What types of touch panels are there?

There are several types of touch panels (touchscreens) used in modern devices, each with different working principles, advantages, and use cases. Here’s a breakdown of the main types:

1. Resistive Touch Panels

Working Principle: Detects touch by measuring pressure between two conductive layers.

Features:

（1）Works with fingers, gloves, or stylus

（2）Lower cost

（3）Less sensitive to accidental touches

Drawbacks: Lower clarity, less durability, not multi-touch capable

Common Uses: ATMs, industrial control panels, older GPS systems

2. Capacitive Touch Panels

Working Principle: Uses the human body’s natural conductivity to change the electrostatic field.

Types:

Surface Capacitive

Projected Capacitive (PCAP) – most common today

Features:

（1）High clarity

（2）Supports multi-touch

（3）Durable and responsive

Drawbacks: Needs bare finger or special stylus

Common Uses: Smartphones, tablets, laptops, POS systems

3. Infrared (IR) Touch Panels

Working Principle: Uses a grid of infrared light beams; touch is detected when the beam is interrupted.

Features:

（1）No physical contact required

（2）Works with any object

（3）High durability (no overlay to wear out)

Drawbacks: Sensitive to dust and light interference

Common Uses: Large interactive displays, kiosks

4. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Panels

Working Principle: Uses ultrasonic waves; touch absorbs the waves, signaling input.

Features:

（1）High clarity and resolution

（2）Works with fingers, gloves, or soft stylus

Drawbacks: Sensitive to dirt and moisture

Common Uses: Info terminals, public kiosks

5. Optical Imaging Touch Panels

Working Principle: Uses cameras or optical sensors to detect touch.

Features:

（1）Scalable to large sizes

（2）Multi-touch capable

Drawbacks: Prone to false touches and light interference

Common Uses: Interactive whiteboards, large digital signage

6. In-Cell / On-Cell Touch Panels

Working Principle:

In-Cell: Touch sensor is integrated inside the LCD layers

On-Cell: Touch sensor is placed on top of the LCD glass

Features:

（1）Thinner and lighter design

（2）Better optical clarity

（3）Power-efficient

Drawbacks: More complex and costly to produce

Common Uses: High-end smartphones, tablets, ultra-thin devices