ThruGlass™, MicroTouch Systems’ breakthrough touchscreen is virtually unbreakable. Part of
MicroTouch’s ClearTek 3000 capacitive product family, ThruGlass is ideal for almost any harsh
environment imaginable. Popular in outdoor kiosks, industrial environments, ticketing
machines, and through-the-window retail applications, ThruGlass brings the power of touch to
new environments without worries about weather, vandals, or contaminants.
With ThruGlass’ innovative “projected capacitive” technology, users never actually touch the
sensor, only the durable, replaceable front surface. But that durability doesn’t mean you sacrifice
accuracy or performance.
ThruGlass Touchscreen
Installation
A wall, window, kiosk bezel, or option-
al graphic (1) surrounds the replace-
able front surface (2). The ThruGlass
sensor (3) safely resides behind up to
an inch of glass, plastic, or any non-
conductive material. A standard CRT
or flat panel monitor (4) is placed
behind the ThruGlass sensor.
How ThruGlass Touchscreen Works
A capacitive field is projected from the ThruGlass
sensor through the non-conductive, protective front
surface (1).A touch disturbs the field (2).At a calibrat-
ed level of disturbance, the controller recognizes the
touch and calculates the position (3).The ThruGlass
sensor (4) is placed in front of a standard CRT or flat
panel monitor (5).
ThruGlass
PROJECTED CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREENS
ThruGlass Touchscreen
ThruGlass Touchscreen Installation
How ThruGlass Touchscreen Works
SPECIFICATIONS
ThruGlass Technical Specifications
ELECTRICAL
Technology Projected capacitive.
Accuracy Better than 97%.
Sensing Range Through up to 1" (25.4mm) of glass or non-conductive material.
Sensing Frequency Range 65 KHz to 2.0 mHz.
OPTICAL
Touchscreen Resolution 1024 x 1024.
MECHANICAL
Initial Touch Down Speed < 26 ms.
Touch Contact Requirement 12 ms.
Conversion Speed Up to 190 touch points per second at 19.2K baud.
Construction Glass/polyurethane laminated.
Thickness 0.30 to 0.35" (7.62 to 8.89mm)
Sensor Size (HxW) 10.4" sensor 9.62" x 12.00" 244.35 x 304.80mm
12.1" sensor 8.91" x 12.33" 226.31 x 313.18mm
15" sensor 10.85" x 14.78" 275.59 x 375.41mm
17" sensor 13.31" x 17.93" 338.07 x 455.42mm
Touchable Active Area (HxW) 10.4" sensor 7.12" x 8.50" 180.85 x 215.90mm
12.1" sensor 7.31" x 9.68" 185.67 x 245.75mm
15" sensor 8.47" x 11.18" 215.14 x 283.97mm
17" sensor 10.75" x 13.06" 273.05 x 331.72mm
Tail Length 2.3" (58.42mm)
Surface Durability > 6 Mohs rating.
Sensitivity Light touch on glass.
Touch Features Double tap, draw, drag, gloved input for all known gloves.
RELIABILITY
Touch Life Unlimited due to replaceable front surface.
Electrode Durability None exposed.
Contaminants Sensing unaffected by dirt, grease, or moisture build up.
Harsh Weather Resistance Unaffected by snow, ice, rain, sleet, hail, wind, etc.
Harsh Chemical Resistance Unaffected; no contact with screen.
Abrasion Resistance Unaffected; no contact with screen.
Liquid Resistance Water drops on screen do not impede operation.
Impact Resistance Passes UL 544 ball test and remains unbroken and operational; front
surface can be Lexan, glass, bulletproof glass, tempered glass, polycar-
bonate, etc.
Operating Temperature -40°C to 85°C at up to 95% relative humidity for touchscreen.
Storage Temperature -40°C to 85°C at up to 95% relative humidity for touchscreen.
NEMA Rating NEMA sealable depending upon integration.
FRONT TOUCH SURFACE
Touch Life Unlimited - replaceable front surface.
Glass Maximum = up to 1" (25.4mm) thick.
Minimum = 0.25" (6.35) thick.
Plastic Maximum = up to 0.25" (6.35) thick.
Minimum = 0.125" (3.175) thick.
Polycarbonate recommended.
ThruGlass Technical Specifications
CONTROLLER
Controller Options See ClearTek Controller Specification Sheet.
SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION
ClearTek Controller Specification Sheet
ThruGlass Installation Guide
ThruGlass Planning Guide
Software Drivers
Compatible with MicroTouch TouchWare for Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, and
MS-DOS (version 3.4 or greater).
Supplemental documentation can be viewed at www.microtouch.com or available by calling 1-800-642-7686.
ThruGlass Projected Capacitive Touchscreens
THRUGLASS-0004-0499
For information about implementing MicroTouch touch technology into your next project, contact us at:
MicroTouch Systems, Inc.
300 Griffin Brook Park Drive
Methuen, MA 01844
U.S.A.
Phone: 978.659.9000
Fax: 978.659.9100
E-mail: touch@microtouch.com
Web site: www.microtouch.com
© 2000 MicroTouch Systems, Inc. MicroTouch and ClearTek are registered trademark and ThruGlass and TouchWare
are trademarks of MicroTouch Systems, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. All Rights Reserved. Produced in the USA.
www.microtouch.com touch @microtouch.com
Worldwide Offices
China
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Korea
Singapore
Spain
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States
The MicroTouch Difference
When you partner with MicroTouch for your touchscreen needs, you benefit from the industry’s best combina-
tion of service, warranties, and support.
Five-Year Warranty
MicroTouch products come with a five-year warranty on all touchscreen components.
Around-the-World Service and Support
When you need product information quickly or new software drivers, you can reach us
through our Technical Assistance telephone support line, Web site, or e-mail. We’re never
out of touch.
A Commitment to Quality
MicroTouch’s headquarters manufacturing facility is ISO 9001-certified. Our numerous quality groups, inspec-
tions, and executive involvement are just some of the MicroTouch quality initiatives that ensure the product
you receive is the most reliable in the industry.
CORPORATE PROFILE
Global company committed to the
innovation and application of
touchscreen technology
Founded in 1982
Public company (NASDAQ: MTSI)
1999 sales of $157.5 million
The information provided in this brochure is intended as a guide only. For detailed engineering specifications,
please contact your MicroTouch Systems Application Engineer. MicroTouch Systems is committed to
continually improving product designs, as a result product specifications may be subject to change
without notification.
