Projected Capacitive (PCAP) and Surface Capacitive (SCAP) touch panels are two of the most popular types of touch screens used in various devices. While both of them offer reliable and responsive touch input, there are significant differences between them.
Projected Capacitive (PCAP) touch panels are the most widely used touch panels in modern devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. These touch panels are made up of a transparent layer of glass or plastic, which has an array of electrodes arranged in rows and columns. When a user touches the screen, the electrodes detect the changes in the electrical field caused by the conductive object, and the controller determines the location of the touch.
One of the main advantages of PCAP touch panels is their high level of sensitivity. They can detect even the slightest touch, and their response is fast and accurate. They are also highly durable, resistant to scratches and abrasions, and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. PCAP touch panels offer multi-touch functionality, which means they can detect and respond to multiple touch points simultaneously, making them ideal for applications such as gaming and drawing.
Another advantage of PCAP touch panels is their excellent optical properties. The glass or plastic layer on top of the electrodes is highly transparent, allowing for clear and bright displays. They also offer excellent contrast and color accuracy, making them ideal for medical imaging, photography, and video playback applications.
Surface Capacitive (SCAP) touch panels are the second most popular type of touch panel after PCAP. SCAP touch panels are made up of a glass layer with a coating of conductive material on top, which acts as an electrode. When a user touches the screen, the electrical field is disrupted, and the location of the touch is determined by measuring the changes in the voltage at the corners of the screen.
One of the main advantages of SCAP touch panels is their low cost. They are cheaper to produce than PCAP touch panels, making them an attractive option for low-end devices. SCAP touch panels also offer good durability, resistance to scratches and abrasions, and can withstand moderate environmental conditions.
SCAP touch panels offer single-touch functionality, which means they can only detect and respond to a single touch point at a time. This makes them less suitable for applications that require multi-touch functionality, such as gaming and drawing.
Another disadvantage of SCAP touch panels is their poor optical properties. The conductive coating on the glass layer reduces the transparency of the screen, causing a loss of brightness and contrast. They also suffer from lower color accuracy, making them less suitable for applications such as medical imaging, photography, and video playback.
The main differences between PCAP and SCAP touch panels center around their sensitivity, multi-touch functionality, optical properties, and cost. On the topic of sensitivity, PCAP touch panels are more sensitive than SCAP touch panels and can detect even the slightest touch. SCAP touch panels are less sensitive and can only detect larger touches. PCAP touch panels offer multi-touch functionality, while SCAP touch panels offer single-touch functionality. In terms of optical protocols, PCAP touch panels offer excellent optical properties, with high transparency, brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. SCAP touch panels have poorer optical properties, with reduced transparency, brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. Finally, SCAP touch panels are cheaper to produce than PCAP touch panels, making them a popular choice for low-end devices.
While PCAP and SCAP touch panels have their advantages and disadvantages, PCAP touch panels offer higher sensitivity, multi-touch functionality, and better optical properties, making them a better option for use cases where these details matter. Don't hesitate to contact FocusLCDs to help you decide what touch panel type fits your project's needs.
If you have any questions on PCAP touchscreens, Capacitive Touch. We will give the professional answers to your questions.