Features:
For our display products that have a touch screen requirement, Argon employs a ruggedized Analog Resistive (AR) technology. The ruggedized touch screen utilizes a glass on glass design (which can incorporate a circular polarizer for improved contrast in the highest of bright environments). This design has been extensively used and provides several advantages over a non-ruggedized AR touch screens and other touch technologies.
Benefits:
An AR touch screen was selected many years ago as it supports the most compact design over other types of touchscreens and is a proven technology in military environments with few, if any, operational issues. In contrast to other touch screen technologies (where there are many fit for use applications for them as well) AR offers several advantages.
For example, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) is susceptible to registering hits from water drops or mud splash. Capacitive (such as that used on smart phones and commercial tablets) cannot be used with common military supplied gloves and Infrared types require a large increase in unit depth and may have compatibility issues with NVIS goggles.
A ruggedized AR touch screen minimizes the shortcomings of non ruggedized AR by reducing or eliminating the following issues:
- Surface Scratching -The top layer of the TS is Glass, not a polymer material resisting scratching from all but the most extreme contact
- Pillowing - The laminated glass ensures that the polymer material cannot "bubble up" as the glass restricts any movement
- Delaminating or Brittleness with Temperature Change Over Time - The glass surface reduces the cracking of the polymer that occurs over time with the expansion and contraction of the polymer material
- No Discoloration - With expansion and contraction of the polymer material and the inevitable scratching that occurs, dirt and oils embed into the unit giving discoloration. The glass surface prevents the introduction of these materials.
