What They Say
Heraeus and SigmaSense put out a press release, saying that they have created a film-based 65″ touch system that is very sensitive (it can work through glass) and can be used in wet conditions. They say that the technology can be used for displays of over 100″.
The solution is based on Clevios, a flexible and robust conductive PEDOT polymer, and enabled by SigmaDrive, SigmaSense’s current-mode sensing technology which supports super high resistance sensors at ultra-low voltages. It was publicly demonstrated for the first time at the trade fair C-Touch & Display in Shenzhen, China from November 19 – 21, 2020.
The coating was added via a roll-to-roll process by Elite Optoelectronic Co., Ltd. (EOC). The sensor was then structured by laser patterning, processed, and assembled by Shenzhen Touchworks Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. (TWS). TWS laminated the sensor onto a flat panel display incorporating SigmaSense’s touch controller.
Clevios PEDOT:PSS coatings do not add haze to the films, even under off-angle viewing, and thus provide superior optical clarity to the touch sensor regardless of the viewing angle or lighting conditions. Ultra-low light reflection is another advantage of Clevios that benefits the touch sensor optics due to its low refractive index, which matches with the refractive indices of the plastic or glass substrates. This intrinsic optical property facilitates invisible patterning by laser.
PEDOT:PSS has mechanical flexibility that is ideal for a range of narrow bezel and flexible computing applications. Flexibility eliminates costly crack-yield losses due to bending or flexing the films. A sufficiently thin sensor can be wrapped around the edges of the display to hide the bezel electrodes for narrow bezel designs – a feat that is risky today.
What We Think
I was extremely impressed with SigmaSense when I met them in Las Vegas in January (SigmaSense Looking to Disrupt PCap Touch). It looks as though I was right to be impressed. This looks like a good solution as it seems to avoid the optical interference issues of other electrode materials. Developing good quality PCap touch on large screens has been a long journey and a tough one. Last month, the firm got investment from Foxconn and others. (SigmaSense Closes $22M Series A Funding Round with Groundbreaking Invention Enabling Touchless Touch Screens ) (BR)
