Specifications

Touch System Comparison Chart*
* Manufacturer’s published data.
Resolution and Z- axis
Transmissivity
Activation, Parallax and Response Time
Stylus Type
Sensor Drift and Calibration
Integration Reliability
Capacitive Overlay 1024 x 1024
physical, no z-axis
85 - 92% Tactile activation,
no parallax, 15 - 25 ms
Requires conduc- tive stylus. Unable to simultaneously detect gloved and ungloved finger
Subject to drift. Requires repetitive calibration
Invasive and non- invasive. Optical bonding required for optimum display clarity
Sensor - 20,000,000 touches per point. Controller - >186,000 hours MTBF
Near Field Imaging 1024 x 1024
physical, no z-axis
85% Tactile activation,
parallax, 10 - 20 ms
Requires conduc- tive stylus.
Not subject to drift Invasive Sensor - unlimited.
Controller - >180,000 hours MTBF
Guided Acoustic Wave
21,904 points/ square inch physical, plus z-axis
92% Tactile activation,
no parallax, 18 - 50 ms
Requires soft, energy-absorbing stylus
Not subject to drift Invasive. Optical
bonding required for optimum display clarity
Sensor - Unlimited. Controller - >180,000 hours MTBF
Resistive Overlay
256 x 256 to 4096 x 4096 physical, no z-axis
55-78% Tactile activation,
no parallax, 13 - 18 ms
No stylus limitation Subject to drift.
Requires repetitive calibration
Invasive. Optical bonding required for optimum display clarity
Sensor - 2,000,000 touches per point. Controller - 86,000 - 180,000 hours MTBF
Scanning Infrared
0.25” physical, 0.125” logical, no z-axis
100% Proximity activa-
tion, parallax, 18 - 40 ms
No stylus material limitation. Minimum stylus diameter 5/16”
Not subject to drift Invasive and
non-invasive
>138,000 hours MTBF
Surface Acoustic Wave
0.030” physical, plus z-axis
92% Tactile activation,
no parallax,
53 - 59 ms
Requires soft, energy-absorbing stylus
Not subject to drift Invasive. Optical
bonding required for optimum display clarity
Sensor - 50,000,000 touches per point. Controller - 86,000 - 118,000 hours MTBF
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