Touchscreen Monitor

How can a sensitive touchscreen be installed easily? Combine capacitive touch technology with flexible design concepts.

Product image of a MIKKA touchscreen monitor with high touch precision through capacitive touch technology | © MIKKA GmbH


TOUCHSCREEN MONITORS, THAT FIT.

The interaction between the user and the device must be precise and reliable! Our Touch Screen Monitors offer the highest touch precision for totally reliable communication. We use capacitive touch solutions from EETI and 3M. The monitor guarantees an optimal user experience. Using our expertise, we have developed several variants of Touch Screen Monitors as product standards,

also developed for different industries. Our design concepts allow flexible consideration of the mounting conditions. Together we can find the monitor that’s right for you! First of all, select a suitable variant according to your mounting conditions and function required, for example with single-touch, mirror or multi-touch.

Our Touch Screen Monitors come in the following variants:

DESIGN AND MOUNTING, 
THAT FIT.

What visual impression does the Touch Screen Monitor make? In addition to a simple mounting process, design plays an essential role. Ideally, the monitor integrates seamlessly into the mounting environment. We have developed a range of design concepts that differ according to the mounting style and front edge closure of the respective Touch Screen Monitor.

Icon für ergänzende Monitor-Softwarelösungen von MIKKA SOFTWARE ENHANCES TOUCH SCREEN MONITOR PERFORMANCE

With our innovative firmware solutions, we offer our customers added benefits: from optimising monitor settings remotely or via sensors, to encryption with specific software. Learn more!


MIKKA software solutions are smart extras, optimizing monitor settings for extended service life or safeguarding your hardware investment

Solutions for all industries,
that fit.

Looking for a tried and tested solution? We have already developed Touch Screen Monitors for different industries: whether they are used outdoors or indoors, on the production floor, in vending machines or terminals, we build the right models. Discover for yourself our wide range of options for digital data input and output! 

Icon für Anfrage zu MIKKA Demo-Monitor SIMPLY TEST A MONITOR YOURSELF

Want to make sure the Touch Screen Open Frame Monitor actually fits? Try it for free. We’d be happy to send your preferred model to you as a demo monitor for testing! 


Icon für Kontaktaufnahme zu MIKKA rot YOUR QUESTIONS QUICKLY ANSWERED

Numerous products, versions and design concepts – need help selecting your touchscreen monitor? We’re here to help, just get in touch with us!


Accessories for efficient installation,
that fit.

How do you install your Touch Screen Monitors? For smooth installation of our monitors, we recommend using the original accessories. We offer everything you need for assembly, mounting and operation in premium MIKKA quality.

Innovative touch screen TECHNOLOGIES MAKE THE PURCHASE DECISION EASY

We use innovative and reliable technologies for the right monitor. With a finger on the pulse of innovation, we continue to develop our skills and products, while maintaining a balance between concept development and proven reliability, individually tailored to the needs of our customers. 

Overview of the key touch technologies

   

Touch screens currently set very high standards in terms of user experience, driven mainly by the wide availability of smartphones. Expectations for the operation of touch displays are generally very high and demanding.

Our brief overview aims to provide a basic understanding of touch technologies and the associated opportunities and risks. The aim is to create a basis that serves as a decision-making tool for selecting the right function for your Open Frame Monitor, especially in the area of capacitive touch displays.

Now let’s take a closer look at the meaningful and widely-used touch technologies:

resistive touch technology
 

Build.

With the widely-used resistive touch screen technology, the sensor responds to a mechanical pressure change – hence the name.

The touch sensor consists of a glass or acrylic substrate, spacer points and polyester foil(s). The glass pane and film sheet each have a thin metal layer. To create a touch-sensitive sensor, the two layers are separated by an air gap. A uniform distance is ensured by micro points.     

Function. 

A mechanical pressure point (e.g. by a finger or pen) brings the two metal layers into contact. An electrical current flows. Due to the low voltage drop, touch of the touch sensor and use of the touch display is detected. Subsequently, the touch controller determines the position of the touch.

This makes it possible to operate it in a simple way through pens, objects or fingers - with gloves or without them!

   

   

Advantages.

+ can be operated with any object (finger, pen etc.), even with gloves

+ provides a sensation of touch when entering 

+ uses comparatively little power

+ resistant to dust & moisture

+ insensitive to electromagnetic interference (EMC/EMI/RFI)

+ low-cost touch technology

Disadvantages.

- significantly worse image quality than other touch technologies with a light transmission of 80 to 85%

- only single-touch possible, only one touch is recognised 

- the touch sensor is not very sensitive to pressure, the pressure intensity while operating is hardly detected

- has comparatively lower touch accuracy (precision)

- Touch Through Glass not possible to protect against vandalism, for example

- the top layer is sensitive due to the materials used, therefore less robust than other touch screens (scratches or sharp objects) 

- the touch sensor is flexible and is operated by a pressure movement, resulting in wear of the conductive coating

Surface capacitive touch technology (SCAP)

 

Build.

Electrodes are attached to the corners of a surface capacitive touch screen (SCAP). They register movements by capacitive changes to the surface of the monitor. The conductive layers of the touch sensor are therefore continuously powered. 

The touch sensor consists of a glass substrate and a transparent metal oxide coating. A transparent conductive layer is applied to the glass carrier and provided with a protective layer.

Function.

The electrodes continuously monitor the surface of the touch display. When touched by a conductive object, e.g. a finger, a portion of the current flows out. The touch controller can detect this by comparing the corner currents. As a result, the position of the touch is calculated precisely.

This makes it immediately clear why the input can only be made using the fingers or conductive objects such as special styluses. Even gloves cause problems due to the insulating effect.

   

Structure of Surface Capacitive Touch Technology SCAP | © MIKKA GmbH

   

Advantages.

+ significantly sharper image than resistive touch technology, light transmission is 88 to 92%

+ durable screen, scratches are rare 

+ light touch is sufficient, the pressure sensitivity can be determined

+ fast response time technology

+ comparatively cost-effective variant

Disadvantages.

  • only single-touch possible

  • operation only possible with conductive object (e.g. finger or special stylus)

  • sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMC/EMI/RFI)

  • has lower touch accuracy (precision) 

  • Touch Through Glass not possible to protect against external influences

Projective Capacitive Touch Technology (PCAP)

Build.

A projected capacitive touch screen (PCAP or PCT) detects a user’s input due to the capacitive changes. The sensitive touch sensors are located directly under the glass and are therefore protected.

For a flawless touch function, two electron layers are additionally applied in a grid or pattern as a touch sensor. This creates multiple sensors that are spread across the entire touch screen. In this way, multiple inputs can also be captured.

 

Function.

When touching the touch sensor with a conductive object (e.g. finger or stylus), a low electrical current flows and the electrostatic capacity changes. This change can be detected at any addressable electrode. An exact position can therefore be determined through the grid. The touch controller can also recognise multiple touches (complex gestures) in this way. 

The multiple electrodes allow the controller to make complex corrections such as incorrect inputs due to liquids on the sensor, sensitisation to gloved inputs, or touch through glass applications to prevent vandalism. 

   

Structure of Projective Capacitive Touch-Technologie  PCAP  | © MIKKA GmbH

   

Advantages.

+ excellent image sharpness with a light transmission > 90%

+ multi-touch function

+ higher touch accuracy

+ light touch is sufficient, the pressure sensitivity can be determined

+ fast response time technology

+ Touch Through Glass not possible to protect against external influences

+ screen even more scratch-resistant than surface capacitive touch

+ resistant to dust & moisture

Disadvantages.

  • Operation with gloves must be adjusted

  • Requires adjustment in damp environments

  • Electromagnetic shielding required (EMC/EMI/RFI)

 

 

 

 

 

infrared TOUCH TECHNOLOGY
 

Build. As the name implies, this technology is based on infrared beams (LEDs) that are grid-like on the display, on X and Y axes. Photodetectors are installed on the opposite sides of the screen that register the flow of light.

Function. Touch commands are triangulated as soon as beams are interrupted, preventing light from reaching the receptors.

   

Structure of Infrarot Touch-Technologie  | © MIKKA GmbH

   

Advantages.

+ High light transmission 90-92% and image sharpness

+ Durable and multi-touch

+ Can be used for larger screen applications (20 to 150 inches)

+ Can be operated with all objects (fingers, styluses, gloves, etc.)

Disadvantages.

-          Sunlight may interfere with use due to glare and reflections

-          Not easy to scale (re-arrangement required)

-          Dirt particles or liquids can cause false touch messages

Comparison between single-touch AND multi-touch technology

   

There are two different capacitive touch technologies behind the single-touch and multi-touch functions. These impress with fast response times, high robustness and reliability. A light touch is enough to detect an input!

Due to the different structure, the touch technologies have various advantages and disadvantages. These in turn have a significant influence on the selection decision. Now let’s take a closer look at the meaningful and widely-used touch technologies:

Single-touch monitors with SURFACE CAPACITIVE TOUCH TECHNOLOGY
 

Function. This technology works with electrodes on the four corners of the monitor. The electrodes monitor the surface of the touch display. When touched by a conductive object, e.g. a finger, a portion of the current flows out. The touch controller can detect this by comparing the corner currents and calculating the position of the touch. This makes it immediately clear why the input can only be made using the fingers or conductive objects such as special styluses. Even gloves cause problems due to the insulating effect.

Application. Single-touch monitors allow device software to be controlled with a simple touch on the display. This allows you to control the revolution speed of your production machine, place jetons on a digital pitch, or operate medical devices. The single-touch monitor is also ideal for the operation of information terminals at trade fairs, in the museum or in lifts. The control of interactive presentations such as cutout animation or scratching videos is also becoming increasingly popular. 

   

Advantages.

+ good image quality with a light transmission of 88 to 92%

+ durable screen, scratches are rare 

+ light touch is sufficient, the pressure sensitivity can be determined

+ fast response time technology

+ cost-effective option

 

Disadvantages.

  • only single-touch possible

  • can only be operated with a bare finger or special pen

  • sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMC/RFI)

  • touch precision lower

  • Touch Through Glass not possible

MULTITOUCH with projective capacitive touch technology

FunctionProjected capacitive touch screens (PCAP or PCT) differ in the design of the touch display. This works with two electrode layers applied in an offset pattern or grid. The touch displays work similarly with an electrostatic capacitance change detection: a conductive object “disturbs” the electromagnetic field and thus changes the electrical capacitance. The touch controller can precisely locate not only one but also several touches by means of the multiple electrodes in the two layers.

Application. Multi-touch Monitors can therefore process several touches simultaneously. In addition to simple gestures such as finger selection, this technology processes more complex patterns such as zooming, panning, rotating, or simultaneous selection. In particular, using the input of several persons who want to work on the screen at the same time is covered with a multi-touch screen. Terminals, vending machines and controllers benefit from an advanced input form.

   

Advantages.

+ multi-touch function possible with several fingers

+ higher touch precision

+ screen even more scratch-resistant than surface capacitive touch

+ Touch Through Glass possible

+ excellent image sharpness 

+ light touch is sufficient, the pressure sensitivity can be determined

+ fast response time technology
 

Disadvantages.

  • Operation with gloves must be adjusted

  • Requires adjustment in damp environments

  • Sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMC/RFI)

 

 

 

 

Touch Through Glass combines protection and touch functionality

   

It’s pouring with rain! And the ticket machine must still function properly. An additional glass layer is designed to protect the Touch Screen Monitors from adverse weather conditions. That sounds like a suitable solution, right? 

However, when you take a closer look, an additional glass pane and a flawless touch operation do not go hand in hand:

First of all, the light in the lens breaks up, making the touches inaccurate—the result is decreased touch precision. Secondly, the sensitivity of the touch function decreases significantly with the thickness of the glass layer. And also, the composition of the

 

cover glass has a significant influence on the functionality: conductive lenses have a massively disruptive effect on the electronically sensitive capacitive touch screens. What can we now do to find the right solution?

The protective glass pane is optimally matched to our monitors, both in terms of composition and thickness. In addition, the touch screen sensor is matched by a special firmware to the cover glass used. This means that the software detects and filters all possible interferences. The monitors thus retain their high standard of touch precision and ease of use.

 

Premium components ensure high-quality touch screen MONITORS

3M Touch Display inside

Our single-touch touch screens are built into the lens by premium manufacturer 3M. The chemically hardened, scratch-resistant and highly permeable touch screen (91.5% / ±1.5%) is considered the best on the market. With an IP66 surface seal, the 0.125" (3.18 mm) thick glass is extremely stable and also withstands tougher

environmental conditions. You can clean the screen of your monitor with water, isopropyl alcohol, or similar non-abrasive cleaning agents. This makes it easy to maintain even high-level hygiene standards.

   

3M Touchscreen Controller inside

As a perfect complement to the touch screen, we assemble the 3M MicroTouch EX Controller in the single-touch monitor. At 5.4 ms touch speed, this controller delivers a very fast response time. To help you get the most out of this speed, the 3M MicroTouch EX Controller supports almost all major operating systems. Windows 7 (32-and

64-bit)* Windows Vista (32-and 64-bit) Windows XP (32-and 64-bit) Windows 2000, Server 2003, Server 2008 (32-and 64-bit) Windows 98, 95, ME, NT 4.0, NT 3.5, 3.1x (32-bit) Windows CE, XPe, WePOS (32-bit) Linux Kernel 2.6, Kernel 2.4 (serial only)** Apple OSX (UPDD driver)**
* 3M MicroTouch System SCT3250EX HID is Windows 7 Logo Compatible ** Limited MT7 features supported