Graphic OEM Muliti type Membrane Switches

Two buttons Membrane switch keyboards for car application

Full-Service Membrane Switch Manufacturer

Our design engineers offer expert recommendations and support to build a reliable membrane switch to meet your application standards. Our additional membrane switch service features, including fiber optic backlighting, sub-panel backers, PCB integrations, metal overlays, and Light Guide Films.

• Professionally printed on robust materials for the utmost flexibility, heat and UV stabilization, and reliability

• Advanced printing machinery ensure efficient turnaround time and design matching

• Our experienced team provides design assistance each step of the way, from determining compliance standards, choosing appropriate material, through delivery of prototypes

  
  

Membrane Switch Design Guide

Membrane switch keypad technology features a unique set of advantages for a variety of application. However, each design request is exclusive, based on the application, technical specifications, and industry requirements. 

1. Membrane Swicth Panel Description 

Membrane switches are designed to meet a very specific set of criteria depending on the application. Effective membrane switch design requires a good understanding of the application and the ability to communicate what is required for a successful and efficient design.

2. Types of Switches

In general there are two types of membrane switches, tactile and non-tactile, both of these can be constructed with or without a graphic overlay. Tactile switches use a metal dome or poly dome to provide a physical “snap” feedback response to the user’s finger, letting him/her know that the button has been depressed. Non-tactile switches do not incorporate a metal or poly dome into the construction and therefore do not provide feedback to the user’s finger when a pushbutton is depressed.

3. Construction

A typical membrane switch construction consists of the following layers:

• Graphic Overlay

• Graphic Adhesive

• Dome Retainer (or a Top Circuit for Matrix Circuit Configuration)

• Dome Spacer (for use with metal domes)

• Bottom Circuit

• Rear Adhesive

4. Graphic Overlay

Circuitry is designed using either a common bus or a matrix configuration, or a combination of both. The connection from the membrane switch to the PCB can be made one of three ways.

• A cable interconnect or tail that is terminated with bare contacts

• A plastic connector housing

• Solder tabs

The tail termination pitch can be 2.54mm, 1.27mm, 1.00mm, or 0.5mm. Metal tines are used for electrical connections.

Our printing electronics technologies include: screen printing, digital printing, or a combination of screen and digital printing.

Customer Supplied Artwork Requirements:

• Native (original program) Editable Vector image file (i.e. Illustrator .ai file)

• Fonts supplied or outlined

• Legible blueprint or layout (i.e. .dwg or a .dxf file; hardcopy or physical sample)

Customer must supply:

• Dimensions (Overall size and if applicable, the Round Corner Radius)

• Dimensions of the copy and graphic location within the layout if critical, as well as text point size

• PMS colors (Graphics, Lines, Background)

• Clearly identify and provide sizes, location, and dimensions of thru cuts and clear windows

Acceptable Software Files:

• .AI – Adobe Illustrator CS6 (or previous versions)

• .EPS

• .PDF – (from native PDF conversion such as via Adobe, AutoDesk, etc.)

• .DXF or .DWG (via CAD, SolidWorks or MicroStation)

• .TIFF – Raster files set to 300 dpi (used for digital printing only)

Kaike Membrane Switch Design Capabilities

We provide multiple options for membrane switches, such as metal domes for tactile feedback, polydomes, and flat non-tactile design alternatives. Switch keboards design choices, include ESD/RFI shielding, NEMA 4 requirements, tail length and exit point, interconnectivity, and adhesive options allow you to further customize the membrane switch to your precise requirement.

Membrane Switch Operational Characteristics

Mechanical:

Life Expectancy: More than 1,000,000 Actuations

Force Range: 6 oz. to 18 oz.

Switch Travel: 0.010" to 0.030"

Contact Bounce: 1 to 10 milliseconds

Electrical:

Contact Rating: 20mA at 30 Volts DC

Circuit Resistance (On): 100 Ohms or Less

Circuit Resistance (Off): 10M Ohms

Current: 100mA (max.)

Voltage: 50 Volts DC (max.)

Power: 1.5 Watts (max.)

Configuration: SPST Normally Open

Environmental:

Storage Temperature: -40 to +80 Degrees Celsius

Operating Temperature: -30 to +70 Degrees Celsius

Membrane Switch Keypads Glossary

• Voltage: The difference of electrical potential between two points of an electrical or electronic circuit, expressed in volts. It measures the potential energy of an electric field to cause an electric current in an electrical conductor. A measure of the pressure under which electricity flows.

• Dielectric: non-conducting substance, i.e. an insulator. Although "dielectric" and "insulator" are generally considered synonymous, the term "dielectric" is more often used when considering the effect of alternating electric fields on the substance while "insulator" is more often used when the material is being used to withstand a high electric field.

• Optical fiber: A thin glass strand designed for light transmission. A single hair-thin fiber is capable of transmitting trillions of bits per second.

• ESD (Electrostatic discharge): The rapid, sudden transfer of electrostatic charge between two electrically charged surfaces.

• RFI(radiofrequency interference): Interference or “noise” that adversely affects the operation of an electrical circuit.Limited to the radio frequency spectrum.

• EMI (electromagnetic interference): Interference or “noise” that adversely affects the operation of an electrical circuit. Encompasses all frequencies of electrical noise.

• Light Guide Film (LGF): A film that is patterned and uses LED’s to guide light along the patterned surface.

• Emboss: A raised surface on the graphic overlay, typically applied to a pushbutton. Embossing is also used for a poly dome layer.