Introduction

This article mainly briefly describes the capacitive touch screens.

The article will be presented in five parts:
- What is a capacitive touch screen?
- How does a capacitive touch screen work?
- Types of capacitive touch screens
- Advantages of capacitive touchscreen technology
- When to choose capacitive touch screens

What is a capacitive touch screen?

A capacitive touchscreen is a touchscreen technology that uses capacitance to detect and locate touches. It consists of a glass panel coated with a transparent conductor and electrodes located at the four corners of the screen. When a finger touches the screen, it changes the electrical charge of the conductor, which the system can detect and use to determine the location of the touch.

How does a capacitive touch screen work?

Touchscreens consist of a layer of conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), that covers the surface of the display. When a finger is placed on the touchscreen surface, it changes the capacitance of the ITO layer. Capacitive sensors located in the corners of the display detect this change in capacitance. The sensor sends a signal to the device‘s processor, which then determines the location of the touch based on the change in capacitance. The processor then sends a signal to the display controller, which highlights the touched area of the screen. Capacitive touch screens are known for their high accuracy, fast response time, and ability to detect multiple touches simultaneously, making them ideal for use in mobile devices. Additionally, capacitive touchscreens are also more durable and scratch-resistant than other types of touchscreens because they don‘t have a physical layer that can damage or wear down over time.

Types of capacitive touch screens

Capacitive touch screen technology comes in two key types – projected and surface. 
Surface capacitive touch screen is the most common type of capacitive touchscreen, used in most smartphones and tablets. It consists of a glass panel coated with a transparent conductor and electrodes located at the four corners of the screen. Projected capacitive touch screen uses a grid of X-Y electrodes to detect touch. It can recognize multiple touches at once, and it‘s durable enough to resist scratches and other types of damage.

Advantages of capacitive touchscreen technology

• High Accuracy

• Multi-touch capabilities

• Good Durability

• Easy to clean

• Good Responsiveness

• Wide range of applications

• Gesture Support

When to choose capacitive touch screen

Generally speaking, capacitive touch can be practical in the following applications.

► Consumer electronics. Capacitive touchscreens are ideal for consumer electronics devices as they provide a high level of accuracy, precision, and responsiveness.

► Gaming. Capacitive touchscreens are often used in gaming devices, as they can accurately detect multiple touches, providing an immersive gaming experience.

► Industrial applications. Capacitive touchscreens are often used in industrial applications due to their durability, resistance to damage, and good responsiveness.

► Healthcare. Capacitive touchscreens can be used in medical equipment due to their ease of cleaning and high level of accuracy and precision.

► Retail. Capacitive touchscreens are commonly used in retail applications due to their ease of use, multi-touch capability, and ability to support gestures.

► Education and training. Capacitive touchscreens are often used in educational and training environments due to their versatility and support for gestures.

In general, a capacitive touchscreen is a good choice whenever high accuracy, precision, and responsiveness are required, and when the touchscreen will be used frequently.