Tyco Electronics Demonstrates New Elo TouchSystems Handheld Touch Technologies at SID 2009
New Performance Level Possible with an Expanded Elo TouchSystems Technology Portfolio
HARRISBURG, Pa. - June 3, 2009 - Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems, the global leader in touch technology, brings a new level of performance to the small screen. New touch technologies specifically developed for handheld devices expand the already broad Elo TouchSystems portfolio. The newest Elo handheld technologies deliver benefits that have been only partially achieved before by other touch technologies. Bringing small screen multi-touch and gesture capabilities to market is an example of the innovation customers have come to expect from Elo TouchSystems products.
The new touch capabilities for handheld devices will be on display at the Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, June 2- 4, 2009. Demonstrations of touch technologies for screen sizes under 12-inches will be conducted in the Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems Booth #659.
Resistive Gestures
"Elo invented touch technology nearly 40 years ago," says Tyco Electronics vice president and Elo TouchSystems general manager Mark Mendenhall, "and we've continued to leverage our leadership and innovation to deliver on our commitment to provide an advantage to touch technology customers. Our new technologies will provide mobile and handheld touch device makers with value-added, cost-competitive touch interface alternatives."
According to Elo product manager Pete Manautou, the new Resistive Gestures delivers real-time, two-finger gesture recognition on analog resistive touchscreens. "The new technology, named Resistive Gestures, provides a richer user experience via intuitive gestures which until now had only been possible with higher-end, costlier technologies such as projected capacitive. Consisting only of an enhanced controller and firmware set, the technology can be quickly integrated into analog resistive touchscreen systems. This new technology allows current resistive technology-based device manufacturers to cost-effectively develop next-generation products with enhanced applications."
Introducing Mobile Acoustic Pulse Recognition (APR)
Manautou further explains that the Elo technologies portfolio is expanding to deliver cost-effective, high performance touch solutions to the handheld market. "We recognized the need for a touch interface technology on portable devices that delivers high performance and durability in rough environments, while giving the user a choice of touch input tools. Although, resistive touch screens offer the benefits of low cost, low power consumption and choice of user input tools such as stylus and finger, these screens are not as durable and lack the higher optical quality of other technologies. Projected capacitive touch screens on the other hand, do provide very high optical quality and durability, but they are higher cost, come at the expense of higher power consumption and are limited to touch inputs with bare fingers or tethered pens. Our new Mobile APR touch technology is a cost-effective, lower power solution that combines the benefits of these two touch technologies in one."
A New Projected Capacitive Technology
Today, most of the touch screens found in mobile and handheld devices are based on analog resistive touch technology. It cost effectively delivers multiple types of touch inputs, but the plastic top layer can become scratched and wears out with repeated use. In recent years, projected capacitive has emerged as a new technology that increases the user experience, but is more costly than resistive technology and is more complex to integrate. Clearly, there is a need for an easy to-integrate and cost-effective touch technology to fill this gap. Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems now has the solution. With a single-ITO (indium tin oxide) layer, Elo's new projected capacitive touch technology reduces the cost of the technology used in most touch-enabled cell phones and mobile devices, while providing a sensitive, accurate and fast touch response. This latest touch technology joins the expanding Elo TouchSystems portfolio of touch products and offers design engineers an alternative to the existing touch technologies.
According to Manautou, "Engineers working with projected capacitive technology for portable devices face a significant challenge to reduce component costs while offering input flexibility to extend the life of the screen and maintain the user experience. Elo's novel single-layer projected capacitive technology for portable devices provides an alternative to the current two & three layer projected capacitive solutions available today."
This new touch technology can be easily customized to accommodate a device's unique bezel and electronic requirements. The touch sensor can be built such that trace routing is eliminated from up to three sides resulting in an increased touch area that expands the amount of space available for application development. It can also be bonded and co-molded to a plastic bezel to make unique finishes and product styles available. The touch electronics, consisting of analog and microprocessor chips with firmware, can be easily integrated and deployed in a wide variety of portable devices.
ABOUT TYCO ELECTRONICS
Tyco Electronics Ltd. is a leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, undersea telecommunication systems and specialty products, with fiscal 2008 sales of US$14.8* billion to customers in more than 150 countries. We design, manufacture and market products for customers in a broad array of industries including automotive; data communication systems and consumer electronics; telecommunications; aerospace, defense and marine; medical; and alternative energy and lighting. With approximately 7,000 engineers and worldwide manufacturing, sales and customer service capabilities, Tyco Electronics' commitment is our customers' advantage. More information on Tyco Electronics can be found at www.tycoelectronics.com/. (*Includes revenue from the company's former Wireless Systems segment, which will be reported as a discontinued operation beginning in the fiscal third quarter of 2009.)
ABOUT ELO TOUCHSYSTEMS
Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems is the global leading brand in touch technology. The Elo TouchSystems portfolio encompasses the largest selection of touchscreen technologies, touchmonitors, and all-in-one touchcomputers for the demanding requirements of diverse applications, such as industrial, medical, POS, kiosks, retail, hospitality, transportation, office automation and gaming. Elo founders invented the touchscreen over 35 years ago. Since then, Elo touchscreens have delivered one common, powerful result - advanced computer technology simplified for all users. For more information on Elo products and services, please contact 800-ELO-TOUCH (800-356-8682), or view Elo products website at www.elotouch.com or direct electronic mail inquiries to customerservice@elotouch.com.
Contacts:
Product Communications:
Pete Manautou
650-361-4817
pete.manautou@tycoelectronics.com
Marketing Communications:
Gary Sadamori
650-361-4669
gary.sadamori@tycoelectronics.com
