Firstly, PenMount wishes you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2020!

In the first month of this year, we will reintroduce Resistive Multi-Touch (RMT) technology and its applications and since the last edition of PenMount bulletin, we have released PenMount RMT products to some customers for feedback.  In order to understand PenMount’s RMT, we must understand the technological differences between projected capacitive (PCAP) and resistive touch solutions and their advantages and limitations.

In a PCAP touch panel, capacitors are embedded into the panel as layers of conductive trace patterns.  These capacitors generate and project electromagnetic fields of certain measurable capacitance above the touch surface.  When a conductor, such as a finger approaches the electromagnetic fields, a certain amount of charge is drawn off and a controller measures voltage to determine touch position. The advantage of this technology is the ability to simultaneously detect many touch points with smooth drawing and access to a multitude of gesture controls.  However, this method of sensing through electromagnetic fields makes the panel very susceptible to malfunction caused by electromagnetic interference and inadvertent conductors contacting the touch surface.

A resistive touch panel consists of two conductive surfaces separated by a gap.  When the flexible top surface is pressed into contact with the bottom surface a circuit is formed. Since the panel is a voltage divider with one terminal connected to a controller (high potential) and another terminal connected to ground (low potential), the fraction of input voltage at any point determines distance along an X or Y axis.  Resistive touch panel operation is mechanical with the only triggering mechanism being applied pressure.  Touch detection is not susceptible to external interference and foreign objects on the touch surface will not cause touch events.  However, traditional resistive touch panels can only provide one-point detection and operation.

Taking into account the above, RMT is a resistive touch panel so it does not possess the limitations of PCAP touch such as noise interference and liquid issues on the touch surface.  In addition, RMT technology offers multi-touch capabilities and also line drawing and gestures.  Customers can take advantage of this functionality even if their applications and industries cannot fully adopt PCAP touch panels.

PenMount has released the PM6601 control board to support RMT touch panels and  PenMount’s new resistive touch algorithm translates RMT touch signals into true 2-point operation and 2-finger gesture control.  Currently, 5-point operation is available with a maximum of 10-point touch.  RMT touch panels are not affected by noise interference or conductive objects contacting the touch surface.

Our sales representatives are ready to tailor this RMT touch solution to your project and specific requirements.  Please contact us if you think an RMT touch panel is right for you.

You are welcome to download all of PenMount’s standard product data and drivers directly from our websitev at: //www.salt.com.tw and //www.PenMount.com.

If you have any suggestions or comments please send e-mail to: salt@salt.com.tw .