The Crystaloid Touchscreen LCDs combine an STN dot matrix with a touch panel based on resistive-sense technology. This technology lets designers completely enclose and seal the touch-panel overlay, since conductive styluses aren't required for activation. The modules contain all of the LCD drive electronics that are necessary for displaying data, scanning the touch panel, sensing operator inputs, and outputting digital data to a control program. Module I/O is through a multipin connector.
The devices can be programmed to display alphanumerics, a QWERTY keyboard, icons, and other graphics. Three configurations are available: a 16-by-6 keypad with dot-matrix configurations of 128 by 128 and 240 by 128, and a 16-by-4 keypad with a 240-by-64 dot-matrix configuration. Viewing areas range from 73 by 73 mm (2.9 by 2.9 in.), up to 114 by 64 mm (4.5 by 2.5 in.). Power consumption (logic + LCD) is about 200 mW without backlighting, or about 600 mW with backlighting. The LCD is viewable under ambient lighting conditions in both configurations.
Pricing starts at about $150 per module in 100-piece quantities, plus production tooling costs.
Crystaloid Technologies Inc., 5282 Hudson Dr., Hudson, OH 44036-3769; (330) 655-2429, ext. 227; fax (330) 655-2176; www.crystaloid.com.