Products
Membrane keypads & keyboards
Membrane keypads are very versatile electronic components, lending themselves easily to many different applications. By their very nature, membrane keypads are sealed from dust and moisture ingress, making them durable and easy to clean. Each membrane keypad is made up of a quantity of switches.
Each switch is a normally open, momentary contact device made up of three layers; an upper flexible contact, a stationary lower contact, and an insulator to hold the contacts apart until pressed. A graphic overlay can be added to the surface of membrane keypads to display custom graphics, display windows and key positions.
Fascia panels
A fascia (or facia) panel is a durable overlay film printed with custom graphics and text, which is then adhered to a backing plate. The backing plate can be made of various materials such as aluminium, mild steel, or even a moulded plastic case.
Graphic overlays
A graphic overlay is a high quality durable label, either with or without backing adhesive, and printed with custom graphics and text.
Digitally printed labels
Digitally printed labels differ from graphic overlays in that they are produced quickly and without setup fees on a thermal transfer printer. Ideally suited to larger quantities, they can have multiple colours and custom graphics produced on a variety of materials.
Options for membrane keypads
- Backplates: a range of materials and finishes are available
- Colours: virtually any requirement can be met, please quote Pantone references if possible
- Connection: our standard SIL 2.54mm / 0.10" pitch female connector or custom pitch without connector
- Embossing: Braille, bubble, logo, pillow or rim embossing
- Encapsulated components: a wide range of surface mount LED's and resistors can be fitted
- Illumination: we can produce an EL insert to provide backlighting in low light conditions
- Shielding: additional ground plane to protect against EMI / RFI emissions and ESD
- Tactile feedback: dome embossing, steel dome inserts or non-tactile
- Windows: clear or coloured, varnished for clarity or diffused
Specifications for membrane keypads
- Contact resistance: < 2 ohms per 25mm of track length at 1mm width
- Contact bounce: < 5 m/s
- Contact rating: 1 watt maximum at 0-30 V, 0-100 mA, 1 minute test
- Operating life: 1-20 million operations, depending on specification
- Storage temperature: -65º C to +85º C (-65º C to +50º C for embossed)
- Operating temperature: -45º C to +75º C (-45º C to +45º C for embossed)
- Operating humidity: no effect at 95% RH
- Storage altitude: 0 to 15,000m
- Operating altitude: 0 to 4,500m
Please note, exact specifications are dependent upon design and may vary from those shown above.
