Touch Sensor

Posted in cigar & cigarette stuff by admin @ Aug 16, 2008

Touch Sensor Touch Sensor

Capacitive touch technology has been around for decades but the technology has been relatively expensive to purchase compared to other similar types of technology that perform basically the same functions. Capacitive touch technology however is considered a higher quality product and due to certain recent events, i.e. the announcement of the iPhone which includes capacitive technology, the demand has surged production and therefore driven prices lower, making the capacitive technology pretty attractive. With this, new ideas are brought forth and people start talking. What else could we do with this “suddenly affordable” technology?

One person thought about having capacitive touch sensors on the outside of their phone so that when the phone is touch a person’s skin, the ringer on the phone will only vibrate- putting an end to disruptive cell phone ringing in public gatherings like meetings and movie theaters. Other thoughts include adaptation into home appliances, cars and in-home touch screen computers.

Phones of the future include capacitive touch sensors that are flexible and the possibility of the “watch phone” wrapping around your wrist could be available sooner than you think.

Capacitive touch sensors are already found

In other cell phones besides the iPhone

Newer models of the computer mouse

Medical equipment

Grocery check out

ATM’s

Laptop keyboards

Computer monitor screens

Capacitive touch
technology is also a more durable product compared to other forms of touch technology. Just a couple reasons here:

Capacitive is resistive to noise, humidity and moisture and changing conditions

Mechanical buttons can be kept or replaced

The touch sensor can be mounted directly behind mechanical buttons

The hidden touch sensor is able to sense through the buttons and detect finger presence

What ever your opinion of the iPhone is, one thing is for certain, it helped to open up ideas and possibilities for new products, now that capacitive touch is within a company’s financial reach.

capacitance touch sensor