Membrane switch keypads for all environments

The finishing front of a membrane switch plays both a decorative and functional role.

• You can use gloss contrasts to highlight different interaction points on your keypad.
• Gloss can also play an aesthetic role to communicate your product's brand.
• Finish may also be coatings, for example UV resistance coating, or antistatic coating, or flamability protection layer. 

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You can add colour to the top layer of your membrane keypad through screen printing or through digital printing.  

• Screen printing on foils and films ensures colour accuracy, UV resistance and abrasion resistance. The technique offers a range of possibilities including metallic colours, translucent details, RAL and PMS colours, light-blocking features, non-conductive inks. 
• With digital printing the options are countless. You can achieve photorealistic graphics including gradients and other graphic details. 
• Combination of screen and digital printing combines the best of both words, offering highly detailed graphics of digital print and lightproof colours of screen printing.

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You can use LEDs in many different ways in a membrane switch. For decorative, functional or combined purposes. 

• Decorative light features are usually used as deadfront effects or ghost effects where symbols are visible when lit up. 
• Backlight is often used as a functional feature to light all keys and make them visible during night operation or operation in dark environments. 
• Status indicators are commonly used in connection with a status window or a backlit symbol. 

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The most common way to create a tactile click in a membrane keypad is by using metal domes. 

Domes come in many different sizes, shapes and actuation forces. The choice of domes is defined by your specifications and your requirements for:

• the tactility - audio and haptic feedback of the key
• lifetime of the HMI solution. - number of activations of a key during the products lifetime

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Electrical or circuit layer in a membrane keypad is usually made with: 

• PET - the most common and cost effective solution
• FPC - copper-based foil with high conductivity and bendability
• PCB - offering stiffness and possibility for soldering of components

The choice of the most suitable circuit layer option for your keypad depends on use environment of the product, as well as the electrical and mechanical concepts of the keypad. 

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The details about mechanical and electrical integration of a keypad have great impact on the actual keypad solution. Therefore, there are several important questions you need to consider during your design process.

Regarding mechanical integration:

• How will you fix the membrane keypad to the product? Will you use adhesives, screws or press-mounting?
• Direction of assembly? Will the keypad be front-mounted, back-mounted, or side-mounted?

Regarding electrical connection: 

• Distance from the keypad to the PCB of your product? How long is the connecting tail? 
• Will the tail be twisted or bended? 
• Are there vibrations or pull on the electric connection during use of the product? 
• Will the keypad be disassembled e.g. during service? 

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