An air gap is the air space in a touch panel construction – the gap of air between the touch panel surface and the display, typical of Air Bonding assembly. This gap exists when the touch panel (e.g. glass with its sensor layer) is mounted to the housing or frame without a direct, full optical bond to the screen. This solution is simpler and cheaper to produce than optical bonding and also makes it easier to replace damaged glass or sensors.
However, having an air gap can cause increased light reflections, reduced contrast and poorer readability in bright conditions (for example, in sunlight). In air-bonding touch panels, this gap is usually maintained by micro-spacers (spacer dots) that ensure stable separation of the layers and prevent accidental contact.
