- 02/20/2026
- Expert knowledge
embedded award 2026: Electronic Displays nominees
Electronic Displays is represented as a category at the embedded award for the second time. Below you will find the nominated products ...
A breakthrough haptic force actuator, an adaptive E Paper driving solution, and a next generation static touch display
HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH ACTUATOR
Exhibitor: NEXT SYSTEM Vertriebsges.m.b.H.
Hall/Booth: 1-556
The HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH Actuator is the first series ready component to combine force sensing and haptic feedback in a single unit, enabling significantly safer and more intuitive touch interaction. A second, independent signal prevents unintentional activations—even under electromagnetic interference or contact with saltwater. Integrated force sensing transforms the touch surface into a display embedded touchpad that can be operated without looking. This enhances usability in machine environments and enables accessible interactions, such as entering a PIN code for visually impaired users.
The system eliminates mechanical buttons, enabling smooth, easy to clean glass surfaces, and accelerates development through its standardized architecture: a system independent API, demo software, and a starter kit with breakout board simplify evaluating different haptic signals. The technology supports a wide range of display sizes from 2.5 to 24 inches.
This solution reduces development and tooling costs, minimizes risks, and greatly simplifies integration. Patents in the EU and the US protect the innovative concept. By removing mechanical components and enabling software based updates, the product also helps reduce electronic waste and extend product lifecycles.
Adaptive E-Paper Driving
Exhibitor: LCD Mikroelektronik GmbH
Hall/Booth: 1-351
Adaptive E-Paper Driving redefines how E-Paper displays can be controlled, using purely software to achieve high-quality grayscale rendering, faster updates, and optimal energy efficiency. Unlike conventional solutions that rely on static, manufacturer-defined waveforms, this technology generates dynamic, adaptive driving waveforms (LUTs) in real time—bringing even simple 1- or 2-bit controllers to performance levels previously possible only with additional hardware.
The solution shows on a 4.2-inch prototype display, which would normally render only black and white, that up to 16 grayscale levels can be displayed with noticeably improved detail. By removing the need for extra hardware, the software-driven approach reduces system complexity, power consumption, and costs, while allowing precise adaptation to customer requirements such as grayscale depth, update speed, energy profile, or operating temperature. Although still in a prototype phase, Adaptive E-Paper Driving shows the potential to unlock new possibilities in digital signage, industrial visualization, and sustainable information systems—wherever highly flexible, energy-efficient, and long-lasting displays are needed.
Static Displays with Touchscreen Panels
Exhibitor: PolyIC GmbH & Co.KG
Hall/Booth: 1-270
Static Displays with Touchscreen Panels bridge the gap between LCD touchscreens and simple switches. They offer the high quality visual appearance of a display without requiring expensive LCD technology. Instead, predefined symbols or images are backlit behind a tinted or decorated surface—delivering brilliant quality through PolyTC® Colorful Pictures and uniform illumination via a diffusion film.
Integrated PolyTC® touch sensors enable single and multi touch interactions just like a conventional touchscreen. This allows high value, functional user interfaces even where a full display cannot be integrated due to cost, space, or design constraints. At the same time, the freely designable front surface provides significantly more aesthetic flexibility than a standard LCD.
The modular stack combines touch functionality, backlit imagery, and customizable panel decoration in a thin, cost efficient system. Static Displays are ideal for products that require a premium look and feel but only need limited display functionality.
Thanks to components that can be separated for recycling (PET label, plastic front panel, light guide frame, electronics), the solution also contributes to sustainable product design and supports resource efficient material cycles.