PROXIMITY SENSING TOUCH SCREENS

Binstead Designs Ltd. have developed and patented a transparent touch- interactive film,  (Proximity Sensing Touch Film), which can be operated through 1" of glass or double glazing.

• The film can pinpoint the position of a persons finger touching, or coming close to, any part of the surface.

• Any surface which is in front of the film (flat, curved or flexible) becomes touch-interactive.

• Placing the film in front of any ordinary monitor enables the monitor to be used as a proximity sensing touch screen.

Benefits

Touch screen kiosks are gaining popularity as a means of providing interactive information systems for public use.

Unfortunately, many of the touch screens used are easily vandalized, damaged through excessive use, or work incorrectly when scratched or contaminated. As a consequence they are usually used indoors in a protected or semi-protected environment.

For the outdoor environment, the Proximity Sensing Touch Film enables an ordinary monitor to be used as a high resolution, vandal-proof and weather resistant touch screen which is protected by thick glass.

• The resulting touch-screen is unaffected by knocks, scratches, dirt, grease, chewing gum, torrential rain, and other contaminants.
• As the screen is solid state 'Down time' is reduced dramatically, as well as the need for engineer call outs.
• The cosmetic appearance and usable life of the kiosk is greatly prolonged, as the screen cannot wear out.

As an alternative to a kiosk, it is possible merely to put a monitor in the shop window, sandwiching a layer of film between the monitor and the window. This would be operated from outside the shop.

• Saving the expense of a kiosk.
• The system can be monitored easily by shop staff.
• The system can be installed or uninstalled in less than an hour and involves no modification or damage to the premises.

Additional Benefits:

• The film overlays the display, but as it is transparent, it does not degrade the display image significantly.
• The resolution is equivalent to that of the video display.
• The touch-screen can be activated by any sized stylus, a gloved or non-gloved finger.
• It is modular and is capable of being added to a display and computer in the same manner that other input devices are added.

This film can also be used to replace many existing keyboards and touch-screens with no loss of specification.

The advantages over existing keyboards and touch-screens are:

• Solid state so no moving parts to wear out.
• Environmentally sealed - impervious to dust, grease, moisture chemical or oil vapours or pressure hosedown that may be present in a hostile environment.
• Very thin - 100-250 microns.
• Flexible and formable.
• Low cost.
• Proximity Sensing.

Applications

• Low-cost*, vandal-proof Touch-screens and Keypads for operation through shop windows, glass doors or thick glass and plastic.

* typical price for a 17" screen is £450 sterling.

These shop window systems will immediately be of use to Estate and Travel Agents, Tourist Information Centers, Job Centers, Train and Bus Stations and Libraries, but, as the technology becomes more widely known, many High Street Shops, Banks and Building Societies will find it a useful way to provide more information and services for their customers.

Most shops and offices have a window that is readily accessible to the public.

That window can now be used to provide a very powerful, secure, 24 hour, public access, interactive information service, at a very low cost.

• Very lightweight waterproof keyboards and digitizing tablets which can be rolled up when not in use.
• Industrial control panels with switches, sliders, keyboards and touch-screens on the one film.
• Lightweight, formable control panels.
• Large switching panels which can be operated through glass in hostile environments.
• One film can be 'broken' up into a number of discrete keys.

Technical

The thin, clear film has the remarkable property that, when stuck to one side of a sheet of glass, it can sense the exact position of a persons finger when they are touching the other side of the glass, even if it is double-glazing.

Currently the most common use for the film is for touch-screen applications.

The film is attached to glass (typically inside a shop window) and the computer monitor is placed behind the film. This enables a standard monitor (up to 17") to be used as a touch-screen which works through glass thus allowing the user to stand outside the shop and work the computer inside the store.

The computer interface is very simple through the use of serial mouse emulation, which enables users to operate Windows programs from outside a shop, or on a kiosk without the need for a mouse.

As the user moves their finger across the glass, the mouse arrow follows. To select an item they simply move the arrow to that item and press. In this way, items as small as a pixel can be selected.

This software is totally compatible with Windows '95, '98, or NT programs which use the mouse for selecting items.

• The Control Board (1cm x 20cm x 5mm thick) is attached the side of the film and is cabled to a standard RS232 serial port on the host computer.

• No additional power source is required.

• Windows '95, NT, and '98 platforms are fully supported.

Screen

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For further details please contact Mr. R Binstead. UK : Telephone 44-115-941-2446

    binstead@innotts.co.uk