Rugged touch screen suits fuel dispensing

The laminated Zytouch sensor senses touch by detecting capacitance changes in an array of micro-gauge capacitors embedded within the body of the laminate.

A fuel dispensing solution from Scheidt and Bachmann is delivering enhanced multimedia services to forecourts using Zytouch touch sensors from Zytronic.

The company chose PCT for its toughness and excellent optical performance in conditions including snow, rain, bright sunlight, dust, corrosive and flammable fuels and extremes of summer and winter temperatures.

"Our customers need innovative point of sale (POS) solutions to achieve sales growth amid mounting public concern regarding higher fuel prices and state driven environmental targets" says Frank Horak, Product Manager of Scheidt and Bachmann .

"The Scheidt and Bachmann Multimedia Dispensing Solution meets these objectives by making fuel purchasing as easy as possible while also allowing the vendors to promote additional offers and services".

Motorists can access information such as traffic news and weather while refuelling at the Multimedia Dispensing Solution.

"This allows our customers to maximise client 'footfall' by offering useful additional forecourt services", adds Horak.

These dispensers use touch screen technology to help users navigate the many options and functions quickly while refuelling.

A suitable touchscreen solution must be extremely robust, to overcome challenges such as safe and reliable operation in environments which include flammable fuels, rainwater and snow.

Extremes of temperature and prolonged exposure to sunlight can also impair the performance of conventional touchscreen overlays.

The outdoor and unsupervised forecourt position also poses risk of accidental damage, such as scratches caused by users holding car keys, as well as vandalism.

After evaluating a number of possible solutions, the design team at Scheidt and Bachmann selected Zytronic's PCT touch sensors for their combination of rugged performance, quick and easy integration and features to simplify installation.

"PCT sensing provides an extremely robust solution, since no external sensors or transducers are required" Horak said.

Other technologies use a vulnerable surface coating, as in resistive or capacitive touch sensors, or front-mounted components such as the transmitters and detectors used in infra-red touchscreens, or the transducers required for surface acoustic wave sensor operation.

Each of these components is easily degradable, ultimately impairing or preventing operation and resulting in costly downtime.

The laminated Zytouch sensor senses touch by detecting capacitance changes in an array of micro-gauge capacitors embedded within the body of the laminate.

The Zytouch sensors used in Scheidt and Bachmann fuel dispensers are ideally suited to applications requiring robust performance and easy installation inside small enclosures.

The sensors combine a flying connector tail as well as a separate controller card that connects to the host communications port.

This flexibility enabled designers to optimise the physical layout of the touch display.

In addition to its robust construction, the PCT sensor is also drift-free.

This allows the touchscreen to operate without maintenance for extended periods.

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