Application Watch: Touch panel manufacturers harness existing touch technologies

Mainland China makers from the touch panel sector keep One Glass Solution a priority, while those specializing in displays sustain efforts for on-cell and in-cell touchscreens.

One Glass Solution, on-cell and in-cell technologies continue to drive touch panel manufacturing in mainland China, with the third indicating the trend in the line in the next two years. Most touchscreen suppliers will stay focused on the first to capitalize on its wide use in entry-level and midrange mobile devices. Their counterparts in the LCD and OLED segments that are also in this venture, on the other hand, will stick with the two more advanced approaches for the midlevel and high-end markets.

In addition, local makers are noting the adoption of pressure sensitivity, put on spotlight by Apple's Force Touch promotion, on their agenda. Introduced to enable displays to provide a more interactive experience, the feature has been integrated into the latest smartphones not just by Apple but also by China brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi, ZTE and Meizu.

Among the initial efforts is that undertaken by Shenzhen New Degree. The company has embedded a 0.125mm-thick force sensor film in its touch panels and OLED displays for handsets. The products are used in ZTE's Axon Mini and Axon 7 models. The manufacturer can churn out 2.6 million units of 7in pressure-sensitive touchscreens annually at its 2,500sqm facility.

Other suppliers are expected to follow suit when the technology gathers adoption in midlevel and upscale smartphones that are produced in China.

In the components aspect of the line, China touchscreen makers are keeping watch on research on graphene-based conductive film, which is seen as a possible alternative to indium tin oxide or ITO. A few such as Shenzhen Hotatouch Co. Ltd have forayed into the territory. The manufacturer has, in fact, obtained a patent for such products that it developed for smartphones.

In coming years, mobile electronics will still be the key demand driver for touch panels. Besides smartphones, wearable and automotive infotainment devices are the main application markets this year and in 2019. At present, handsets, automotive GPS and tablet PCs collectively account for more than 70 percent of local suppliers' shipments of capacitive touchscreens.

Makers such as Microtech Technology Co. Ltd are therefore boosting output in anticipation of higher requirement. The supplier plans to implement another 20 percent increase in 2018.

The mainland's production value for the category is estimated to have reached $7 billion in 2017, according to CCID Consulting. In 2014, thetotal was between $3.5 billion and $4 billion. Further annual growth in the next two years will be in the 10 to 20 percent range.

The global market reflects the same trend. From 1.8 billion touch panels shipped in 2014, the volume surged to 3.5 billion units in 2017, increasing at a yearly rate of more than 20 percent, according to Wind Consulting.

Over 200 companies turn out capacitive touch panels in the mainland. Major LCD panel and module suppliers such as BOE and Tianma are among them.

More than two-thirds are locally owned and the rest with investment from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Most offer related products such as LED modules.

The majority of touch panel makers in the mainland are in the cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan in Guangdong province. Suzhou and Hangzhou respectively in the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang are also key locations. Companies entering the line will likely set up factories in these areas as well.

1.5 to 10in touchscreens

Capacitive touch panels for mobile electronics from mainland companies come in sizes ranging from 1.5 to 10in and have transparency surpassing 85 percent. These support 1920x1080 dpi and more than 50 million touches.

Palm Technology Co. Ltd from Taiwan, which also has a factory in the mainland, offers a 10.1in model with a sensor area measuring 218.56x137.2mm. Shenzhen Hotatouch has a 15.6in unit with a 344x193mm active area.

Mainland makers source materials and components locally and overseas. For touch controllers, they turn to foreign providers such as Cypress and Elan, while ITO film comes usually from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The key sources of the latter are Nitto, Oike-Kogyo and SKC Haas. Cover lenses are from Taiwan and Japan. The rest of the manufacturing inputs are purchased from domestic companies, or from foreign ones if required by buyers.

Despite the stable cost of materials and components, some capacitive touchscreen makers reduced their prices due to intense competition. Apex Material Technology Corp. slashed its quotes by 30 percent to attract more orders.

In the months ahead, prices will be flat as outlay for inputs is expected to stay unchanged.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our market analyst for representing current trends in touch panels from Greater China makers.

Touch panel in 3 to 4.9in variants

Model P3015-C2B capacitive touch panel from Apex Material Technology Corp. comes in 3 to 4.9in. It adopts a PenMount PM2103 COF with a 61.5x38.5mm tail and a 10-pin terminator, and a PenMount P2-06 touch controller. Interface options are USB, UART and I²C.

The unit uses 41.7mA and when in sleep mode 2.5mA. The minimum order is negotiable. Delivery takes 7 days.

7in touch panel with 156.8x93.4mm active area

This 7in capacitive touch panel from Microtech Technology Co. Ltd, MTP07GG-05A model, has a GT911 touch controller. The active area measures 156.8x93.4mm, while the outline dimensions are 171.2x114.8x1.4mm.

The 800x480-pixel unit with a 10-pin and 0.5mm-pitch flexible PCB has minimum order requirement of 100 units. Delivery lead time is 7 days.

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Touch panel measures 10.1in

Palm Technology Co. Ltd's 10.1in capacitive touch panel, TPC-101 model, has outline dimensions of 256.6x175.6mm and active area measuring 217.76x136.4mm.

The product uses a GSL3680 touch controller. Its resolution is 1280x800 pixels. The input type is I²C.

The negotiable minimum order is delivered within 7 days.

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15.6in touch panel supports -40 to 90 C

Shenzhen Hotatouch Co. Ltd has C387236A1 model, a 15.6in capacitive touch panel with a GT9110, ILITEK2302, ILITEK2511 or EETI touch controller and I2C, USB or RS-232 interface.

The 3.1±0.2mm-thick unit operates in -40 to 90 C. The active area is 344x193mm. Outline dimensions are 387x236mm.

Order quantity is negotiable. Delivery lead time is 7 days.