Panasonic to Start Mass-Production of the Sensitive Curved Touch Panel
Panasonic will start the mass-production of the capacitive-type, highly sensitive, multi-touch capable automotive curved touch panel at the end of September 2015. The panels can enhance the design flexibility of vehicle cockpits and the operability of the panels of car navigation systems and, in addition, are suitable for the screens of many different products including display audio systems.
Many mobile devices including smartphones and tablets use a capacitive touch panel that can realize swift operations. In automotive use, where the same level of usability is also required to car navigation systems and display audio systems, the adoption rate of capacitive touch panels has been increasing. In vehicle cockpits, however, great importance is placed on the design flexibility, which has led to the requests for curved touch panels that can be used in center consoles and instrument panels. In addition, there have been requests for the supply in the form of touch panels with an embedded cover panel, rather than discrete touch panels, to improve the design efficiency. In response to such requests, Panasonic will start the mass-production of capacitive-type curved touch panels that can enhance the design flexibility of vehicle cockpits and the operability at the same time.
Panasonic's new curved touch panel has a plastic cover with integrated, highly sensitive film sensors. These film sensors allow for operations while wearing gloves, and multi-touch operations.
The panel offers the flexibility to accommodate openings, in which input switches can be mounted to simplify the design of the final device.
The key specifications of this touch panel are as follows:
Item |
Specification |
|
|---|---|---|
| Optical characteristics | Transmittance | 88 to 90% (typ.) |
| Reflectance (?=550 nm) |
6% (typ.) Low-reflection types are also available |
|
| Reliability | Moisture resistance | 60°C / 93% RH / 1000 hours |
| Heat resistance | 85°C 1000 hours | |
| Cold resistance | -40°C 1000 hours | |
| Thermal shock resistance | Tested for a 1000-cycle test between -40°C and 85°C | |
| Accuracy of position (readout accuracy of touched positions) | ± 2 mm | |
| Durability | Durable for impressions at 2.45 N with a silicone rubber (tip R3.75, hardness 10 to 20°) for one million times or more | |
| Insulation resistance | 10 MO or more | |
| Input method | Multi-screen touch and gesture inputs | |
| Supported sizes | 5 to 12 inches | |
| Surface treatment and design flexibility of the cover panel | Anti-glare type or clear (transparent) type is selectable Fingerprint resistance can be added Decoration in black and printing of smoked transparent characters are supported |
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