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Touchscreens set for mainstream adoption

A new and cheaper form of touchscreen for use in automotive control panels could see the technology, usually used exclusively in satnav systems in luxury vehicles, start to be adopted into lower and medium vehicle segments.

The monochrome panels from systems manufacturer Johnson Controls make cost savings primarily by eliminating the need for foil layers over the display front. An advanced version of the LCD (liquid crystal display) technology allows a sensor mechanism to be incorporated directly into the glass. The special layout of the LCD has several sensitive areas where finger positions can be detected by capacitive effect.

Benefits of touchscreen controls are easy to see – in this case literally, as the lack of foils mean that the screens can be brighter and easier to view – but Johnson Controls also says that an air conditioning panel developed as an example can eliminate 20 mechanical switches and buttons.

As cars increasingly come with options and controls for comfort, information and entertainment, accessible space can be a limited commodity, to which touchscreen displays with built-in information and operating components may be the answer.

“These new touchscreens give automakers the potential to introduce new information and control systems, even to lower and medium vehicle segments,” said Thomas Patzelt, vice president and general manager electronics, Europe.

The first serial applications of the touchscreens could be ready by 2009.