Abstract

Adoption of Newer-generation Touch Panel Technologies Sees Significant Growth

Of the 42 touch panel display products showcased at SID 2009, the resistive and capacitive touch panel technologies combined account for 73.8% in terms of adoption. Other newer-generation touch panel technologies, including electromagnetic resonance touch panel and photo sensor touch panel technologies, account for the other 26.2% combined. Compared with SID 2008, it can be seen that the adoption rate of newer-generation touch panel technologies has leapt from 2.4% to 26.2%, while that of traditional technologies dropped from 83.7% to 73.8%.

The trend shows that the adoption of newer-generation touch panel technologies has seen significant growth, thanks to their use in emerging applications such as e-document and e-book readers. In these new application products, touch panels are mainly used for reflective e-paper displays.

From the actual devices showcased at SID 2009, this research finds that reflective e-paper displays equipped with the traditional touch panels will suffer from weakening of contrast, reflection, and opacity. Nevertheless, such problems do not arise for e-paper displays powered by electromagnetic resonance touch panel and photo sensor touch panel technologies.

Driven by growing market demand for these emerging applications, the newer-generation touch panel technologies have been successfully commercialized in recent years.

Out-cell Touch Panel Displays Remain Mainstream; Importance of In-cell Touch Products Encroached upon by On-cell Products

Looking at the 42 touch panel display products showcased at SID 2009, it can be seen that the adoption rate of in-cell touch panels has dropped while that of on-cell touch panels has increased, as in-cell touch panels are customized products and cannot compare with on-cell and out-cell touch panels in terms of pricing. Moreover, as the yield rate of TFT-LCD panel production process will be affected by in-cell touch panel technology, PFD makers have therefore hesitated towards adopting in-cell touch panel technology.

Looking ahead to SID 2010, it is forecasted that the market expansion of on-cell touch panels will surpass in-cell touch panels. The main reason behind this development may be that the on-cell touch panel technology will not affect the yield rate of TFT-LCD panels. For the on-cell design, a polarizer is applied to the upper layer of a touch panel, and such a design features even better display performance than out-cell touch panels.

However, in consideration of price tags and cost competitiveness, it is expected that out-cell touch panel displays will remain the most common products at the SID in the next few years.

Appendix

Research Scope

This report analyzes touch panel display products showcased at the SID Display Week 2009, held in the US city of San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from May 31 to June 5. This analysis sheds light on technology and product development of participating touch panel display vendors.

Glossary of Terms

List of Companies