Proof of concept: Fully integrated capacitive touch controls in a stainless steel metal panel

Trumeter Technologies Ltd是一家领先的照明、测量和传感技术的设计商、开发商和制造商。在汽车和测量市场取得相当大的成功，加上电容传感器技术的技术进步之后，Trumeter希望开发一个集成的电容触摸不锈钢控制单元的基本实验室原型，并了解该技术是否有潜力应用于消费产品市场，为家用电器创造真正的电容触摸控制。温度对电子设备的不利影响以及金属传感技术的局限性到目前为止限制了触摸屏、无按钮、金属控制技术的集成，限制了该技术完全集成到家用电器中。导致仍然需要昂贵的控制单元，阻碍了尺寸和智能控制技术的实现。该项目的外部驱动因素是家电制造商对创新的需求，以改进其产品的设计、成本和效率，内部驱动因素是Trumeter希望在市场上脱颖而出。欧盟关于家电效率的立法预计也将在2018年出台，进一步推动对新的高效技术的需求。如果该项目成功，将产生世界上第一个集成到金属中的触敏控制系统。该技术的实施将集中在烤箱上，然后再探索其他应用和市场。Trumeter拥有60多年为各种行业设计和商业化精密测量、传感产品的经验；如果成功，Trumeter相信该技术在医疗设备、汽车和其他家用电器中的应用潜力更大。该项目将有助于确保Trumeter和英国保持在传感技术的前沿，并为英国制造业带来更广泛的利益。

Trumeter Technologies Ltd are a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of innovativelighting, measurement and sensory technology. Following considerable success in theautomotive and measurement markets, coupled with technical advancements in capacitivesensor technology, Trumeter wish to develop a basic lab prototype of integrated, capacitivetouch, stainless steel control unit and understand whether there is potential for the technologyto be applied in the consumer products market for the creation of the true capacitive touchcontrols for home appliances.The detrimental effect of temperature on electronics and limitations of sensory technology inmetal has so far restricted the integration of touch screen, button-less, control technology inmetal, restricting this technology being fully integrated into appliances, resulting in expensivecontrol units still being required and preventing size and smart control benefit aspects of thetechnology being realised.The project is being driven externally by demand from appliance manufacturers forinnovations to improve the design, cost and efficiency of their products, and internally byTrumeter’s desire to differentiate themselves in the market. EU legislation on applianceefficiency is also expected in 2018, further driving demand for new efficient technology.If successful the project will result in the world’s first, touch sensitive control systemintegrated into metal. Implementation of the technology will focus on ovens, before otherapplications and markets are explored. Trumeter has over 60 years’ of experience designingand commercialising sophisticated measurement, sensory products for a variety of industries;if successful, Trumeter believe the technology has wider potential, for application in medicaldevices, cars and other home appliances. The project will help ensure Trumeter and the UKremains at the forefront of sensory technology and to the wider benefit to the UKmanufacturing community.