Zytronic’s Rugged Touch Sensors Incorporated into Latest Fuel Dispensing Systems

PCT^TMtouch solutions once again show credentials in demanding self-service touchscreen deployment

Underlining the strong position it has established in public use applications, Zytronic has secured another high-profile contract for its rugged touch sensors. The company’s custom designed ZYBRID® sensors, utilizing its proprietary Projected Capacitive Technology (PCT™), are now being supplied via local distributor DTH to Korean manufacturer of fuel dispensing equipment, Korea EnE Co. Ltd, for use in a new range of self-service terminals.

As well as having a visually-striking, ergonomic design, the next generation Multicom-Self terminals from EnE possess a greater breadth of features and functionality than other models currently available. They each utilize a high-performance Intel® Atom™ microprocessor and have an industrial grade, bright (450cd/mm² output), 15-inch touch display incorporating the Zytronic touch technology.

With their exposed and lightly supervised locations on petrol filling station forecourts, the touch-enabled terminals have to endure extreme weather conditions, such as snow, frost, hail and heavy rain, as well as heavy 24-hour usage by the general public. This challenging working environment proved to be beyond the scope of conventional touch sensor technologies, impacting severely on their reliability and longevity, increasing the likelihood of downtime, maintenance and replacement. These were all major factors in EnE’s decision to specify Zytronic’s projected capacitive touchscreens.

The reliability exhibited by Zytronic’s PCT touch sensors allows them to outperform other sensor technologies – such as infra-red (IR), surface capacitive and surface acoustic wave (SAW) – even in the most arduous of environments. The reason for this lies within the touch sensors’ innovative construction; which is made up of a matrix of 10 micron diameter copper micro wires embedded behind a toughened glass substrate. The thick (up to 10mm) laminated construction means that PCT sensors are effectively invulnerable to shocks, vibrations, scratches, liquid spillages, the presence of harsh chemicals and the effects of heat/cold. Furthermore, PCT touchscreens have been designed to eliminate the need for a bezel – creating an aesthetically-pleasing, and also simple to clean surface. This feature can be highly advantageous in self-service applications such as the EnE fuel dispensers, as accumulated dirt, dust and liquids can be quickly and easily wiped clean by the operator.

“By migrating to PCT we have been able to overcome the various difficulties previously suffered when using IR and resistive touch sensor technologies,” Mr. Lee, sales manager of EnE confirms. “The resilience of Zytronic’s touch sensors, with their strong touch performance in all conditions, made them a much more attractive option.”

“Touchscreen interfaces are becoming ever more popular in self-service applications like this, as they present a more intuitive and user friendly alternative to keypads and other mechanical means of selection. However, in uncompromising working conditions, such as those found at filling stations, standard touch sensing mechanisms are just not appropriate,” states Ian Crosby, Sales & Marketing Director at Zytronic. “PCT does not share the inherent limitations of other touchscreen technologies, but instead offers far greater robustness and reliable operation regardless of the setting. It has the capacity to deal with the most demanding conditions while delivering unmatched performance.”