Resistive LCD Panels Improve Sunlight Readability

July 7, 2003

New four- and seven-wire resistive circularly polarized touch panels use transmissive LCDs to eliminate over 60% of reflected ambient light while maintaining 79% luminance transmissivity. The FID-554 series from Fujitsu Components America is designed for portable and stationary outdoor applications like kiosks, navigation systems, industrial instruments, and test instrumentation.

The touch panels employ a 1/4-wave retarder and a polarizer to prevent light that passes through from being reflected back to the viewer's eye. As a result, the high-contrast display becomes very readable in sunlight conditions.

The panels feature a minimum surface hardness rating of 3H and a minimum life of 1 million operations. Available in a variety of sizes, they suit both pen and finger inputs. The custom products are compatible with standard controllers and device drivers available from Fujitsu.

Estimated pricing for the FED554 custom product series begins at $25 each in OEM volumes. Lead times are within 12 to 14 weeks.

Fujitsu Components America www.fcai.fujitsu.com

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.