RPO Introduces Digital Waveguide Touch technology at SID
Canberra, Australia--RPO has unveiled what it calls Digital Waveguide Touch (DWT), a photonic form of touch-screen technology. The technology is intended for cell phones, PDAs, tablets, industrial displays and other information-systems applications. RPO will demonstrate systems utilizing DWT during the SID (Society for Information Display) Display Week exhibition at booth #2027 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. from May 22-24, 2007.
RPO's polymer optical waveguide is the key component in its DWT touch-screen products. A low-power semiconductor light source distributes infrared light via a number of polymer waveguides to the bezel of a flat-panel display. The light is then projected through free space and illuminates reciprocal waveguides behind the opposing bezel. Any interruption of the light beam is instantaneously detected by a light-sensor camera.
DWT is based on the interruption of invisible light beams and needs no touch-panel overlay. This gives key benefits over other touch-screen technologies, including improved screen clarity, higher display brightness, and extended battery life. DWT solves these issues and provides multiple-touch capability and excellent accuracy in detection and position at a cost-effective price point, said RPO.
The chemical composition of the polymer allows RPO to process waveguides in a newly developed proprietary fabrication process. This process is based on manufacturing techniques developed for the LCD (liquid-crystal-display) and telecommunications industries. RPO is developing partnerships with several high-volume manufacturing organizations to ensure supply of its technology.
"In our conversations with 24 players in recent months, customers were excited by the opportunity of a high-performance, high-resolution touch interface that allows for double-touch and stylus or finger operation. Across eight different segments, the view was unanimous that DWT offers an exciting alternative for new and existing product improvements," noted Ian Hendy, principal of Hendy Consulting (London, England).
"Our cost-effective touch solution is elegant, compared to other touch technologies," said Malcolm Thompson RPO's CEO. "Using waveguides is new to this industry, and it is a truly 'digital' solution from finger to detector. Integrators of systems simplified by touch entry (versus keypad entry) have struggled with finding the ideal touch technology for today's slimline electronics products. We believe we have the answer."