In this transcript, Chris Chinnock highlights two major hardware innovations from Panasonic Industry presented at the SID Vehicle Display conference, focusing on haptic interfaces and advanced transparent materials.

Magic Knob™ Technology

The Magic Knob is a capacitive rotary encoder designed to bridge the gap between touchscreens and physical haptics.

• Versatile Placement: The knob can be mounted anywhere on a capacitive touch panel without requiring holes or cutouts in the display.
• Standard Integration: Developed in collaboration with Microchip Technology, it works with standard touch sensors and controllers.
• Mechanical Feedback: It provides the tactile “click” of a detent knob, which is ideal for temperature or volume adjustments.
• Safe Operation: Its physical presence allows drivers to operate controls by feel, reducing the need to look away from the road.

FineX (Fine Cross) Copper Mesh

Panasonic also showcased FineX, a metal mesh transparent conductive film that outperforms traditional printing methods.

• Ultra-Fine Wiring: The technology achieves a wiring width of just 2 microns, making the mesh pattern invisible to the human eye.
• High Performance: A unique high aspect ratio allows the mesh to be thicker for better conductivity while maintaining 89% transparency.
• Flexible Substrate: The film is highly bendable, supporting the industry trend toward curved and large-format automotive displays.
• Multi-Purpose Use: Beyond touch sensors, it is used for transparent heaters to defrost sensors and transparent EMI shielding.