LCD Touch panels serve both as input as well as an output device. They are generally placed above any electronic visual display of an information processing system. The users can operate the information processing system or even can provide input just by touching the screen by fingers or with a stylus.

Now, LCD Touch Panels’ basic principle of working is based upon that of an LCD. It will be good for us to get accustomed to LCDs. So let’s begin with it.

The LCD consists of a flat panel like display which takes the help of light modulating characteristics of liquid crystals. Instead of emitting light directly the liquid crystals use a reflector (or a backlight) to generate images in monochrome or color. LCDs are accessible to show a discretionary or a fixed picture with less info content, which can be shown or covered up, for example, digits, 7 segment displays like in digital clocks or preset words. Depending on the polarizer arrangement LCDs can either be ON or OFF. On blue LCDs, the optical fibers are summed with white to provide its characteristic appearance.

LCDs have found its way in several applications like computer monitors, aircraft cockpit displays, instrument panels, and LCD televisions. Small LCD screens are used in calculators, smartphones, watches, digital cameras, etc. It is also utilized in consumer electronics products like clocks, video game devices, and DVD players. LCD screens have completely replaced bulky and heavy CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).  Today they are available in several sizes than CRT. It should also be noted that some LCDs are also getting replaced by OLEDs. It is so because they can be easily converted into different shapes, has wide color gamut, low response time, virtually infinite viewing angles and color contrast, slimmer profile and weights lesser than an LCD.

Advantages of using LCDs:

• Light, thin and compact.
• Power consumption is low.
• The amount of heat emitted during emission is also less.
• No geometric distortion.
• A sharp image is generated when operated at native resolution.
• Discharges no bothersome electromagnetic radiation.
• Can be made in practically any size or shape.
• Offers Masking Effect – The LCD masks the effects of grayscale and spatial quantization to establish an illusion of higher picture quality.
• They are not affected by any magnetic fields (including the Earth).
• Can be constructed using narrow frame borders. Thus, enabling several LCD screens to get lined up side by side to make up what resembles a big screen.

Disadvantages of using LCDs:

• There is a chance for loosing up of contrast at high temperature.
• At low temperature, the response time is much slower.
• Thermalization might take place in case of bad thermal management.
• Stuck or dead pixels might take place during the time of manufacture or after a certain span of its use.

This was all we have regarding LCD and LCD touch panels. Hope you liked it. Brands that manufacture them are Fujitsu, NKK Switches and 3M. Make sure to follow them using the links as provided.

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A switch that is operated by rotation is known as a rotary switch. It consists of a rotating shaft that is connected to a terminal. That terminal is responsible for either setting up or breaking up a connection with other terminals. Rotary switches include diverse switch positions that can be established by pivoting the switch axle in different directions. Places where rotary switches can be used are band selectors present in multi-band radios or multi-speed fans and even on electrical metering equipment as range selectors. Till the early 1970s, these switches were also utilized on TV receivers as channel selectors

Generally, rotary switches find their use at places where there is a demand to operate an enormous number of electrical circuits covering a wide range of voltages, power, and current requirements. Presently they are used in applications as follows:

• Computers
• Instrumentation
• Aircraft equipment
• Communications equipment
• Medical equipment
• Industrial controls

A coded rotary selector switch or a coded rotary switch is very much like the normal rotary switch, however, the output is compiled in binary format to lessen pin requirement. It helps in selecting any one of the several choices.

Now let’s have a look upon the structure of this kind of switches.

A coded rotary switch comprises of "rotor" or a shaft that has a "spoke" or a contact arm that projects out from its surface like a cam. Around the rotor, there are several terminals in a circular arrangement. Each of them provides a contact for the shaft through which any distinctive electrical circuits can be associated. The switch is in a layered framework, thus, allowing the utilization of multiple poles. There is a detent component whose operation is initiated when the switch is moved from one position to another. Hence a coded rotary switch gives more prominent pole and throws abilities than simpler switches do. The detent mechanism, as well as the sensor/contact system, determines the total number of switching combinations that are possible.

The switches that are used presently work upon the principle of the "star wheel" mechanism to offer the switching position. Nylon cams are then mounted behind this component and spring-stacked electrical contacts slide around these cams. The cams are cut at locations where the contact should be closed, to sum up the electrical circuit. Some rotary switches are even client configurable in connection to the number of positions.

So this was all about regarding coded rotary switches. Hope you like this article. Brand that makes them are NKK Switches, Apem, and C&K. Make sure to check them out through their links.

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