Top One Tech explains touch screen maintenance

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Touchscreens have been more widely used in industrial and manufacturing scenarios because of their ease of use and the efficiency improvement they provide. Industrial touchscreen displays enable operators to efficiently input commands and settings, monitor equipment performance in real-time, and detect machine issues right away, creating a more intuitive interface between human operators and industrial electronic gear.

Industrial touchscreens need to be durable enough to endure continuous operation in harsh environments. If touchscreens are not frequently cleaned, properly calibrated, and operated, problems may occur. Fortunately, effective industrial touchscreen maintenance can shield displays from deterioration, guarantee that electronic equipment and monitors are operating correctly, and extend the service life of touch screens.

Clean the screen regularly
With the power off, wipe off the dust and water droplets on the screen with a soft dry cloth every day. Water droplets conduct electricity and affect the screen’s sensitivity to fingers. Too much dust will reduce the sensitivity of the touch screen. Then you can use a cloth dipped in some petroleum ether or glass cleaner to clean dirty fingerprints and oil stains on the touch screen. Finally, wipe off the remaining moisture on the dry screen with a clean soft cloth. Make sure the screen is dry before turning it on.

Use properly

• When inputting commands, only use the necessary pressure and avoid hitting the screen too hard. Try to keep your fingers dry and clean when using it, and try not to wear gloves as much as possible.
• It is suggested not to place objects on the screen, otherwise, the pressure on the screen will be too high, which may cause slow responses to touch.
• In daily use, excessive shaking or vibration should be avoided because it may cause damage to the screen.
• The process of turning on the device should be strictly followed: turn on the display, audio, and host in order. The order will be reversed if you try to turn is off.
• Simple anti-mouse mode is recommended as complex modes may cause latency with more system resources called.

Clean the inner surface regularly
Depending on the surrounding environment, open the machine head to clean the reflective stripes and inner surface of the touch screen regularly. Users can open the cover on both sides of the machine to clean the inner surface, but be careful not to use hard tissue or cloth to avoid scratching the reflective stripes. After cleaning, install and restore the device.

Operating system update
When the touchscreen response becomes slow, it is likely that the touchscreen system is outdated and the internal clock frequency is too low, so the system needs to be upgraded.
When touchscreens get connected to different electronic equipment, all machinery must operate synchronously. If the equipment has an operating system (OS) update, the touchscreen displays may need corresponding updates as well. If the touchscreens do not get updated to the current OS, they may become unresponsive or be unable to perform critical functions.
When performing OS updates, operators should follow all instructions carefully to make sure touchscreen monitors continue to work correctly after completing the update. While it may be tempting to rush through an update to save time, skipping critical steps can result in malfunctions in the touchscreens or other equipment components.

Calibrate the screen regularly
An incorrectly calibrated industrial touchscreen can lead to equipment malfunctions if the wrong commands get entered. It’s usually possible to perform touchscreen calibration through the equipment’s settings. Select the calibration option and follow the instructions to calibrate the screen correctly. Calibrating should be done based on the general touch habit of people, instead of using the finger vertically against the calibration mark to calibrate.
The maintenance precautions for infrared touch screens, capacitive touch screens, resistive touch screens, and acoustic wave touch screens all should comply with the requirements above, but there will be some differences because of their different working principles. Capacitive touch screens may need to be paid more attention to in maintenance.

Special maintenance precautions for capacitive touch screens

• Capacitive screens usually need to be pasted with a film, and sometimes even double-layer to meet the ESD S20.20 standard which is a manufacturer-approved standard that is fully promoted by the American ESDA (Electrostatic Discharge Protection Association). It is widely accepted and applied in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a control plan for electrostatic discharge protection.
• The capacitive touch screen works through current induction, the screen is more susceptible to pollutants, so more attention should be paid to daily cleaning. For daily cleaning, you can use cleaning fluid special for computers (alcohol and furniture cleaning fluid is not recommended, and capacitive screens can be cleaned with alcohol, but be careful to use pure medical alcohol).
• The stain such as oil and sweat covering the screen will form a conductive layer, which will cause the screen to drift. So, users should better wash and dry their hands before they touch a capacitive touch screen.
• Static electricity interfered with the work of the capacitive touch screen easily because it can easily break through the capacitive screen. Although the glass on the surface of the capacitive screen has passed a certain antistatic treatment, it does not mean that it can resist the static electricity of the human body in winter, users can use a stylus in this case.
• Low and high temperatures (below -5 and over 40 Celsius degrees) may cause the capacitive screen to drift or fail. If it is placed at a high temperature for a long time, the capacitive screen will be damaged. So, it is suggested that not place capacitive touchscreens in the sun for a long time and avoid charging if the temperature of the device is high)
• Magnetic fields, especially the electromagnetic field interfere with the work of the capacitive touch screen greatly. Even if a small magnet is placed on the capacitive screen for a while, the capacitive touch screen will temporarily not work and may cause damage to the touch screen. So, the device should not approach speakers and other magnetic items.
• Unstable voltage may cause touchscreen drift or even failure. When the finger touches the capacitive screen, it will “suck” a little bit of current, and then the screen will evenly transmit power from the four corners to the position of the touch, and use it for positioning. It is recommended to charge immediately if the power is lower than 20%.

Special maintenance precautions for resistive touch screens
Touchscreens with resistive technology provide an unmatched level of durability. Resistive touchscreens have a robust design that allows them to tolerate dampness and stress without breaking down. Resistive touch screens get less affected by temperature and industrial panel PCs with resistive touchscreens can operate function effectively between -20°C and 65°C. However, resistive touch screens are less sensitive and offer lower display resolutions than capacitive touchscreens.

Special maintenance precautions for infrared touch screens
Even with static electricity present, the infrared touch screen can operate very well. However, the single sensor in these touchscreens is weak and easily destroyed. So, it is important for users to touch the screen gently with their fingers and stylus.

Special maintenance precautions for surface acoustic wave touch screens
Surface acoustic wave touch screens can reach up to a 92% light transmittance, providing outstanding screen brightness. These touchscreens operate precisely regardless of humidity or temperature.
In polluted or dusty situations, the surface acoustic wave screens, however, might have high maintenance costs and require frequent cleaning and servicing. The micro-grooves in the screen will become blocked if the touch panel surface of these PCs comes into contact with dust or other contaminants. This stops the acoustic waves from transmitting properly, which leads to the touch controller ceasing to work. Industries using these panel PCs must be mindful of environmental hygiene and maintain regular screen cleaning.