Force Panel

While the technology for force panel began in the 1960s, only recently has the technology become commercially viable with a unique set of improvements over previous touch screen technologies. Force-based touch panels measure the force from a touch with multiple sensors and can measure how hard the user is pressing against the panel. Panels can include irregular surfaces or elevated elements that remain touch sensitive. For example, custom-built buttons in any shape or size can be integrated into the design of the touch surface. InfiniTouch, introduced by QSI Corporation in 2007, is the first functioning application of force panel technology in the United States. InfiniTouch is the only touch technology that measures the actual touch force rather than using an indirect measurement.

Other interesting developments in touch screen technology include frustrated total internal reflection developed by NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the MERL DiamondTouch. Frustrated total internal reflection allows for multi-touch and multi-user input, but necessitates working in a dark room with plenty of room for rear projection. The DiamondTouch is also a multi-user application, but with a system of antennas and receivers the display can distinguish between the touches of different users. DiamondTouch is a front projection system and requires the users to maintain a capacitive connection to a receiver, typically through their chair.

Each of these seven main touch screen technologies exhibits unique strengths and weaknesses depending on a potential application. The iPhone uses capacitive in part because of the multi-touch functionality; the military relies on infrared for many applications, despite the high cost, to ensure brightness in the displays; and the InfiniTouch provides improved durability and design flexibility.

The epidemic of touch screens continues to spread in everyday life with new applications on the market every day. With the new introductions of products like JazzMutant’s Lemur, Apple’s iPhone, and QSI Corporations’s InfiniTouch, the boundaries of touch screen technology continue to expand.

This article was written by Garrick Infanger, Force Panel Project Manager, QSI Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT). For more information, contact Mr. Infanger at garrick. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or click here.