To meet growing demand for light, small portable consumer electronics (CE) products, touch panel maker TPK Touch Solutions plans to introduce its latest touch panel solution, the Touch on Lens, in 2012.
Currently, the development of Touch on Lens technology faces an obstacle concerning the strength of cover glass. After cutting, the area around the edges of the glass sheets will see strength decrease to 60% of the original, according to the company.
TPK has recently signed new contracts with major clients with plans to improve the strength of the glass to 100% within a year, complete product design by January 2012 and start providing the improved Touch on Lens solutions to clients in June 2012.
TPK has begun construction on a new plant in Xiamen, which will begin volume production of cover lenses in the second quarter of 2011. The main reason for TPK to develop cover glass, in addition to clients' demand, is that TPK will be able to produce touch modules with touch sensors or a complete touchscreen system.
TPK has adjusted its 4.5G line to allow it to produce touch panels of 0.3-1.2mm in thickness, and the adjustment is meant to pave the way for future adoption of Touch on Lens technology.