SID 2004: Touchscreen technology, full-color system-on-glass, touch application among conference highlights

A new vibration-based touchscreen technology designated as “breakthrough” by its developer, and a full-color “system-on-glass” input display, were among notable highlights at the Society for Information Display (SID) international conference, symposium, and exhibition, held in Seattle, WA, last month.

Dispersive signal technology announced by 3M Touch Systems Inc ., recognizes touch through vibrations made to the substrate. Sensors in each corner measure vibrational energy and through advanced digital signal processing, dispersion adjustment algorithms are applied to analyze the signals and report an accurate touch. The product accepts input from a finger, gloved hand, or stylus and responds to an input while a palm or other object is resting on the surface.

The development incorporates the features of several touch technologies: high degree of light transmission, stylus support, accuracy, durability, palm rejection, and the ability to accommodate requests for various display sizes. DST results from joint research between 3M and NXT plc , a UK-based firm involved in the invention, patenting, licensing, and marketing of enabling technologies in sound and speech.

Click here to read more about DST . Watch for more about touchscreen technologies in the July 2004 issue of Control Engineering magazine.

Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc ., demonstrated a full-color version of its “system-on-glass” input display technology . Developed by Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co. Ltd . (TMD), the prototype can directly capture images and text via sensors within a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display. (TMD is a joint venture formed by the merger of the display panel businesses of Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Indus-trial Co., Ltd.)

The color prototype, 3.5-in. diagonal, low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) TFT LCD with QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) resolution format, displays color images with an enhanced data input function that captures color images, such as photos or printed text, for redisplay purposes. The input functionality is achieved through sensor devices embedded in the LCD panel. TMD considers LTPS critical technology for the ongoing development of displays that feature more and more functional integration into the glass substrate.

Click here to read more about the technology .

In other news from SID 2004, Touch International Corp . announced that VeriFone has selected Touch’s Digital Ink technology for its Omni 7100MPD signature capture-based payment terminal. Announcing the move, VeriFone said the touchscreen technology gives the terminal the durability it needs to survive the abuse that a signature capture terminal receives. It also supports stylus, finger, and gloved-hand input with palm rejection. The payment terminal is a modular 1/4 VGA device with “swap in and out design” so that different models can be added to the base product at any time.

—Jeanine Katzel, senior editor, Control Engineering, jkatzel@reedbusiness.com

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