Zytronic
Encyclopedia
Zytronic is a British developer and manufacturer of touch technology products based in Blaydon upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Zytronic designs composite component technologies that optimise the performance of electronic display
applications and manufacture projected capacitive technology based touch sensors and their associated controllers which are used in public access and industrial applications
.
Zytronic supply touch technology for use in a variety of heavy use, self-service touch interactive systems, and has been selected by major companies, such as Coca Cola
for vending and dispensing machines, BSH Bosch and Siemens for some domestic appliances, Microsoft
® Envisioning Lab for an experimental multi-monitor workstation and also powered portable tablets in the Natural History Museum
and bicycle rental stations in being deployed in the City of London
and a number of global cities.
Alternative Investment Market
(AIM) in July 2000; and the operating subsidiary Zytronic Displays Limited, which was incorporated in April 1943 and was demerged from its then parent company in June 2000.
Zytronic Displays Limited has been involved in the manufacture of electronic displays and optical filters, used in a wide variety of industries from facial visor
s for the military and police, through radio frequency interference and electromagnetic interference (RFI/EMI) glass panels, to optical displays used on ATMs
.
Since July 2000, Zytronic Displays Limited has patented technology relating to the operation of the touch sensors, the lamination techniques and processes, and developed a range of interactive touch sensor products based upon projected capacitive technology (PCT™).
The Group operates from three factories in Tyne and Wear
, UK with representatives and distributors network in 39 countries covering Americas
, EMEA
countries and APAC
regions.
Touch sensor products employ an embedded sensing element and are based on projected capacitive technology. The PCT™ sensing mechanism that forms the basis of Zytronic’s touch sensors consists of a matrix of micro-fine copper capacitors embedded into a durable laminated glass substrate. A special feature of this technology is its ability to operate through a thick protective overlay. As a result the touch display can be completely protected from external factors and has far greater resistance to rough treatment of all forms – abrasion, shock, vibration, extreme heat levels, adverse weather conditions and exposure to harmful chemicals in contrast with other touch sensing techniques, such as optical, acoustic or resistive screens.
Optical Filters
Optical filters are used to enhance the readability of all types of electronic displays by controlling light transmission, reflection and absorption. The filters can also provide protection of the display from abrasion and damage from impact thereby extending the life of the display, for example tinted or neutral density substrates/interlayers to improve contrast.
Customised optical filters enhance electronic display performance and minimise electromagnetic emissions by using micro-fine mesh or transparent conductive coatings for electromagnetic shielding. The conductive coatings are also used for static dissipation.
EMI and RFI shielded filters
A shielded window is the optimum solution for reducing radio frequency interference
(“RFI”) and other electrical/magnetic interference (“EMI”) transmitted through monitors, LCD instrument panels and inspection windows fitted to electronic equipment.
Applications
Due to the high durability, environmental stability and ability to survive the everyday rigours of outdoor and indoor environments, PCT sensing mechanisms are used in a range of self service applications such as entertainment and gaming applications, e.g. video jukebox
es, DVD vending machine
s, drive through restaurant kiosks, ATMs, petrol pumps, medical screens and industrial computers.
Zytronic designs composite component technologies that optimise the performance of electronic display
Electronic visual display
An electronic visual display is display technology which incorporates flat panel displays, performs as a video display, output device for presentation of images transmitted electronically, for visual reception, without producing a permanent record....
applications and manufacture projected capacitive technology based touch sensors and their associated controllers which are used in public access and industrial applications
Industrial applicability
In patent law, industrial applicability or industrial application is a patentability requirement according to which a patent can only be granted for an invention which is susceptible of industrial application, i.e. for an invention which can be made or used in some kind of industry. In this...
.
Zytronic supply touch technology for use in a variety of heavy use, self-service touch interactive systems, and has been selected by major companies, such as Coca Cola
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
for vending and dispensing machines, BSH Bosch and Siemens for some domestic appliances, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
® Envisioning Lab for an experimental multi-monitor workstation and also powered portable tablets in the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
and bicycle rental stations in being deployed in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and a number of global cities.
Corporate Information
The Zytronic Group consists of two companies; the parent company is Zytronic plc which was incorporated in 2000 and admitted to the London Stock ExchangeLondon Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
Alternative Investment Market
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
(AIM) in July 2000; and the operating subsidiary Zytronic Displays Limited, which was incorporated in April 1943 and was demerged from its then parent company in June 2000.
Zytronic Displays Limited has been involved in the manufacture of electronic displays and optical filters, used in a wide variety of industries from facial visor
Visor
A visor is a surface that protects the eyes, such as shading them from the sun or other bright light or protecting them from objects....
s for the military and police, through radio frequency interference and electromagnetic interference (RFI/EMI) glass panels, to optical displays used on ATMs
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
.
Since July 2000, Zytronic Displays Limited has patented technology relating to the operation of the touch sensors, the lamination techniques and processes, and developed a range of interactive touch sensor products based upon projected capacitive technology (PCT™).
The Group operates from three factories in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, UK with representatives and distributors network in 39 countries covering Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, EMEA
Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Europe, the Middle East and Africa, usually abbreviated to EMEA, is a regional designation used for government, marketing and business purposes...
countries and APAC
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
regions.
Technology & Applications
Touch Screen TechnologyTouch sensor products employ an embedded sensing element and are based on projected capacitive technology. The PCT™ sensing mechanism that forms the basis of Zytronic’s touch sensors consists of a matrix of micro-fine copper capacitors embedded into a durable laminated glass substrate. A special feature of this technology is its ability to operate through a thick protective overlay. As a result the touch display can be completely protected from external factors and has far greater resistance to rough treatment of all forms – abrasion, shock, vibration, extreme heat levels, adverse weather conditions and exposure to harmful chemicals in contrast with other touch sensing techniques, such as optical, acoustic or resistive screens.
Optical Filters
Optical filters are used to enhance the readability of all types of electronic displays by controlling light transmission, reflection and absorption. The filters can also provide protection of the display from abrasion and damage from impact thereby extending the life of the display, for example tinted or neutral density substrates/interlayers to improve contrast.
Customised optical filters enhance electronic display performance and minimise electromagnetic emissions by using micro-fine mesh or transparent conductive coatings for electromagnetic shielding. The conductive coatings are also used for static dissipation.
EMI and RFI shielded filters
A shielded window is the optimum solution for reducing radio frequency interference
Electromagnetic interference
Electromagnetic interference is disturbance that affects an electrical circuit due to either electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic radiation emitted from an external source. The disturbance may interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of the circuit...
(“RFI”) and other electrical/magnetic interference (“EMI”) transmitted through monitors, LCD instrument panels and inspection windows fitted to electronic equipment.
Applications
Due to the high durability, environmental stability and ability to survive the everyday rigours of outdoor and indoor environments, PCT sensing mechanisms are used in a range of self service applications such as entertainment and gaming applications, e.g. video jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
es, DVD vending machine
Vending machine
A vending machine is a machine which dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customer inserts currency or credit into the machine....
s, drive through restaurant kiosks, ATMs, petrol pumps, medical screens and industrial computers.
See also
- TouchscreenTouchscreenA touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
- Multi-touchMulti-touchIn computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
- Capacitive sensingCapacitive sensingIn electrical engineering, capacitive sensing is a technology based on capacitive coupling that is used in many different types of sensors, including those to detect and measure: proximity, position or displacement, humidity, fluid level, and acceleration...
- Resistive touchscreenResistive touchscreenIn electrical engineering, resistive touchscreens are touch-sensitive computer displays composed of two flexible sheets coated with a resistive material and separated by an air gap or microdots. There are two different types of metallic layers. The first one is Matrix, which is a striped electrodes...
- Optical filtersFilter (optics)Optical filters are devices which selectively transmit light of different wavelengths, usually implemented as plane glass or plastic devices in the optical path which are either dyed in the mass or have interference coatings....
- Touch switchTouch switchA touch switch is a type of switch that only has to be touched by an object to operate. It is used in many lamps and wall switches that have a metal exterior as well as on public computer terminals...
- Human interface deviceHuman interface deviceA human interface device or HID is a type of computer device that interacts directly with, and most often takes input from, humans and may deliver output to humans. The term "HID" most commonly refers to the USB-HID specification. The term was coined by Mike Van Flandern of Microsoft when he...
- Laminated glassLaminated glassLaminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by an interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyral , between its two or more layers of glass. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high...