Page 60
www.us-tech.com New Touch Encoder Technology
Makes User Experience More Intuitive I
By Jim O’Donnell, Marketing Manager, Grayhill, Inc.
ndustrial designers are always looking for ways to improve user interface controls by combining functionalities of rotary switches, pushbuttons,
trackballs, potentiometers, and touchscreens. In doing so, they can reduce component costs and streamline the user experience. New touch encoder technology is available that helps update and sim- plify designs, while also making it much easier to support applications with multiple languages or configurations. Designers face an overwhelming range of
options for equipment and device user interfaces and each one has its place in today’s designs. Sophisticated designs may have user interface panels with as many as twenty components con- trolling, tuning or adjusting functions. For many devices, there is a clear advan-
tage to touch encoder technology, which shrinks the user interface footprint by combining multi- ple devices, such as touchscreens, pushbuttons, trackballs, and switches into one product — replacing all of these components with one con- trol. Depending on how a designer configures the interface with the tablet-based application development software, a user could start off on a home screen, then adjust functions and tweak three or five different parameters, reducing a panel switch count from up to 10 components down to one device.
Market Trends Influence Options Several trends favor the use of newer user
interface technology, including touch encoders. First and foremost is the global nature of today’s marketplace. Manufacturers who build products in
All inclusive.
MagI³C Power Modules are easy-to-use DC/DC
converters with integrated regulator IC, power inductor and capacitors. Design and layout reviews as well as support with EMI fi lter design are offered as a service service for all customers. Datasheets contain detailed specifi cations and application information.
For more information please visit:
www.we-online.com/powermodules
Simple design-in process Design and layout support EMI filter design for EN55022 class B compliance Evaluation Boards for all products
#MAGICPOWERMODULES
one country and then sell those products globally must now support multiple languages —often from five to ten different languages per device platform. Device manufacturers either need to standardize legends or icons, which requires additional train- ing for the end user to understand, or support mul- tiple languages on the device user interface through multiple legend variants.
demanding a touchscreen interface, even for some non-traditional applications, where people need to perform no-look operations. That is where touch encoder technology excels, because it can marry the user desire for flexible icon-based navigation with controls users can easily find and interact with, without having to look down at the display.
Key Markets for Touch Encoders Touch encoder technology can be used in a
Grayhill offers a variety of standard widgets to customize particular applications.
Also, as device manufacturers add more func-
tionalities and configuration options to their prod- ucts, the logistics and costs required to support all of the potential product variants grows exponen- tially. Not only do manufacturers have to invest in the custom tooling to fabricate multiple configura- tion options with higher piece part costs, they must also manage the extra production/aftermarket inventory requirements. Finally, the widespread use of tablets and
mobile telephones is changing users’ expectation of what an interface should look like. Users are
number of markets, especially where shrinking the user interface footprint is important in new designs. For example, medical device product engineers can use a touch encoder to simplify designs for equipment controls in ultrasound, patient transport, and sterilization equipment control applications. Touch encoders offer a vivid, high-resolution screen that is completely customizable, making it much easier and less costly to support multiple languages. In off-highway applications, touch encoders are being used for armrest, dashboard and
marine applications, where no-look operation, being sealed, impact resistance, and CAN bus interfaces are requirements. For the industrial market, touch encoders can
be used for fabrication and production assembly equipment and for SMT manufacturing, as well as for appliances. Product development engineers tend to be cost-conscious, looking for a user inter- face with as much functionality for the lowest price possible. For these applications, removing multiple buttons can save costs in unit price and tooling.
Continued on next page
June, 2018
© eiSos
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104
