Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT), as one of the mainstream touch technologies, is widely used in smartphones, tablet PCs, automotive center controls and other scenarios due to its high precision, durability and versatility. The following is a detailed analysis of its ten core advantages:
1. High Sensitivity and Multi-Touch
Advantage: Supports 10 points or more touch controls at the same time, with millisecond response speed.
Principle: Detect capacitance changes through the cross-electrode matrix, and accurately locate multiple contacts.
Application: Zoom, rotate and other complex gestures (e.g. drawing, games).
2. High light transmittance (>90%)
Advantage: Clearer screen display and high color reproduction.
Reason: No need for traditional resistive screen's pressure-sensitive layer, only transparent ITO electrode layer.
Comparison: Better than resistive screen (about 75% light transmittance), suitable for high resolution OLED/AMOLED screen.
3. Strong durability
Lifespan: no mechanical structure, theoretical touch life over 1 million times.
Durability: Tempered glass (e.g. Corning Gorilla Glass) on the surface, anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint coating.
4. Good anti-interference ability
Environmental adaptability: Unaffected by temperature and humidity, resistant to electrostatic interference.
Technology: Adopting differential signal detection or self-capacitance/mutual-capacitance combination program to reduce noise.
5. Pressure-free operation
User experience: Responds to light touch, supports glove mode (sensitivity adjustment) or active capacitive pen.
Comparison: resistive screen requires physical pressure, easy to fatigue.
6. Flexible design
Structure: Can be made into flat or curved screen (e.g. car curved center control).
Customization: support shaped cutting, ultra-narrow bezel, and even under-screen fingerprint integration.
7. Waterproof and dustproof
Sealing: no gap on the surface, IP67/IP68 protection level (e.g. outdoor industrial equipment, medical terminals).
Wet hand operation: Algorithmic filtering of false touch signals caused by water damage.
8. Long battery life (low power consumption)
Technology: Activate local electrode scanning only when touching, almost zero power consumption in standby.
Comparison: Infrared touch screen needs to emit light continuously and consumes higher power.
9. High precision (±1mm error)
Applicable scenarios: stylus input (such as Apple Pencil's pressure-sensitive level of accuracy), precision drawing.
Upgrade technology: self-capacitance + mutual capacitance mixed detection (such as the iPhone touch program).
10. Support complex environment
Protection solutions: Thickenable glass layer (e.g. ATM machine anti-vandalism screen), anti-oil coating (food and beverage POS machine).
Temperature range: -20℃~70℃ stable operation (industrial, automotive applications).
The advantages of projected capacitive screens have made them the first choice for consumer electronics and industry, and their application scenarios will be further expanded in the future with the development of flexible screens and the Internet of Things.