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FEATURE MACHINE CONTROL Opening up the
application possibilities for displays, Distec has introduced a round TFT flatscreen
touchscreen display that can be used in both indoor and
outdoor applications. Rachael Morling finds out more
and pharmaceutical, enabling users to control and monitor a myriad of machines and systems. Today, users are looking for ease of use and
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systems that offer familiarity. Mobile phones, for instance, are just one of the pieces of technology today that are controlled via touchscreen, and this way of working is becoming ever more popular in the industrial sector. When we think of a flat screen display, we
will automatically envisage a rectangular device. Now, however, Distec – the German specialist for industrial TFT flat screens and systems solutions – has turned that on its head by introducing a round display. According to the company, the round TFT display series POS-I-PRO opens up completely new possibilities for a wide range of applications. Ludwig Deimel, project manager, said: “POS-I- PRO is a native solution for round displays, which until now could only be accomplished with concealed rectangular displays.” Conventional operating systems can currently
only display a rectangular desktop, which cuts off the content in the corners on a round display, the company explains. The company has, however, solved this issue. It delivers a basic framework for real round displays together with the units. The basic commands for integrating the touchscreen, such as swipe gestures and click modes, are already part of the package. Upon request, smaller and larger models of the POS-I-PRO can also be implemented on a project basis.
TOUCHSCREEN The HMI series includes four expansion variants with a screen 3.4in in diameter at a resolution of 800 x 800 pixels and a brightness of 350cd/m². As with the rectangular devices in the POS-PRO series, a PCAP touchscreen is integrated. Suitable for operation with up to ten fingers, this features a chemically hardened cover glass to protect against scratches and damage. The screen can be used both indoors and
outdoors for applications ranging from those in the industrial sector to digital signage, advertising technology and smart home solutions. With its powder coated aluminium housing, the
10 DESIGN SOLUTIONS MARCH 2022
uman Machine Interfaces are used across the majority of industries – from consumer to automation, from production to medical
GETTING ROUND TO MACHINE CONTROL
basic version – POS-I-034-00-PRO-V1 – can be easily integrated into the application via threaded bolts on the rear, with an O-ring ensuring the front is sealed against dust and water jets in accordance with IP65. In addition to this, the display has a mini HDMI connection for the image signal and a USB-C connection for touch and power supply.
With the POS-I-034-00-PRO-V2, additional
cables of 1m each are included and secured via a strain relief.
A Raspberry Pi 4B has been added to variant 3. Deimel explained: “The Raspberry Pi is mounted in its own robust housing with passive cooling and can be installed remotely from the display unit.” The Raspberry Pi OS operating system is said
to open up countless application possibilities in the display and advertising sector. According to the company, round displays also offer completely new perspectives in furniture construction, for designer pieces and smart homes. The POS-I-034-00-PRO-V4 is
a fully integrated HMI. Both the display unit and the Raspberry Pi are mounted in the housing on a mounting frame. Various holes, cut-outs and threads allow easy and quick integration.
HAPTICS EFFECTS In another breakthrough, Distec has partnered with Tanvas, a haptic innovation company, to offer industrial touch monitors with software- defined tactile textures and haptic effects on the touch surface.
Previous technologies to implement haptic
feedback on touchscreens like electromechanical and vibrotactile haptics are not suitable for IP-rated HMIs because they require movement of the front glass, the company explains. With TanvasTouch, there are no moving parts. Changes in friction are perceived as fine textures, edges and bumps that can be felt with minimal visual distraction. Furthermore, those software-defined haptics enable an unlimited range of effects that can be felt with the swipe of a finger. The behaviour, size and position of the haptic feedback can be customised for the individual application via the provided API. “We offer industrial touch monitors with dust,
water, fire, and impact resistance, but haptic feedback adds a completely new dimension to our devices,” said Matthias Keller, managing director at Distec. “With this technology, we can combine the versatility of displays with the haptic benefits of physical buttons on our monitors. The feature is simple to integrate and does not create any additional complexity to the system. The combination of a slim IP65 front-protected stainless-steel housing and the possibility to display haptic structures on the touchscreen makes the forthcoming devices pioneers in the field of industrial monitors.”
Displays with haptic technology
Distec
www.distec.co.uk
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