Capacitive touch screen is a modern input device, widely used in smart phones, tablets, laptops, car navigation systems and other electronic products. In the capacitive touch screen, IC (integrated circuit) plays a key role, it is responsible for signal processing, data transmission and touch point coordinates calculation and other functions.
1. Type and function of IC
The ics used in capacitive touch screens mainly include two types: controller and driver.
Controller: The controller is the most core part of the capacitive touch screen, which is responsible for receiving the capacitive signal on the touch screen and converting it into a digital signal. The controller usually integrates a variety of functions, such as touch recognition, coordinate calculation, gesture recognition, etc., which can realize a variety of input methods such as single touch, multi-touch and gesture operation.
Driver: The driver is mainly responsible for sending signals to the capacitive touch screen, stimulating the electric field on the touch panel, and reading capacitance changes. Drivers typically use multiplexing or full multiplexing technology to track and detect touch points by scanning different areas of the capacitive touch screen.
Controllers and drivers are often integrated in a single chip, making them an all-in-one IC solution. This integrated design simplifies the circuit structure and improves the overall performance and stability of the system.
2. Working principle of IC
The working principle of the capacitive touch screen is based on changes in capacitance. When we touch the touch screen with our fingers, capacitive coupling will be formed between the fingers and the touch screen, changing the electric field distribution on the touch screen. The IC excites the electric field on the touch panel through the AC signal generated by the driver, and then detects and calculates the change in capacitance through the controller to determine the position of the touch.
Specifically, the drive excites the rows and columns on the touch panel one by one in a certain scan pattern and measures the capacitance change at each intersection. The controller processes these data and calculates the coordinate position of the touch point through the algorithm. In the case of multi-touch, the controller can recognize multiple touch points and calculate their coordinates, pressure, and other relevant information.
It should be noted that the IC of the capacitive touch screen also needs to work in conjunction with the IC of the display screen to ensure the accuracy and synchronization of the touch event. This involves data transfer and coordination between the controller and the display controller for smooth touch operation and response.
3. Characteristics and development trend of IC
In capacitive touch screens, ics play a crucial role and have the following characteristics:
High integration: In order to adapt to the increasingly thin and lightweight electronic product design trend, touch screen ics are required to be as small as possible, but at the same time need to integrate more functions and performance.
High sensitivity: Touch screen ics need to have high sensitivity and be able to detect and recognize touch signals quickly and accurately to provide a smooth and accurate touch experience.
Multi-touch: With the popularity of multi-touch technology, touch screen ics not only need to support multi-touch, but also need to be able to recognize and parse the coordinates and actions of multiple touch points.
Low power consumption: Battery life is an important consideration for mobile devices. Touch screen ics need to optimize power management to improve the battery life of the device by reducing power consumption.
In order to meet the evolving market needs, touch screen ics are also constantly evolving and innovating. On the one hand, IC manufacturers are committed to improving the performance and sensitivity of their products to achieve more accurate and fast touch response. On the other hand, IC manufacturers are also developing more functions and features, such as support for gesture recognition, anti-interference performance enhancement, anti-miscontact, etc., to expand the possibility of touch screen applications.
At the same time, with the emergence of new display technologies such as foldable and flexible screens, touch screen ics also need to adapt to the needs of these new technologies and provide corresponding solutions.
4. IC manufacturers and market competition
At present, there are many well-known manufacturers in the capacitive touch screen IC field, including Synaptics, Cypress Semiconductor, FocalTech, Goodix and others. They have their own characteristics and advantages in technology research and development, product innovation and market share.
These IC vendors continue to introduce new products in the competition and continue to improve the performance and functionality of their touchscreen ics. They work with equipment manufacturers to provide customized solutions to meet the needs of different devices. At the same time, they are also actively exploring different application fields, such as the automotive field, industrial control field and so on.
In the market competition, in addition to technology and product performance, price is also an important consideration. IC manufacturers will strive to provide cost-effective products to attract more customers and partners.
The IC in the capacitive touch screen plays a crucial role, responsible for functions such as signal processing, data transmission and touch coordinate calculation. Controllers and drivers are the main types of ics, which realize the recognition and display of touch signals through coordination and cooperation with the touch screen and display screen.
Touch screen ics feature high integration, high sensitivity, multi-touch and low power consumption, and are constantly evolving and innovating to meet market demands. Major IC manufacturers are actively introducing new products and improving performance in the market competition, while focusing on cooperation with equipment manufacturers to provide customized solutions.
The continuous development and progress of capacitive touch screen ics has brought us a more convenient and intelligent touch operation experience, and promoted the innovation and development of electronic products.