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Technology Glossary

SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) Touch Panel

A SAW (surface acoustic wave) touch panel detects touch when a finger absorbs ultrasonic waves travelling across the glass, offering excellent clarity.

Also known as: SAW touchscreen

SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) is a touch technology using ultrasonic waves propagating across the screen surface. Transmitters and receivers mounted on the panel edges generate and detect these waves. A touch partially absorbs the waves, and the controller pinpoints the touch location.

SAW panels offer excellent optical clarity, accurate color reproduction, and no additional conductive layers that could impair image quality. They support input with fingers, gloves, or soft styluses, but are sensitive to contamination and water, which can disrupt wave propagation. SAW is mainly used in kiosks, POS terminals, and interactive systems, where high image quality and precise touch detection are required.

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