All Categories
History
This section provides an overview for capacitive touch sensor as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 capacitive touch sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked capacitive touch sensor companies as of December, 2024: 1.ClickTouch, 2.Symmetry Electronics, 3.NXP Semiconductors.
Table of Contents
A capacitive touch sensor is a device that detects changes in capacitance in an electric field.
Capacitance refers to the amount of stored charge in a conductor, like a capacitor. The human body, being a conductor capable of carrying an electric current, generates capacitance when a part of it, such as a fingertip, approaches a touch panel's surface. This interaction between the body and the sensor's electrodes allows capacitive touch sensors to support multi-touch gestures with multiple fingers. These sensors are widely used in various products, including smartphones, due to their ability to function on curved surfaces, flexibility, and excellent water resistance.
Capacitive touch sensors find extensive use in devices like smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, ATMs, ticket vending machines, and wearable devices. They serve functions such as detecting if wireless earphones are worn and measuring the remaining liquid in high-precision devices like alcohol dispensers. Kits and modules for capacitive touch sensors are often used as switch modules or film sensors in various applications.
Capacitive touch sensors work by detecting changes in capacitance when a conductor, such as a human touch, interacts with sensor electrodes. Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO) electrodes are commonly used in these sensors. The sensor operates by forming a pseudo capacitor between the conductive object and the electric field, registering the capacitance increase as a touch.
The self-capacitance method involves a single sensor electrode. It is highly sensitive and can function through thick covers. However, this method may mistakenly recognize untouched areas as touch points in multi-touch scenarios, particularly in projection-type setups, which use XY electrode rows or columns for determining touch positions.
The mutual-capacitance method uses separate transmitting and receiving electrodes. It detects touch by noting changes in the electric field between these electrodes when a hand interferes with the field. This method is used in projection-type capacitive touch sensors, which support multi-touch and allow intuitive operations like zooming and pinching.
Surface-type sensors have electrodes at the substrate's corners, detecting touch through changes in capacitance on the surface. They are durable, resistant to contaminants, and cost-effective, but do not support multi-touch.
Projection-type sensors, with orthogonally arranged ITO electrodes, detect changes in capacitance at specific coordinates. They are suitable for multi-touch but are more complex and may be susceptible to noise, requiring controller ICs for optimal performance.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
NXP was established in 2006 as a spinoff from Phillips and is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company is a co-founder of NFC communication and designs and manufactures semiconductors that serve the automotive, industrial, mobile, and smart home industries. The company’s automotive products include driver assistance transceivers, sensors, and security systems. For industrial markets, the company produces RFID readers, processors, and microcontrollers. For communication infrastructure, the company produces RF mixers, diodes, and low-noise amplifiers for wireless LAN networks. The company also produces peripherals, power management chips, communications chips, and interface devices.
GNS Components Limited, founded in 2008 and located in Shenzhen, China, is a manufacturer of electronic components. The company’s broad range of products includes transistors, diodes, capacitors, resistors, and IGBT modules. These products are used for amplifiers and digital logic circuits, rectification and voltage regulation, energy storage and filtering roles, controlling current and voltage in various circuits, and enabling high-power switching applications. These components are vital building blocks in electronic devices and systems, spanning industries such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation.
Nissha FIS Inc. is a Japanese organization that manufactures and sells and gas sensors especially semiconductor type and it’s associated products. Nissha FIS devices mainly consist of gas sensors, sensor modules and related equipments such as analyzers and detectors. These are mainly used in disaster prevention, medical field and vehicles. The company has been certified for ISO 14001:2004 and JIS Q 14001:2004 for environmental protection. They have set up five regulations for the safety of the environment to be adhered within their company. They are preventing pollution, product safety, preventing global warming, continuous improvement and co-existing with society.
Located in Austria and Germany, Ams-Osram is a sensor design and manufacturing company that specializes in compact form factors, low power, high sensitivity, and multi-sensor applications. They were established in 1981 and were formerly known as austriamicrosystems AG. In 2012 it changed its name to ams AG. They have a technology portfolio for sensing, lighting, and visualization, ranging from light emitters and optical components to micro-modules, integrated circuits, and related software. Their work develops technology for use in the consumer, industrial, medical, and automotive sectors.
One-Core Technology Co. Ltd, based in Hong Kong, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of electronic components with a production workshop in Hong Kong and a sales branch in Shenzhen. The company's product catalog includes semiconductors, integrated circuits and electromagnetic components used in computers, mobile phones, automobiles and aerospace. The products undergo different tests like HD visual inspection, final function testing, open/short test and programming function testing to ensure meet the required standards. The company also has several distribution brands like Infineon, Analog Devices, Bisham, Microchip and Maxim Integrated.
Mekoprint, founded in 1954 and based in Stovring, Denmark, is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and supplier of solutions for industrial and electronics companies. The company designs and provides comprehensive solutions in the areas of printed electronics, cable harnesses, metal components, precision solutions, and graphic solutions. These products find various applications in green tech, automation, medical, professional equipment, and household appliances. Approximately 500 people work for the firm at its 40,000-square-meter European production facilities.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ClickTouch |
14.5%
|
| 2 | Symmetry Electronics |
11.8%
|
| 3 | NXP Semiconductors |
9.2%
|
| 4 | SEKISUI POLYMATECH CO., LTD. |
7.9%
|
| 5 | ifm efector, inc. |
7.9%
|
| 6 | GNS Components Limited |
6.6%
|
| 7 | Mekoprint |
6.6%
|
| 8 | LANBAO HONOR |
6.6%
|
| 9 | Qingdao Nutech Microelectronics Co., Ltd |
5.3%
|
| 10 | One-Core Technology Co., Limited. |
5.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the capacitive touch sensor page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
China
|
3 | 33.3% |
|
United States of America
|
2 | 22.2% |
|
Netherlands
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Austria
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Denmark
|
1 | 11.1% |
