All-weather kiosks utilise Zytronic's PCT sensors

Already being installed throughout Kawagoe city, close to Tokyo, the Inter Street systems provide year round, reliable outdoor operation, as well as an accurate and fast touch response. This is thanks to the rugged, high performance touch functionality provided by Zytronic. Each rental kiosk has a 12" customised ZYBRID touch sensor, linked to a Zytronic ZXY100 touch controller using its latest ASIC for improved signal to noise performance. This highly successful, widely-used Zytronic product was chosen over alternative touchscreen technologies because of the high degree of reliability it can deliver in even in the most demanding environments.

Applicable to sizes reaching 82" or more, PCT sensors consists of an XY matrix of ultra-thin (10µm diameter) copper capacitor elements embedded into a laminated substrate. The resulting touchscreens function in extreme weather conditions and are virtually immune to most forms of accidental and deliberate damage that unattended self-service terminals are regularly subject to. In contrast, touchscreen technologies that are reliant on front mounted or surface based detection methods have considerable drawbacks in such applications. Resistive and surface capacitive touch sensors, for example, are susceptible to scratches as well as general wear and tear, while optical and infrared technologies require an exposed (and therefore vulnerable) front-mounted bezel to house the transmitting and receiving touch detection electronics.

Ian Crosby, Sales & Marketing Director, Zytronic, commented: “Zytronic touch sensors have been utilised successfully in bike rental kiosks located in London, UK, Montreal, Canada, Melbourne, Australia and other cities. Adding Japan to this list represents another significant endorsement for our proprietary projected capacitive touch technology. As the Pedal systems are sited in unattended outdoor locations, they will be continuously exposed to the elements, as well as facing the rigours of heavy use and potential damage. Choosing PCT helps to ensure 24/7 availability of the system whatever the season, avoiding costly and embarrassing periods of downtime for the operator.”