Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about capacitive touch keypads.
What types of capacitive touch does Butler Technologies produce?
BTI typically produces two types of capacitive touch products: Capacitive Touch Interfaces and Capacitive Touch Printed Circuits.
What are capacitive touch interfaces and circuits typically used for?
Capacitive touch sensors have become a popular alternative to traditional interfaces such as membrane switches, elastomer keypads, and capacitive touch screen/color display combinations for many product types.
How do capacitive touch keypads work?
Capacitive touch is an entirely flat button that only works when another conductive force is added. Once a conductive force is pressed against the button, it senses the electricity and performs a regular button action.
If a nonconductive force bumps the button, then there will not be any reaction made.
Read more about the basics of capacitive touch here.
What are typical applications of capacitive touch circuits?
Anyone can find capacitive touch circuits in several applications, such as Retail Displays, Point of Sale Displays, Object & Fluid Detection, and Inventory Control.
How are capacitive touch circuits different than capacitive touch screens?
A cap touch circuit contains a series of conductive traces that make a completely flat keypad. Typically cap touch circuits are injection molded into the display that covers all of the circuitry.
Capacitive touch screens use conductive traces along the outer edge of the screen. Touch screens are typically designed with a black bezel outline or have a graphic overlay on top of the screen.
What industries are cap touch keypads typically used in?
Capacitive touch interfaces can be used in several different industries. Examples would be Retail, Medical, Automotive, Marine, Safety/Defense, Home Appliances, and Industrial Controls.
For more information on some cap touch circuit applications around the home, click here. Other industrial applications are also explained in this blog.
Can capacitive touch displays be water-resistant?
Cap touch displays can be water-resistant, as well as saltwater resistant for boating control systems.
Can cap touch displays be chemical resistant?
Capacitive touch displays are easy to clean with common chemicals.
Can cap touch circuits withstand harsh environments?
Industrial controls integrated with cap touch can be exposed to hazardous conditions and can withstand rough work settings.
Can cap touch displays work if the end-user is wearing gloves?
Many work environments require thick gloves, and cap touch displays will still work even if users wear gloves.
Can capacitive touch be incorporated into products with curved surfaces?
Capacitive touch sensor interfaces allow for greater design flexibility and can be incorporated into products with curved surfaces.
Can lighting effects be incorporated into my cap touch design?
BTI can easily integrate lighting into designs through printed transparent conductors and Light Guide Film (LGF) technology.
What is a grounding plane?
The grounding plane is a grid that surrounds the conductive shorting pad. This is the area around the button that does not sense any conductive force. It’s a great safety feature for appliances, so they do not have any chances of having a false interference.