Membrane Switches Caperbilities

An electrical switch that turns a circuit on or off is called a membrane switch. It is different from mechanical switches that are made of plastic parts and copper. Membrane switches are circuit printed on ITO or PET. The ink used is usually silver, copper, and graphite that is used in screen printing and conductive. Membrane Switches are vibration and shock resistant, they are internally sealed and vented and have stainless steel domes.

Membrane switches can be referred to as modern aspects of technology. Membrane switches range from buttons in TV remotes, microwaves, air conditioners, dishwashers, cell phones, security system, and landline phones the buttons we push every day.  They activate some of the functions that are performed by using electronic equipment through a straight forward process.

A membrane switch is capable of digital printing,production assembly, texturing, embossing, graphic design, inspection, prototyping, screen printing, hard coating, shielding, functional testing, and inspection.

CONSTRUCTION

A typical membrane switch has four layers or more. The upper part of the membrane switch is called the graphic interface. The graphic interface is usually between the machine and the user. This layer is informative and decorative with a graphic overlay. It’s made of a very thin plastic material that has a screen printed design. Durability is paramounton this layer.

There’s another layer called the membrane layer; it is very essential in a membrane switch because it carries the poles of a switch. The third layer has small domes of metals placed above each circuit made of copper together with polyimide materials. These layers are put together using adhesives that are pressure sensitive, or they can be put together using mechanical means.

•    The design

Membrane switches provide interaction between clients and the technology that is provided to them. There’s a unique innovation by manufacturers nowadays that can meet your desires. The layers on the Capacitive Touch Switch are also printed on the polyester substrates together with special carbon and silver conductive and insulation inks.

•     Membrane switches materials

Membrane switches cover a broad section in electronics, manufacturing, consumer products and medical providers. They are used in a variety of applications used for low voltage, data entry systems, control panels and microprocessor based systems.

•    Capabilities of a membrane switch

Membrane switches are used in embossing, laminating, die cutting, bar codes, forming serial stamping and machining.

BACKLIGHTING

Three standard ways of backlighting switches commonly used:

-    LED – Light emitting diodes are used to backlight. LEDs are surface mounted on the circuit layers or separately placed on a different layer. They are used as indicator lights.

-    Optical Fiber – Optic fiber that is woven in two or layers to form rectangle area that emits light. Optical fibers get affected by the extremes in temperature or humidity.

-    The third option is by use of electroluminescent lamps, these lamps are cheaper thanthe fiber optic, and they offer a flexible design. The common colors are yellow/green and blue/green, white, orange and blue. They have a half-life approximately 3000 – 8000 hrs this depends on the quality of phosphor.