. An electronic controller converts these voltages into digital X and Y
coordinates which are then transmitted to the host computer. Because resistive touch screens
are force activated, all kinds of touch input devices can activate the screen, including fingers,
fingernails, styluses, gloved hands, and credit cards. All have similar optical properties,
resistance to chemicals and abuse.
fig 5.1.2
Both the touch screen and its electronics are simple to integrate into imbedded systems,
thereby providing one of the most practical and cost-effective touch screen solutions.
Four-wire resistive technology is the simplest to understand and manufacture. It uses both the
upper and lower layers in the touch screen "sandwich" to determine the X and Y coordinates.
Typically constructed with uniform resistive coatings of indium tin oxide (ITO on the inner
Touch screen monitors Page 5
sides of the layers and silver buss bars along the edges, the combination sets up lines of equal
potential in both X and Y. In the illustration below, the controller first applies 5V to the back
layer. Upon touch, it probes the analog voltage with the coversheet, reading 2.5V, which
represents a left-right position or X axis. It then flips the process, applying 5V to the
coversheet, and probes from the back layer to calculate an up-down position or Y axis. At any
time, only three of the four wires are in use (5V, ground, probe).
fig 5.1.3
The primary drawback of four-wire technology is that one coordinate axis (usually the Y
axis), uses the outer layer, the flexible coversheet, as a uniform voltage gradient. The constant
flexing that occurs on the outer coversheet with use will eventually cause microscopic cracks
in the ITO coating, changing its electrical characteristics (resistance), degrading the linearity
and accuracy of this axis. Unsurprisingly, four-wire touch screens are not known for their
durability. Typically, they test only to about 1 million touches with a finger-far less when
activated by a pointed stylus which speeds the degradation process. Some four-wire products
even specify 100,000 activations within a rather large, 20 mm x 20 mm area. In the real world
of point-of-sale applications, a level of 100,000 activations with hard, pointed styluses
(including fingernails, credit cards, ballpoint pens, etc.) is considered normal usage in just a
few months' time. Also, accuracy can drift with environmental changes. The polyester
coversheet expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes, thereby causing
long-term degradation to the coatings as well as drift in the touch location. While all of these
drawbacks can be insignificant in smaller sizes, they become increasingly apparent the larger
the touch screen. Therefore, Elo normally recommends four-wire touch screens in
applications with a display size of 6.4" or smaller. However, the relative low cost, inherent
low power consumption, and common availability of chipset controllers with support from
imbedded operating systems, makes four-wire touch screens ideal for hand-held devices such
as PDAs, wearable computers, and many consumer devices.
Eight-wire resistive touch screens are a variation of four-wire construction. The primary
difference is the addition of four sensing points, which are used to stabilize the system and
reduce the drift caused by environmental changes. Eight-wire systems are usually seen in
sizes of 10.4" or larger where the drift can be significant. As in four-wire technology, the
major drawback is that one coordinate axis uses the outer, flexible coversheet as a uniform
voltage gradient, while the inner or bottom layer acts as the voltage probe. The constant
flexing that occurs on the outer coversheet will change its resistance with usage, degrading
the linearity and accuracy of this axis. Although the added four sensing points helps stabilize
the system against drift, they do not improve the durability or life expectancy of the screen.
fig 5.1.4
As we have seen, four- and eight-wire touch screens, while having a simple and elegant
design, have a major drawback in terms of durability in that the flexing coversheet is used to
determine one of the axes. Field usage proves that the other axis rarely fails. Could it be
possible to construct a touch screen where all the position sensing was on the stable glass
layer? Then the coversheet would serve only as a voltage probe for X and Y. Microscopic
cracks in the coversheet coating might still occur, but they would no longer cause non-
linearities. The simple buss bar design is not sufficient and a more complex linearization
pattern on the edges is required.In the five-wire design, one wire goes to the coversheet (E)
There are some manufacturers who claim improved performance over five-wire resistive with
additional wires. The six-wire variation adds an extra ground layer to the back of the glass. It
is not needed for improved performance, and in some cases is not even connected to the
companion controller. The seven-wire variation adds two sense lines, like with the eight-wire
design, to decrease drift due to environmental changes. The proprietary "Z border" electrode
pattern is a better solution to prevent drift.
2. Capacitive:
A capacitive touch-screen panel is a sensor typically made of glass coated with a material
such as indium tin oxide (ITO). The sensor therefore exhibits a precisely controlled field of
stored electrons in both the horizontal and vertical axes - it achieves capacitance. The human
body is also an electrical device which has stored electrons and therefore also exhibits
capacitance. Capacitive sensors work based on proximity, and do not have to be directly
touched to be triggered. It is a durable technology that is used in a wide range of applications
including point-of-sale systems, industrial controls, and public information kiosks. It has a
higher clarity than Resistive technology, but it only responds to finger contact and will not
work with a gloved hand or pen stylus. Capacitive touch screens can also support Multi-
touch. Examples include Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPod touch, and HTC’s G1 & HTC Magic.
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology uses ultrasonic waves that pass over the touch-
screen panel. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed. This change in
the ultrasonic waves registers the position of the touch event and sends this information to the
controller for processing the location. Surface wave touch screen panels can be damaged by
outside elements. Contaminants on the surface can also interfere with the functionality of the
touch screen.
Fig 5.4
The LED and photo sensor pairs create a grid of light beams across the display. An object
(such as a finger or pen) that touches the screen interrupts the light beams, causing a
measured decrease in light at the corresponding photo sensors.
The measured photo sensor outputs can be used to locate a touch-point coordinate.
Widespread adoption of infrared touch screens has been hampered by two factors: the
relatively high cost of the technology compared to competing touch technologies and the
issue of performance in bright ambient light.
Another feature of infrared touch which has been long desired is the digital nature of the
sensor output when compared to many other touch systems that rely on analog-signal
processing to determine a touch position. Infrared touch is capable of implementing multi-
touch, something most other touch technologies cannot easily achieve.
Fig 5.5
A basic touch screen has three main components: a touch sensor, a controller, and a software
driver. The touch screen is an input device, so it needs to be combined with a display and a
PC or other device to make a complete touch input system.
fig 6.1
1. Touch Sensor :
A touch screen sensor is a clear glass panel with a touch responsive surface. The touch
sensor/panel is placed over a display screen so that the responsive area of the panel covers
the viewable area of the video screen. There are several different touch sensor technologies
Touch screen monitors Page 11
on the market today, each using a different method to detect touch input. The sensor
generally has an electrical current or signal going through it and touching the screen causes a
voltage or signal change. This voltage change is used to determine the location of the touch
to the screen.
2. Controller :
The controller is a small PC card that connects between the touch sensor and the PC. It takes
information from the touch sensor and translates it into information that PC can understand.
The controller is usually installed inside the monitor for integrated monitors or it is housed in
a plastic case for external touch add-ons/overlays. The controller determines what type of
interface/connection you will need on the PC. Integrated touch monitors will have an extra
cable connection on the back for the touch screen. Controllers are available that can connect
to a Serial/COM port (PC) or to a USB port (PC or Macintosh). Specialized controllers are
also available that work with DVD players and other devices.
3. Software Driver :
The driver is a software update for the PC system that allows the touch screen and computer
to work together. It tells the computer's operating system how to interpret the touch event
information that is sent from the controller. Most touch screen drivers today are a mouse-
emulation type driver. This makes touching the screen the same as clicking your mouse at the
same location on the screen. This allows the touch screen to work with existing software and
allows new applications to be developed without the need for touch screen specific
programming. Some equipment such as thin client terminals, DVD players, and specialized
computer systems either do not use software drivers or they have their own built-in touch
screen driver.
Touch screen displays are the most user-friendly PC interface. They are input devices, a way
to communicate with the PC. The user touches the screen to select options presented on the
screen. Associated hardware and software are used to determine the location of the
press. Touch screen displays can be either internally mounted, or externally mounted on an
existing screen. An internally mounted screen is a touch screen input device that is designed
to be installed on the inside of a PC monitor. It is commonly a touch sensitive glass panel that
uses a touch screen controller and a software driver to interface with a PC system. The
Touch screen monitors Page 12
internal touch screen requires a sometimes-technical installation, as the monitor needs to be
opened and in some cases the touch screen controller needs to be wired to a power source
inside the monitor. An external touch screen panel is a touch screen input device that is
designed to mount on the outside of a PC monitor. The external touch screen does not require
any difficult installation or opening of the monitor. It is commonly a touch sensitive glass
panel that uses an external touch screen controller and a software driver to interface with a
PC system. There are five basic types of touch screen displays: resistive, capacitive, infrared,
surface acoustic wave (SAW) and strain gauge. Resistive and capacitive touch screen
displays are the most common. Resistive touch screens consist of a glass or acrylic panel that
is coated with electrically conductive and resistive layers. The thin layers are separated by
invisible separator dots. During operation, an electrical current moves through the screen.
When pressure is applied to the touch screen, the layers are pressed together, causing a
change in the electrical current and a touch event to be registered. A capacitive touch screen
consists of a glass panel with a capacitive (charge storing) material coating its surface.
Circuits located at corners of the screen measure the capacitance of a person touching the
overlay. Frequency changes are measured to determine the X and Y coordinates of the touch
event.
Infrared touch screens are similar to resistive products. Infrared touch screens project
horizontal and vertical beams of infrared light over the surface of the screen. When a finger
or other object breaks those beams, the X/Y coordinates are calculated. Surface acoustic
wave (SAW) technology sends acoustic waves across a clear glass panel with a series of
transducers and reflectors. When a finger touches the screen, the waves are absorbed, causing
a touch event to be detected at that point. In a strain gauge touch screen, the screen is spring
mounted on the four corners and strain gauges are used to determine deflection when the
screen is touched. This touch screen display technology can also measure the Z-axis
Advantages Disadvantages
•Hightouch resolution
•Pressuresensitive, works with any stylus
• Not affected by dirt, dust, water, or light
• Affordable touchscreen technology • 75 % clarity
• Resistive layers can be damaged by a sharp object
• Less durable then 5-Wire Resistive technology
Touchscreen Specifications
Touchscreen Specifications
Chemical Resistance: The active area of the touchscreen is resistant to all chemicals that do
not affect glass, such as: Acetone, Toluene, Methyl ethyl ketone, Isopropyl alcohol, Methyl
alcohol, Ethyl acetate, Ammonia-based glass cleaners, Gasoline, Kerosene, Vinegar
Software Drivers: Windows XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, 95, 3.1, DOS, Macintosh OS, Linux,
Unix (3rd Party)Software, Cables, and Accessories
Software:
Touchscreen related software, including presentation development software and other utilities
2. RIGHTTOUCH
RightTouch Right-Click Utility Software
MYTSOFT
My-T-Soft On-Screen Keyboard Software
My-T-Soft is an On-Screen keyboard utility that works with any Windows 95 / 98 / Me / NT /
2000 / XP software. It provides on-screen keyboards and user programmable buttons that
allow users to enter data using a touchscreen display.
my-t-soft can be used by itself in home or workplace applications, and it includes a
developer's kit that allows the keyboard to be called up from web pages and other programs.
Features:
Over 40 "Heads-Up Display" Keyboards with 12 base sizes and infinitely larger size
RIGHTTOUCH
RightTouch Right-Click Utility Software
An easy interface to bring Right Click capability to any touchscreen.
Most touchscreens work by emulating left mouse button clicks, so that touching the screen is
the same as clicking your left mouse button at that same point on the screen. But what if you
need to right click on an item? Some touchscreens do include right click support, but many
do not. The Right Touch utility provides an easy way to perform right clicks with any
touchscreen.
Software Requirements
Windows95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
Please Note: Many of the touchscreen systems include a similar right-click tool with their
software driver. The Right-Touch software is useful for touchscreens that do not have an
included right click utility.
Cables:
Cables for use with the touch monitors, includes video and serial port extension cables.
Serial Cables
SERIAL25: 25-Foot Serial Extension Cable
SERIAL50: 50-Foot Serial Extension Cable
SERIAL100: 100-Foot Serial Extension
Accessories:
Stylus Pens
A stylus pen can be used along with our touchscreen systems for precise input.
STYLUS1
Stylus Pen for Resistive Touchscreens
STYLUS2
Stylus Pen for Surface Acoustic Wave Touchscreens
This release improves performance for Windows XP drivers. It provides multiple monitor
support, including dual head video adapters, from TouchWare 5.63. Supported platforms are
WinXP/Win2000/WinNT/Win9x/Me.
This service release also corrects known problems with silent installation.
Microcal 7.1
Use this utility to modify controller settings and to calibrate the sensor at different resolutions
under DOS. Microcal is compatible with fully-integrated ClearTek capacitive and TouchTek
resistive touchscreens. This release supports any serial and PS/2 SMT controller, PC BUS
controllers and the MT400 controller.
Near Field Imaging OEM Drivers
Use the OEM drivers below with Near Field Imaging touch screen products.
For Windows NT/9X:
8.4-inch Near Field Imaging touch screens (approx. 2.5MB)
For Windows NT/9X/3.1 and MS-DOS:
10.4-inch and larger Near Field Imaging touch screens (approx> 3.6MB)
For Windows XP/2000 for 10.4-inch and larger Near Field Imaging touch screens
No keyboard necessary for applications that need menu selections only -> saves desk space
.Dirt: The screen gets Low precision (finger): Imprecise positioning, possible problems with
eye parallaxis (with pen, too), the finger may be too large for accurate pointing with small
objects -> a pen is more accurate.
Hand movements (if used with keyboard): Requires that users move the hand away from
the keyboard; a stylus requires also hand movements to take up the pen.
Fatigue: Straining the arm muscles under heavy use (especially if the screen is placed
vertically).
Screen coverage: The user's hand, the finger or the pen may obscure parts of the screen.
Activation: Usually direct activation of the selected function, when the screen is touched;
there is no special "activation" button as with a light pen or a mouse
• Requiring accuracy
Uses of touch screen in regular life: The touch screen is one of the easiest PC
interfaces to use, making it the interface of choice for a wide variety of applications. Here are
a few examples of how touch input systems are being used today:
Customer self-services
In today's fast pace world, waiting in line is one of the things that has yet to
speed up. Self-service touch screen terminals can be used to improve customer
service at busy stores, fast service restaurants, transportation hubs, and more.
Customers can quickly place their own orders or check themselves in or out,
saving them time, and decreasing wait times for other customers. Automated bank teller
(ATM) and airline e-ticket terminals are examples of self-service stations that can benefit
from touch screen input.
It can also help to make learning more fun and interactive, which can lead
to a more beneficial training experience for both students and educators.
Assistive Technology
the touch screen interface can be beneficial to those that have difficulty
using other input devices such as a mouse or keyboards. When
used in conjunction with software such as on-screen keyboards,
or other assistive technology, they can help make computing
resources more available to people that have difficulty using computers.
We have mentioned some of the most common hardware problems of touch screen and have
given some of the troubleshootings.
Hardware problems:
Troubleshooting:
The first step in troubleshooting a touch screen system is to determine whether the problem is
related to the display, software, or hardware:
• Do not confuse display problems with touch screen problems—the two are unrelated.
• Hardware problems may be caused by the touch screen, controller, cabling, power
supply, or by the integration of the touch screen components in the display.
Fingers have a certain size, So, screen elements have to have a minimum size, to ensure that
a touch screen can be operated with few errors.Even with a stylus, which makes possible to
use smaller screen elements, there are limiting factors.
Sequential Input:
One finger is used for clicking. This slows input down compared to keyboard input where
several fingers can be used virtually in parallel.
Strain:
Keying in many numbers or letters by pointing with the finger is also very straining and
tiring. Therefore, touch screens make no sense in workplaces, where much text or number
input is required.
Feedback:
On touch screens, there is no analogue to mouse-move events. Mouse users can move the
mouse pointer over screen elements, get feedback about the selected element (e.g. by
highlighting), and may confirm the selection by clicking the mouse button. Touch screen
users directly point on a screen element. If they are lucky, they can withdraw their finger if
they touched the wrong screen element. On other touch screens, the touch immediately
initiates an action - there is no opportunity to cancel the action.
Drag Operations:
Dragging is generally not well suited to finger-operated touch screens,Here ,pointing is the
preferred interaction. However, this is different for stylus-operated touch screens. Here
gestures and handwriting offer promising possibilities for making interaction with
computers easier and more intuitive. But here, too is the limitation of strictly sequential input.
There are also no means to constrain drag operations to, e.g. straight lines, like with mouse-
based interfaces.