Pcap touch displays by AMT are rugged for transport, says RDS
Available with support for UV and corrosion resistance with extended temperature specification, the range of Pcap (projected capacitive) touch screens by AMT are available from Review Display Systems (RDS).
They are suitable for transport systems, in-vehicle applications and vessels operated in a wide range of terrestrial, subterranean, atmospheric and marine environments. The display and touch technologies used in these systems need to provide dependable operation under a wide range of operating environments and conditions, observed RDS.
Such operating environments will present challenges that include temperature extremes, temperature change, magnetic and electrical noise, mechanical shock and vibration, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and liquid / fluid substances. These factors all pose potential threats to reliable and consistent touchscreen operation.
User displays employing touchscreen interfaces must provide reliable and stable operation under temperature extremes while also coping with rapid temperature variations. AMT develops and supplies PCap touch panels that are specified to an automotive standard operating temperature range of -40 to +85- degrees C, and a storage temperature range of -50 to +90 degrees C. Temperature change is tested with thermal cycling of -40 degrees C (30 minutes) to +85 degrees C (30 minutes), for 100 cycles.
Transportation systems and infrastructure equipment are often operated extensively in outdoor environments, and need to be able to withstand prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. A system that is unprotected and subjected to extended UV radiation can cause yellowing, hazing, and material degradation. AMT PCap touchscreens have been successfully tested to strict industry standards including accelerated UV ageing and weathering standard ASTM G154 Cycle 1 – 1,000 hours, and environmental conditions standard MIL-STD-810H Pro 1 – 1,000 hours.
Another challenge in transportation can be light reflection in high ambient light environments which can impact display image clarity and visibility. Optical bonding is used to eliminate internal air gaps which reduces internal reflections and refraction effects. AMT also offers touch panels with a low reflective (LR) design, to aid and assist improved image legibility in bright light conditions.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is important in all transportation applications. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require all devices installed on aircraft to pass certification to DO-160 Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. Employing suitable integration and firmware adjustment, AMT Pcap touch screens can meet DO-160 Conducted RF Emission at 150kHz to 152MHz and radiated RF emission at 100MHz to 6000MHz test standards. AMT’s hardware and software design provide EMI for all transportation applications, added RDS.
Operator displays on public transport systems will often adopt dual-screen redundancy designs to mitigate against unexpected failure circumstances. A dual-screen operator display can incorporate two touchscreens using just one piece of integrated cover glass. The electric fields generated between the two Pcap touch screens have the potential to interfere with each other. AMT has conducted internal tests and used different signal frequencies to mitigate the problem of interference and ensure dual-screen applications can be successfully deployed.
AMT can design, develop, and supply an extensive range of Pcap touch screens for diverse transport industry applications including trains, buses, electric vehicles, construction plant, commercial aircraft, utility vehicles and marine craft.
A wide range AMT Pcap touch solutions, peripheral components and engineering support are now available from Review Display Systems.
Established in 1982, RDS has experience supporting and supplying display and embedded hardware solutions.
Review Display Systems engages and develops partnerships with customers in a wide range of industry sectors including industrial control and instrumentation, medical devices, facilities management, marine, aerospace, point-of-information, and process control.
The company is accredited to the latest internationally recognised quality standards including ISO14001, ISO9001-2015 and ISO13485:2016 for the design and manufacture of medical devices.
