Difference Between A Touch Screen And A Touch Panel​

A touch screen is a display device that allows users to interact with a computer or other electronic device by touching the screen. It consists of an input device (a touch panel) and an output device (a visual display). The touch panel is typically layered on top of the visual display, which is often an LCD, AMOLED, or OLED display.

● Introduction to Touch Input Technology

Touch input technology has evolved significantly over the years, becoming a staple in various fields such as consumer electronics, industrial applications, and medical equipment. The main types of touch input technologies include resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave, and infrared, among others. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different applications.

Components of Touch Screens

● Display Elements

The core component of any touch screen is the visual display. The most common types of displays used in touch screens are LCD, AMOLED, and OLED. These displays are responsible for rendering the images, videos, and user interfaces that users interact with.

● Overlay Sensors and Their Function

Touch screens incorporate various types of overlay sensors that detect touch input. These sensors can be based on different technologies such as capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave. The choice of sensor technology significantly impacts the performance, accuracy, and usability of the touch screen.

Components of Touch Panels

● Sensor Types

Touch panels utilize different types of sensors to detect touch input. The most common sensor types include:
- Resistive Sensors : These sensors use two layers of conductive material separated by an air gap or microdots. When the top layer is pressed, it makes contact with the bottom layer, creating a change in electrical resistance that can be measured.
- Capacitive Sensors : These sensors use the electrical properties of the human body to detect touch. They can be further divided into surface capacitance and projected capacitance.

● Controller Mechanisms

The controller is a critical component of a touch panel that processes the signals received from the sensors and translates them into data that the system can understand. Advanced controllers can support multi-touch gestures and provide high levels of accuracy and responsiveness.

Technological Differences

● How Touch Screens Process Input

Touch screens process input by detecting changes in electrical properties or light when a user touches the screen. Depending on the technology used (capacitive, resistive, infrared, etc.), the method of detecting touch varies. For example, capacitive touch screens detect the electrical charge from a human finger, while resistive touch screens detect pressure.

● How Touch Panels Process Input

Touch panels, on the other hand, are more focused on the sensor and controller mechanisms that detect and process touch input. The touch panel is essentially the "input" part of the touch screen, converting physical touch into electrical signals that the controller can process.