Glass-based capacitive touch panels move into medium- to large-size applications in 3Q10

Adoption of glass-based projected capacitive touch panels has extended from small-size panels for handsets to medium- to large-size of 7- to 12-inches for tablet PC models that are expected to be launched late in the third quarter or early fourth quarter of 2010, according to industry sources.

The sources with touch controller IC suppliers indicated that capacity for glass-based capacitive touch panels is already tight amid strong demand from both first-tier handset brands and China-based handset vendors, and capacity will become even tighter with demand coming from the medium- to large-size segments.

Both touch controller IC and touch panel makers have already started shipping medium-size glass-based applications, and they expect the tablet PC segment to generate significant growth in orders and shipments in the third quarter, the sources added.

Capacitive touch panel makers such as Wintek, TPK Touch Solutions and Giantplus Technology have noted that glass-based capacitive touch panels will continue gaining share at the expense of resistive touch panels in the handset market in the second half of 2010, and global demand for small- to medium-size glass-based capacitive touch panels is expected to increase rapidly in 2011.

Giantplus explained that resistive touch panel is like STN technology in the LCD market, while glass-based capacitive touch panel is like the TFT technology, which has become the mainstream amid price drops and technological advances.