Membrane switch

Membrane switch is also called Touch Keypad, it utilizes PET, PC, FPC and other flexible materials and screen printing technology, which is an entirely sealed plastic electronic

product that combines graphics, keys, signs, conductivity, and switch function.

1:Membrane switch has below main advantages.

　　　　1)Small and portable. Generally a membrane switch is several or dozens

　　　　　 grams, it is quite convenient to carry or disassemble.

　　　　2)Aesthetic appearance. It adopts advanced silk screen printing technology

　　　　　 with special design; we can provide any custom solution you need.

　　　　3)Sealing. To meet customer's unique needs of the program, we can design

　　　　　 the membrane switch to be water- proof, grease proofing, dust-proof, and

　　　　　 static-free... with unique technologies, the membrane switch can endure a

　　　　　 high voltage.

　　　　4)Good conductivity. The circuitry is printed with carbon, silver, copper foil and

　　　　　 according to

　　　　　 customer's specification.

　　　　5)Low cost. Membrane switch is low price, some even costs only cents.

　　　　　 Compare to other electronic components which have same function, it is

　　　　　 exactly cheap price.

　　　　6)Long lifetime. The materials are with high isolation, thermal resistance, fold

　　　　　 resistance and rebound resilience. Moreover, the graphic can not be

　　　　　 damaged because of its second surface printing; the lifetime is usually

　　　　　 above 3 years.

2:Product's direction

　　To analyze products in current market, most of them are getting to be short, small

　　lightweight and thin. Membrane switch is just in accordance with this design, which

　　is an electronic component that in combination of art and technology.

3:Type of membrane switch

　　Main types: There are many different types and layouts of membrane switch, its

　　　　　　　　basic function like travel, operating force, life time mainly depend on

　　　　　　　　type of key and material. The main types can be sorted as follows

　　　　　　　　Membrane switch with flat keys, membrane switch with embossed keys

　　　　　　　　(rectangle or dome), membrane switch with metal dome or polydome

　　　　　　　　tactile or non-tactile, membrane switch with LCD window or embedded

　　　　　　　　LED,and so on...

4:According to the tactile feeling, it can be classified to 3 types.

　* Metal dome keypad: it has metal domes inside, with contacts above them, the

　　　　　　　　　　　electric loop is generated by finger operating.

　　　Advantage: 1) Good tactile feeling.

　　　　　　　　　2) Long lifetime even being used in high temperature condition.

　* Polydome keypad: Poly dome is an embossed dome in the circuitry layer of

　　　　　　　　　　membrane switch, it is quite durable, and the travel is a

　　　　　　　　　　little shorter than metal dome keypad. In some applications

　　　　　　　　　　the polydome can be processed in top overlay layer, this reduces

　　　　　　　　　　numbers of layer. Operating force is influenced by material

　　　　　　　　　　thickness, diameter and height of the keys.

　　　Advantage: 1) Quite durable.

　　　　　　　　　2) It can be well operated for millions of times.

　* Non-tactile keypad: no tactile feeling, for non-tactile membrane switch, it generally

　　　　　　　　　　　　utilizes other way to show what the Keys’ status is.

　　　Advantages: 1) Available in big area.

　　　　　　　　　2) Lowest cost among all kinds of membrane switches.

5: At TCF, we manufacture complete line of membrane switches, our experienced

　　design team are ready to work with you to design membrane switches to meet

　　your unique needs of your project.

　　1) Graphic overlay with or without embossing.

　　2) Tactile with metal dome or polydome or non-tactile

　　3) Embedded LED or other surface mount components.

　　4) Waterproof or UV resistant.

　　5) Electroluminescent backlighting.

　　6) ESD shielding (Aluminum foil or whole layer with silver and carbon coated).

　　7) Tail with or without connector (male or female pin).