FEATURE DISPLAYS
HOW PORTABLE INSTRUMENTS can benefit from touch screen technology
User interfaces that are easy to use are an integral part of today’s complex portable instruments. So to enable law officers and other users to easily access and navigate through the full functionality of its speed cameras, ARH selected a PCAP touch screen from Zytronic
W
ith today’s complex portable instruments, the user interface is
just as important as the electronic and optical performance to enable the operator to access the full functionality of the instrument quickly and easily. An example would be a portable instrument designed to take measurements quickly in a limited period of time with sufficient reliability to support legal proceedings. The ARH CAM-S1 speed camera, for example, offers twelve different enforcement and analytical functions. As well as speed measurement, this can be set up for lane enforcement to observe not just proper use of parking or bus lanes but also whether solid lines are crossed, road markings and street signs are followed, or signal lights are respected. In the latter case, after determining the ideal spot for the system, its laser-guided distance measuring can simply determine whether a vehicle came to a complete stop before crossing the intersection next to a stop sign or halted at a red light, as vehicle motion and traffic light sequences are also recognised. In addition, it reads all license plate
types, can detect with high probability whether a driver is wearing a seatbelt or not, and has preset functions which can count vehicle traffic and monitor the traffic in real-time. With its two cameras, it provides
overview and high resolution images or videos. Combined with IR illumination, it is able to operate at a distance of 600m and read license plates from 150m. Precise location is determined by a built-in GPS, and communication is done with Wi-Fi, GSM or Ethernet. All data
22 MARCH 2016 | INSTRUMENTATION
processing, storing and forwarding are executed within the unit as well. When using the device, law officers and other operators would be under pressure and may well be working in bad conditions - in the dark or in bad weather, for instance. To meet demands, ARH decided to use a touch interface. However, not only did this need to be strong, but it needed to be easily read at all light levels. Control and setup for all the above tasks are carried out on a Zytronic 9” Projected Capacitive (PCAP) touch screen with intuitive graphical user interface. Csaba Nagy-Amigó, chief engineer at
ARH, said: “Speed measuring devices need to operate under harsh conditions, therefore the thickness of the glass was of major importance. It was a high priority to have a tough and secure glass screen that didn’t shatter. This was an important driver behind the selection of Zytronic. Due to its proprietary PCAP projected capacitive touch technology, the sensor has been designed with a 5mm thick toughened glass front face, and still responds to even the softest touches. Zytronic was also able to easily customise the size of the touch sensor to fit the aperture and dimensions of the pre-existing LCD display.” Furthermore, the Zytronic touch sensor was designed with anti-glare treated glass to reduce reflections and ensure good readability even during sunny weather.
TRENDS The trend for more functions in one unit minimises the amount of equipment
The Zytronic touch sensor was designed with anti-glare treated glass to reduce
reflections and ensure good readability even during sunny weather
field staff have to carry. The semiconductors used to detect, collect, store and communicate data are also coming down in size. It is possible to add more features while forgetting about the user who operates the instrument and sets the right parameters for each measurement situation. A touch interface can be designed to only offer the relevant settings at any one time, so that the instrument remains quick and intuitive to use. The ARH CAM-S1 design shows that such touch screens can work effectively even in demanding outdoor conditions, with light levels ranging from darkness to bright sunlight and the ever-present risk of physical damage. The instrument is now in use with five police forces around the world.
Zytronic
www.zytronic.co.uk
DURABLE TOUCH SCREENS
EDT’s projected capacitive touch panels sense input through a protective layer in front of a display, making them durable and nearly vandal-proof. The panels feature a
technology that allows them to be ‘tuned’ to operate through glass or polycarbonate facings of a variety of thicknesses, the company explains. Available in various sizes from 3.5 to 15.4in, the touch panels offer exceptional durability and support Windows 7 native gesturing. The basic capacitive touch panel structure is made of
two parts: touch sensor and cover lens. In addition, there are two types of touch sensors – the glass sensor which has advantages in optical performance, durability, and narrow border; then the film sensor which is thin, light and facilitates (or eases) production. In addition, there are two type of cover lens: glass and plastic. Typical cover lens thickness varies from 0.55, 0.75, or 1.1mm for mobile devices and up to 3mm or even thicker for industrial applications.
EDT
www.edtc.com
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