The EMC requirement classes vary depending on the application area of the application. For example, medical device srequire a higher interference immunity forsafety reasons.
EMC specialist
SCHURTER has decades of experience in the field of EMC. This can be seen in the fact that the EMC properties of both the touch screens and the end product are already taken into account at the design stage. To achieve a well thought-out design in the field of EMC, SCHURTER
engineers are often involved in theproject right from the start. Preferably ajoint development team is put together.This has the advantage that all specificrequirements are recorded at an earlystage and included in the design.
Clever design
Emitted interference (emission) and immunity are not only determined by the electronic circuits and their components,but also by the mechanical construction,the positioning of the electronic assemblies, the choice of materials and the cable routing. Since SCHURTER takes these influences into account in the early design phase, EMC problems are avoided.Subsequent, costly modifications after completion of the product are therefore avoided.
Low emissionsMany electronic devices nowadays work with highly integrated, high clocked circuits, which are often the cause of emitted interference signals. Furthermore,these signals often have a very highedge steepness, which leads to further harmonics. By choosing the right components and filter elements, these emissions are effectively combated at source.
Emission Source Controller
The touch screen controller chip used by SCHURTER is a potential source of emissions if not properly wired. By designing an optimised, customised PCB layout in cooperation with the customer and the chip manufacturer, the emission is kept as low as possible. Consideration is given to correct routing, filtering of signal lines, demarcation of supply lines and placement of ground planes in the PCB.A multilayer design provides additional shielding against high-frequency interference signals.
As the capacitive touch screen is located on the outside of the end product, it can act as a transmitting antenna for higher frequencies. For these frequencies and their harmonics it is sometimes necessary to integrate an internal shielding of the electronics in the form of metal foil or a complete metal housing.
High interference immunity
A PCAP touchscreen must never trigger an action if it is not touched (a so-called ghost touch). A touch screen can be disturbed by high-frequency energy from outside. This can be conducted or radiated disturbing energy. Additional precautions are taken to achieve the required high immunity to interference.These can consist of hardware solutions such as signal and power line filtering,the shielding of printed circuit boards andthe wiring. On the other hand, the touchscreen controller chip also has a number of built-in software functions. These include a noise suppression algorithm and the frequency hopping method. Taking all aspects into account, SCHURTER carefully selects the best possible solution.
Conducted interference immunity
The developers at SCHURTER have professional test equipment at their disposal to determine the conducted immunity. Already with the first prototypes,the immunity is verified at the level of pre-compliance tests in official test laboratories. If interference is detected during such a test, the engineer will adjust the correct parameters in the controller firmware while in progress and fine-tune the optimal functionality.
Assembly of the controller
For optimum EMC properties of the end product, both in terms of emission and immunity, it is essential that the touchscreen controller is correctly mounted.Especially the ground connections, the wiring and the electrical connection with other components of the device are essential in this respect. Ground connections, whether separate or not, are also important as they help determine the final performance of a touchscreen. For customers, SCHURTER provides detailed assembly instructions for the correct installation of the touch panel with the corresponding controller.
Touchscreen sensor and capacitive touch points
An important component in the design is the sensor. The sensor can be made of polyester or ITO glass. Touch points can also be integrated directly on a printed circuit board. An optimal conductor pattern of the sensor is essential for good functionality. Conductive ITO glass allows transparent switching areas for easy backlighting. The sensor itself is laminated or bonded behind the selected cover lens material. A connection lug made of polyester or Kapton is required for each sensor. As the sensors are manufactured using an etching or screen printing process, they are available in any desired size and shape.
SCHURTER manufactures the sensor design itself, matching the respective application.
In addition to environmental interference, a touch sensor can also pick up interference signals from the LC display below. This can be solved via the electronics of the controller or via an additional transparent shielding foil between display and sensor.
SCHURTER designs and manufactures the touchscreen sensors in-house. This allows SCHURTER to incorporate the specific EMC requirements into the design. SCHURTER's own facilities offer great design freedom, so that every diagonal and every shape is available.
