Display Technologies Breakdown

TFT displays are referred to as active-matrix LCDs. They are bright, vibrant, full colour LCDs which can be used to show animations, and complex graphics, with the option of a touch screen, for a wide range of applications.

In-plane switching (IPS) TFT displays are an improvement on the traditional TFT LCD display modules as they have more enhanced features such as wide viewing angles (all-round), higher contrast, faster response time, and the truest colour reproduction.

Touch screens are available in resistive (RTP) and projective capacitive technologies (PCAP), with multi touch options if required.

TFT

Unlike standard monochrome displays, TFT displays allow the user to create complex images for a better user experience. IPS TFT displays provide wide viewing angles (all-round), higher contrast, faster response time, and the truest colour reproduction. TFT products also provide the user with increased interfacing possibilities, with a range of touch options available.

LCD

The main benefit to an LCD display is the cost-effectiveness. As more complex display technologies have developed, LCD displays have become much cheaper over time. If the user wants to display some basic information or graphics, whilst keeping costs down, LCD displays may provide the ideal solution.

OLED

This technology provides better colour reproduction, image quality, colour gamut, whilst using less power than standard LCD technology. Due to their high performance, OLEDs are found in many high-end applications, such as TVs and mobile phones.

MIP

Traditional graphic display module solutions include bi-stable, cholesteric, and STN technologies. These present a variety of design and performance issues, including high driving voltages, slow response time, image retention, complicated interfaces, and others. As the MIP display technology retains information once it is written, it allows design of products with ultra-low power consumption and long battery life. It also delivers higher resolution, shock and temperature tolerance than e-paper (electronic paper) displays.

E-Paper

The bi-stable technology features make E-Paper perfect for low-power applications, such as signage, due to not needing to be changed regularly, which will save costs on power consumption whilst the display is turned off. These displays also have excellent all-round viewing angles and are ultra-thin.

Touch panels enhance the way that a user interfaces with a device by combining the interactive function and the viewing function into one area. They can be used in most display products to improve the user experience. The two main types of touch panel available are projective capacitive touch panels (PCAP), and resistive touch panels (RTP). Additionally, hover & gesture touch is a technology that is being developed, which has become more prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic. The type of panel used is determined by the application environment and requirements.

This type of touch panel utilises the conductive nature of anything that holds an electric charge, such as skin (fingertips), or grounded pointer to register inputs. This allows them to respond to multi-touch gestures such as pinching, and zooming, to offer more functionality. Projective capacitive has high durability and relatively long lifetime as it has no moving parts in operation.

Projective capacitive responds to light touch, and no pressure is required for detection. The sensitivity of the sensor can be adjusted to a high level, which enables the touch screen to be operated over an additional layer of cover glass which provide additional durability and environmental resistance. The increased sensitivity can also enable the touch screen to be operated by gloved fingers.

Resistive touchscreens respond to pressure, so a harder contact is required with this technology. These panels don’t rely on the organic properties that we have in our fingers, which gives more options for the interaction with the panel. This means that you can wear gloves when using a resistive touch panel, making them ideal for different applications than capacitive touch.

A resistive touch panel is made up of several layers, so when you apply pressure to the panel with something such as a stylus, or your finger, the top layer flexes and pushes onto another layer behind it.

Hover touch, or gesture touch enables interaction with a display without the requirement of physical contact. The user can hover their finger, or hand, over the display to interact with it, and is a perfect solution to stop the spread of germs which has become more crucial since the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It also allows for the use of gloved hand use in certain situations, such as outdoor use, or medical use.

The technology uses an array of sensors placed around the edge of the display. The sensors track the position of the finger as it hovers over the screen. The gesture the user is making is then converted into a range of response/actions.

The benefit of this technology includes the reduction in the spread of germs, and increased durability as there is no need for a physical layer on the display that can be damaged.