Comparing the technology of capacitive (Display Module/ Touch Screen Overlay) and Resistive (Display Module/ Touch Screen Overlay touchscreens, Resistive is the older technology while Capacitive touch gets a lot of press these days as the hot new thing. But what&#;s the real difference between them?
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Resistive touch screens consists of several very thin layers. When someone presses the touch panel, the top layer bends to make contact with the bottom layer, closing a circuit and causing a current loop. Resistive touch screens can generally only be used as a single-touch device, but they cost less to make and incorporate into your application and respond to any type of touch. They can be used effectively for simple panel controls, such as an automotive GPS panel control or other keypad-replacement applications, or in applications which require gloved use.
Capacitive touch screens are commonly made of two layers (a surface insulator and a transparent conductive layer beneath it). Since the human body itself is an electrical conductor, when the touch panel is touched with a finger (or a conductive pen), the electrostatic field of the panel is distorted. The touchscreen&#;s controller is able to tell where this distortion is on the touch screen and sends instructions to the rest of the system accordingly. Capacitive touch screens accept &#;Multi-touch&#; controls and require less physical force to register a touch. They&#;re longer-lived than comparable resistive touch screens, making them suitable for high-grade panel controllers or mobile phones.
This table breaks down some of the common advantages and disadvantages of resistive vs. capacitive touch screens. Select the touch technology that&#;s right for your application!
Resistive Touch Screen Capacitive Touch Screen Advantages Inexpensive Higher touch sensitivity Better resistance to dust and water Supports mulit-touch Can be used with gloves Good visibility even in sunlight Disadvantages Low touch sensitivity Cannot be used with most gloves Unable to support multi-touch More expensive Poor visibility in sunlight Does not work well with pointed objectsWhen deciding between resistive and capacitive touch, be sure to consider where as well as how the display will be used. Different use cases call for different touch technology.
Resistive touchscreens use a relatively simple technology. A resistive touchscreen comprises two flexible sheets with an air gap between them. When the screen is touched, the sheets make contact. Then the touch location is calculated based on voltages using and an ADC. Read more about how to implement a resistive touchscreen.
Resistive touchscreens register touches made with a finger (even if gloved), stylus, pencil eraser or anything with an end blunt enough not to damage the screen. Most ATMs, card readers at the grocery store, and older home electronics (think that GPS you bought for your car in ) use resistive touch sensing.
This is our 5&#; resistive touch display. The tail from the touchscreen is visible coming down in the middle of the display and is connected to the main display tail under the black protective tape.Because resistive touchscreens are relatively simple and require only four lines to sense touch, the lines connecting the touchscreen to the microcontroller are often incorporated into the main display tail, meaning only one connection between the display module and the controller are needed.
Capacitive touchscreens are a little more complicated. Capacitive touchscreens work by registering a change in an electrostatic field on the screen when touched with an adequately capacitive object, like a finger. Gloved fingers or a stylus may be used, but they must have conductive materials to simulate a bare finger.
As capacitive touchscreens require a controller and more lines, the tail of a capacitive touchscreen is usually separate from the main display tail.
This is our 5&#; capacitive touch display. It is the same display as the display with the resistive touchscreen. On the main tail, you can see four pads where the resistive touchscreen tail would connect. To the right of the main tail, you can see the capacitive touch tail.Beyond the methods of obtaining a touch, there are pros and cons that must be considered when deciding between a resistive touchscreen and a capacitive touchscreen.
The following table compares resistive and capacitive touchscreens across a variety of categories. In short, resistive touchscreens are less expensive and work well in outdoor applications, but do not age well (they can get scratched, and become hazy with age) and can only register a single touch. Capacitive touchscreens use a glass top layer so they maintain more of the display&#;s brightness. Plus, capacitive touchscreens can support multiple touches and gestures. The main draw backs for capacitive touchscreens are the higher cost and lower tolerance of environmental factors.
Comparing the technology of capacitive (Display Module/ Touch Screen Overlay) and Resistive (Display Module/ Touch Screen Overlay touchscreens, Resistive is the older technology while Capacitive touch gets a lot of press these days as the hot new thing. But what&#;s the real difference between them?
Resistive touch screens consists of several very thin layers. When someone presses the touch panel, the top layer bends to make contact with the bottom layer, closing a circuit and causing a current loop. Resistive touch screens can generally only be used as a single-touch device, but they cost less to make and incorporate into your application and respond to any type of touch. They can be used effectively for simple panel controls, such as an automotive GPS panel control or other keypad-replacement applications, or in applications which require gloved use.
Capacitive touch screens are commonly made of two layers (a surface insulator and a transparent conductive layer beneath it). Since the human body itself is an electrical conductor, when the touch panel is touched with a finger (or a conductive pen), the electrostatic field of the panel is distorted. The touchscreen&#;s controller is able to tell where this distortion is on the touch screen and sends instructions to the rest of the system accordingly. Capacitive touch screens accept &#;Multi-touch&#; controls and require less physical force to register a touch. They&#;re longer-lived than comparable resistive touch screens, making them suitable for high-grade panel controllers or mobile phones.
This table breaks down some of the common advantages and disadvantages of resistive vs. capacitive touch screens. Select the touch technology that&#;s right for your application!
Resistive Touch Screen Capacitive Touch Screen Advantages Inexpensive Higher touch sensitivity Better resistance to dust and water Supports mulit-touch Can be used with gloves Good visibility even in sunlight Disadvantages Low touch sensitivity Cannot be used with most gloves Unable to support multi-touch More expensive Poor visibility in sunlight Does not work well with pointed objectsWhen deciding between resistive and capacitive touch, be sure to consider where as well as how the display will be used. Different use cases call for different touch technology.
Resistive touchscreens use a relatively simple technology. A resistive touchscreen comprises two flexible sheets with an air gap between them. When the screen is touched, the sheets make contact. Then the touch location is calculated based on voltages using and an ADC. Read more about how to implement a resistive touchscreen.
Resistive touchscreens register touches made with a finger (even if gloved), stylus, pencil eraser or anything with an end blunt enough not to damage the screen. Most ATMs, card readers at the grocery store, and older home electronics (think that GPS you bought for your car in ) use resistive touch sensing.
This is our 5&#; resistive touch display. The tail from the touchscreen is visible coming down in the middle of the display and is connected to the main display tail under the black protective tape.Because resistive touchscreens are relatively simple and require only four lines to sense touch, the lines connecting the touchscreen to the microcontroller are often incorporated into the main display tail, meaning only one connection between the display module and the controller are needed.
Capacitive touchscreens are a little more complicated. Capacitive touchscreens work by registering a change in an electrostatic field on the screen when touched with an adequately capacitive object, like a finger. Gloved fingers or a stylus may be used, but they must have conductive materials to simulate a bare finger.
As capacitive touchscreens require a controller and more lines, the tail of a capacitive touchscreen is usually separate from the main display tail.
This is our 5&#; capacitive touch display. It is the same display as the display with the resistive touchscreen. On the main tail, you can see four pads where the resistive touchscreen tail would connect. To the right of the main tail, you can see the capacitive touch tail.Beyond the methods of obtaining a touch, there are pros and cons that must be considered when deciding between a resistive touchscreen and a capacitive touchscreen.
The following table compares resistive and capacitive touchscreens across a variety of categories. In short, resistive touchscreens are less expensive and work well in outdoor applications, but do not age well (they can get scratched, and become hazy with age) and can only register a single touch. Capacitive touchscreens use a glass top layer so they maintain more of the display&#;s brightness. Plus, capacitive touchscreens can support multiple touches and gestures. The main draw backs for capacitive touchscreens are the higher cost and lower tolerance of environmental factors.
Compare some of our families of displays that include a no-touch, resistive touch, and cap touch version. The 5&#; sunlight readable displays, above, start at nits and drop into the 800s.
Further, consider our 3.9&#; bar-type display. Without a touchscreen, this display boasts a respectable brightness of 500 nits. With a capacitive touchscreen applied, the brightness drops to a typical brightness of 400 nits. The brightness with a resistive touchscreen applied drops even further, to a typical brightness of 350 nits.
This is the 3.9&#; cap touch display which can recognize five distinct touches at once. The photographed display is running as part of an EVE module.https://ca.pipglobal.com/archive/literature/PIP-WP-Gloves-and-Touchscreen-Compatibility.pdf
If you have any questions, we can be reached at , we also provide chat and support Monday through Friday during our open hours.
We love to hear about your projects! Find us around the web (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Forum) and let us know what you&#;re working on.
Kelsey is an engineer at Crystalfontz. She graduated from Gonzaga University with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Kelsey&#;s roles at Crystalfontz include customer support, documentation, product demonstrations, and design.
What our customers say about Kelsey:
&#;As a new user to the world of LCD electronics, Kelsey has been a Godsend in providing the hand-holding I needed to get my project up and running despite my own efforts at fouling things up! :-)&#; &#; Owen M
&#;Kelsey got me through changing code for a new LCD in only two short emails.&#; &#; Phillip V
&#;The agent that I talked with (Kelsey), is technically sound and she knows what she is doing. The support is what made my job easier to get started with the different display technologies. Thank you!&#; &#; Vatsal S
Compare some of our families of displays that include a no-touch, resistive touch, and cap touch version. The 5&#; sunlight readable displays, above, start at nits and drop into the 800s.
Further, consider our 3.9&#; bar-type display. Without a touchscreen, this display boasts a respectable brightness of 500 nits. With a capacitive touchscreen applied, the brightness drops to a typical brightness of 400 nits. The brightness with a resistive touchscreen applied drops even further, to a typical brightness of 350 nits.
This is the 3.9&#; cap touch display which can recognize five distinct touches at once. The photographed display is running as part of an EVE module.https://ca.pipglobal.com/archive/literature/PIP-WP-Gloves-and-Touchscreen-Compatibility.pdf
If you have any questions, we can be reached at , we also provide chat and support Monday through Friday during our open hours.
We love to hear about your projects! Find us around the web (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Forum) and let us know what you&#;re working on.
Kelsey is an engineer at Crystalfontz. She graduated from Gonzaga University with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Kelsey&#;s roles at Crystalfontz include customer support, documentation, product demonstrations, and design.
What our customers say about Kelsey:
&#;As a new user to the world of LCD electronics, Kelsey has been a Godsend in providing the hand-holding I needed to get my project up and running despite my own efforts at fouling things up! :-)&#; &#; Owen M
&#;Kelsey got me through changing code for a new LCD in only two short emails.&#; &#; Phillip V
&#;The agent that I talked with (Kelsey), is technically sound and she knows what she is doing. The support is what made my job easier to get started with the different display technologies. Thank you!&#; &#; Vatsal S
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