Apple to use thin-film touch technology for iPad mini

PanARMENIAN.Net - Apple plans to use "G/F2" thin-film touch technology for its 7.85-inch iPad, which is predicted to be out by the fourth quarter of this year, DigiTimes reported citing industry sources.

The smaller version of Apple's new iPad, rumored to be called iPad Mini, is said to feature the G/F2 technology, with Nitto supplying the key thin-film materials, and Nissha Printing and TPK producing the touch screens, the sources said. Wintek, another touch module supplier for Apple, does not have thin-film touch capacity, the sources said.

Apple is seeing steady shipments with its iPad models and wants to stay competitive with other small-sized tablets in the market, the sources commented.

Using the G/F2 design will help reduce costs and will also make the iPad Mini thinner than previous iPad models since it will have one less layer of film than the G/F/F (glass/film/film) structure, according to sources. The G/F2 structure places the electrode on the top and bottom ends of the ITO film, which will then be laminated onto the cover glass.

The iPad Mini will also be more transparent and will have good sensitivity despite certain skepticism with thin-film touch panels in the industry, added the sources.

Meanwhile, the sources added that 7-10 million units of the iPad Mini may be shipped this year.