Easy operation: Membrane keypads are regarded as a user interface or human-machine interface, facilitates the inputting communications and commands, thus simplifying the operation of the electronic equipment.
Functions: Membrane keypads are electrical switches that can make the circuit turn on or off by changing the key pressure.
Composed of: Polyester, Lexan, Polycarbonate, adhesive, snap dome, connector, conductive inks, carbon ink, or copper flex circuit.
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Features of Membrane Keypad
The reason why the membrane switch keypad is widely used is because of some very superior performances. It can fulfill various requirements of users, from industrial equipment to medical equipment.
Moisture-proof performance
Because the membrane switch keypad uses a good pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the stable performance of Polyester, Lexan, Polycarbonate one of the materials together. Membrane switch keypad can be designed to meet NEMA 4 and IP 67, some products can even reach IP68.
Thin
First, it is not easy to be invaded by dust, and secondly, it reduces the space of the product.
Easy to clean
Membrane switch keypads are easier to clean the surface than other mechanical keyboards.
Cost-effective
Compared with touch keyboard and silicone rubber keyboard, membrane switch keypad cost will be more affordable.
Graphic interface
The topmost panel of the membrane switch keypad can be the most conventional screen printing or digital printing. Niceone-tech can design the product to achieve the best visual effect. At the same time display the company logo and key functions on the panel.
Protection by design
Through the design of membrane switch keypads can achieve antibacterial, anti-ultraviolet and other effects.
The Application Of Membrane Keypad
Medical Equipment
Lighting & Lighting Controls
Agricultural
Military
CAN/BUS Controls
Sporting Goods
Industrial Controls
Food Equipment
Health & Fitness Equipment
Aerospace
Appliance
Marine Navigation
Automotive
Why Choose Niceone-tech Membrane Keypads?
Niceone-tech can customize membrane switch keypad that are perfect and best suited to customer requirements according to customer needs. In order to let you know how the best and most suitable touch keypad membrane is produced, we must talk about its structure:
Overlay-Polyester
is usually the first choice for membrane switch keypad materials, because its life will be a little longer than Polycarbonate. If it is simply a panel instead of a membrane switch keypad, Lexan and Polyester are also good choices. The overlay is the most intuitive form of human-machine interface. Niceone-tech will screen print or digital print on the back of the material, and they can also be used in combination. Special requirements such as mirror silver effect are also feasible.
Overlay adhesive
As the first layer of adhesive paper under the panel, the Acrylic adhesive is usually used, generally the thickness is between 0.125-0.225mm. If it is LGF membrane switch keypad structure, the thickness sometimes reaches 0.64mm.
Top Circuit Layer (Dome retainer)
This layer usually has three functions: 1. As the Dome Retainer, it ensures that the Snap dome of the circuit layer will not form shrapnel movement due to triggering and closing, resulting in circuit failure and circuit wear. 2. Use 0.1-0.125mm Polyester printing conductive ink, carbon oil, and UV ink as the upper line. This layer structure can also be convex to make tactile feedback better. 3. Can be used as an ESD shielding layer.
Circuit Spacer (switch spacer)
Both upper and lower lines are printed with conductive ink, usually thicker tape is used to separate the upper and lower lines to avoid direct conduction of the membrane switch keypad. If the upper circuit is only used as a fixed layer, then the general thickness of the Overlay adhesive + Top Circuit Layer + Lower Circuit Layer should be greater than 0.4mm, otherwise, the panel will squeeze the shrapnel to make them feel worse. Unless the panel is convex, the four-layer structure is less than 0.4mm.
Lower Circuit Layer
The thickness of this layer circuit is usually 0.1-0.188mm. It can be printed with ink, carbon oil, and UV ink. LEDs can also be installed. Some membrane switch keypads will choose the copper flex or Printing circuit Board as the circuit. Compared with Polyester, their performance will be more stable. More often applied to the medical and military industries. If it is copper flex or Printing circuit Board as a line, Niceone-tech can even install a variety of components on the line.
Rear Adhesive
There are many choices, but the most commonly used are 3M200MP series or 3M300LSE. According to the different products of membrane switch lamination, Niceone-tech will recommend 3M300LSE if it needs higher viscosity.
Rigid Support Layer
This layer structure is generally used as the last layer of the membrane switch keypad, which can make the structure of the membrane switch keypad component more complete. Usually, the choice of materials is AL, FR4, PC, or steel. If AL is selected, nuts or feet may sometimes be added to the back of the product.
What Special Features Can Niceone-tech Membrane Switches Provide?
Backlighting Membrane Switch （LGF）
Many working environments and machines will be used in low light or dark conditions. At this time, the customer asked us if we could solve this problem. At this time we will recommend the use of membrane switch keypads with internal lighting. Choose EL film as the light guide plate, Fiber Optics, and the newer light guide film (LGF) structure. Niceone-tech recommends LGF, which uses side LEDs and light guide panels to make the product have a lower loss and longer life relative to the EL membrane switch. Also available in different colors.
The thickness of the LGF membrane switch keypad provided by Niceone-tech can even be 0.8mm. The brightness of buttons and logos is not only uniform and long-lasting but more importantly, we can also make them illuminate each button individually. Sometimes you can also use two-color or RGB three-color lights to enter.
One step makes the product more beautiful.
*If the customer wants the product to be more novel and beautiful, then we can sometimes use Epoxy in combination with the keys. Makes it an Epoxy LGF membrane switch
If you are interested in Backlit Membrane Switch, please feel free to contact Niceone-tech, we will send samples as soon as possible.
There are three other types of illuminating membrane switches below.
Fiber Optics
Fiber optic membrane switch keypads are also a good choice for backlighting. The optical fiber material is very thin and can be used as a fixed layer of the membrane switch. At the same time, tactile feedback is better without adding a touchpoint. Life expectancy is up to 50,000 to 100,000 hours. The main light source is from LEDs.Through the optical fiber transmission in the membrane switch keypad needs to light up. And can be larger than the surface-mounted LED backlight area. Click the fiber optics membrane switch for more information.
Electroluminescent (EL)
EL backlight is driven by high frequency and low power. EL is very thin, it is a substitute for traditional lighting technology, and is widely used in various electronic accessories. The life of EL backlight products mainly depends on the driving voltage, frequency, temperature, and humidity. But most EL membrane switches can reach a life of 4000 hours or more. The brightness of the EL membrane switch keypad will attenuate linearly from the initial power-on. This is also an unavoidable disadvantage relative to other backlight membrane switch keypads. The EL backlit membrane switch keypad provided by Niceone-tech will not cause heat, electricity, and EMI problems. Mainly EL is more often a "cold" lighting medium.
LEDs
A common Light Emitting Diodes membrane switch keypad with relatively low cost. Since this technology membrane switch keypad cannot meet the lighting of a large area, it is mostly used for indication purposes. It is relatively old technology. But the service life is long and deep customers love it.
Custom Membrane Keypad Design
Graphic overlays digitally and/or screen printed on the backside. The effect can be customized according to your requirements including glass, metal, wood, and stone. If the keypad is in a more severe environment, we can even use hardened glass and stainless steel as the keypad material. It is very important to choose Overlay printing according to requirements.
The window needs raw materials to be transparent, frosted, transparent, or colored. The window of the membrane switch is different, and the choice of materials is also very different. When the window is large, and it is required to clearly see the bottom LCD or touch screen. EBG series is a good choice, the material is scratch resistant. If it is just a keypad, then PC or Lexan overlay is also feasible.
Selective textures and UV hard-coat surface finishes
Tactile or non-tactile, snap dome, or non-snap dome.
Pillow rim-embossed membrane switch keypads
Optically clear adhesive (OCA)，Liquid Optically Clear Adhesive，Air Gap
EMI/RFI shielding
Rigid support backers such as aluminum and FR4 with PEM mounting fasteners
Standard connectors such as CJT, Nicomatic, and Molex, etc
Niceone-tech is a professional membrane switch keypad manufacturer & supplier in China. We offer various membrane keypads including metal keypad, microwave membrane keypad, 4 button membrane keypad, membrane matrix keypad, etc. We can also offer different specifications such as 4x5, 4x4, and 3x4. Please contact us to know more about the keypad and get an attractive price. Contact Niceone-tech today, or visit our Product Gallery for high-performance inventory and customized membrane switches for your unique applications. If you have any questions, please contact info@niceone-tech.com.
Niceone-tech is a professional membrane switch keypad suppliers and membrane keypad manufacturer. We provide Membrane Keypad, Membrane Switch Panel, human machine interface control module, membrane keypad china, membrane switches china, custom membrane switches keypads, membrane switch module and so on. Want to know more? Please contact us.
