Touch FAQ's

• How do I upgrade my touch drivers?
• How many wire resistive touch screens are used in StarPanel® products?
• The touch is 180 degrees out?
• Does each touch monitor need to be calibrated?
• When should I calibrate? How often?
• What should I use to clean the screen with?
• Why a resistive touch screen?
• I was using the M3300-P/PI, what is the new replacment model and improvements?
• What about touch drivers for: DOS, Windows: 3.1X, 9X, 2000, NT, ect.?
• How does the touch monitor communicate / interface with the host sytem?
• How do I upgrade the touch drivers from 2400 baud to 9600 baud for the new M3104?
• I was using a different touch driver than is currently listed in the SN: 06000 or newer list?
• What if my monitor needs servicing?
  

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  When should I calibrate? How often?
  Normally, calibration need take place only once but, due to temperature and humidity variations, an application may require periodic calibration to fine tune the display to the video source. If the video signal characteristics change, then the monitor may need to be re-tuned to optimize performance. The initial calibration should be performed after the monitor has warmed-up (5-15 minutes).
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  What should I use to clean the screen with?
  Mild soap or detergent and water can be used to clean the display. A 'mild' glass cleaner is also acceptable (diluted glass cleaner). Do not use abrasives, full strength glass cleaners or solvents.
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  Why a resistive touch screen?
  Resistive touch screens have proven to be very reliable and cost effective in monitor applications. While there is some affect on the optics because it is a coated overlay, resistive touch screen monitors are more than acceptable in most lighting conditions.
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  What about touch drivers for my operating system: DOS, Windows: 3.1X, 9X, 2000, NT, ect.?
  Touch drivers are available for DOS, Windows: 3.1X, 9X, 2000, NT, and others. Most drivers are available here in the download section. QNX has it's own built-in driver.
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  How does the touch monitor communicate or interface with the host system?
  The Touch Monitor interfaces through a RS232 serial port on the monitor to the host, the Touch Monitor is a pointing device.
  If, for example, the host system is a PC, the appropriate Touch Monitor driver (for the operating system: DOS, Windows: 3.1X, 9X, 2000, NT, ...) is installed and the Touch Monitor is treated as a mouse or pointing device. A standard mouse may be used in conjunction with the Touch Monitor.
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  I was using the M3300-P/PI, what is the new replacment model and improvements?
  The new model is the M3104. The front face is the same but the bezel is now powder coated for a more durable finish and mounting holes are slightly enlarged to accommodate hardware variations. The rear cover in metal finish (no paint). Input connections on rear cover have moved horizontally but remained in the same position vertically. Input power receptacle pin is larger for improved ruggedness. The monitor is about 40% brighter @ 400 nits. Calibration is now via a OSD (on screen display) with a one button "auto cal" feature. Buttons are still on back of monitor. Touch communication baud rate is faster at 9600 for quicker response to input commands. Operation manual and touch drivers are available via download off the web. Video and serial cables, sealing gasket and the ac power adapter are now sold separately. See data sheet and manual for complete details.
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  How do I upgrade the touch drivers from 2400 baud to 9600 baud for the new M3104?
  For upgrades from serial number 01500 - 05999 to the new M3104. Uninstall the current touch driver. Restart your computer. Download the latest driver for your operating system from the download area. Plug in, turn on and connect the new M3104 monitor to the PC. Start the installation. The touch interface configuration when asked is TSHARC-12 and the communication rate is 9600 baud, but please refer to the operation manual. The install program will auto detect the new touch hardware only if the monitor is plugged in and turned on during this installation step. After completing the touch driver installation the touch array will need to be calibrated for correct operation and alignment. To do this open the TSHARC control panel on the installed PC and run general calibration.
  For upgrades from serial number 06000 - 09999 to the new M3104. Uninstall the current touch driver without deleting the install and/or .zip files. Restart your computer. Plug in, turn on and connect the new M3104 monitor to the PC. Start the installation using your previous driver files. The touch interface configuration when asked is TSHARC-12 and the communication rate is 9600 baud, but please refer to the operation manual. The install program will auto detect the new touch hardware only if the monitor is plugged in and turned on during this installation step. After completing the touch driver installation the touch array will need to be calibrated for correct operation and alignment. To do this open the TSHARC control panel on the installed PC and run general calibration. If this should not work with your previous driver, then download the latest driver from the download area.
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  I was using a different touch driver than is currently listed in the SN: 06000 or newer list?
  The previous Windows 9X, ME driver has been updated. This version is now listed as Windows 95 (only) and is still in the download list to support Windows 95 users. Windows 98 and ME users are encouraged to use the newer universal driver listed in the current download list as Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP but if you still would like to use the previous Windows 9X, ME driver you can still download it here.
  The previous Windows 2000, XP driver has been updated. This version is no longer listed in the current download list. Windows 2000 and XP users are encouraged to use the newer universal driver listed in the current download list as Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP as well but if you still would like to use the previous Windows 2000, XP driver you can still download it here.
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  What if my monitor needs servicing?
  For your convenience you may contact our customer service department for a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number via our online RMA request form.
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  The touch is 180 degrees out?
  After completing the touch driver installation the monitor will first need to be calibrated for correct operation and alignment before it is ready for use. To do this open the TSHARC control panel on the installed PC and run general calibration.
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  Does each touch monitor need to be calibrated?
  For accuracy of the touch point to the screen image it is best to calibrate each monitor to the CPU and installed touch driver. There are several levels of general touch calibration 3, 4, 7 & 20 point, each increasing in precision. For coarse applications (i.e. large Icon's or buttons) a 3 or 4 point calibration would be sufficient. The 7 and 20 point are best for very small targets and line drawing applications. First calibrate the monitor image scale and alignment using the monitor OSD and rear panel buttons before calibrating the touch array using the TSHARC control panel program on the PC.
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  How many wire resistive touch screens are used in StarPanel® products?
  We use two basic types of touch screen in our products. For 10.4” products and smaller 4 wire touch screens are used. For larger screen sizes 12.1” and above we use 8 wire touch screens.
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  How do I upgrade my touch drivers?
  First, uninstall all previous versions of touch screen drivers from the target PC. Use the Touch Driver Uninstall Utility to aid in the uninstall step for drivers older than revision 6.10 or if you are having difficulty removing them manually. Restart your PC. Download the latest driver for your operating system from the download area. Plug in, turn on and connect your monitor to the PC. Start the installation. The standard touch interface configuration when asked is TSHARC-12 and the communication rate is 9600 baud maximum, but please refer to the operation manual for the model you are using. The install program will auto detect the new touch hardware only if the monitor is plugged in and turned on during this installation step. After completing the touch driver installation the touch array will need to be calibrated for correct operation and alignment. To do this open the TSHARC control panel on the installed PC and run general calibration.
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