Non-Tactile Membrane Switches
Diagram showing the layers of
a typical non-tactile membrane switch
Non-Tactile membrane switches do not provide direct feedback to the user when the circuit is closed. These membranes switches are usually used in conjunction with a display or LED indicators making direct feedback unnecessary.
Non-Tactile Membrane Switches Benefits
The advantages of non-tactile membrane switches include lower profile, increased durability, more actuation over switch life and significant cost savings.
Non-Tactile Membrane Switch Layers
The typical non-tactile membrane switch contains four or five layers. Like tactile membrane switches, the bottom layer is a rigid layer which provides structure for the switch and support for closing the circuits when pressure is applied.
Just above the rigid layer is the static layer which contains the circuitry that controls the device. This layer is an open circuit with gaps at each of the switches.
The spacer layer sits above the static layer and consists of a thick die cut material that creates a space between the circuits of the static layer and the circuits of the membrane layer, keeping the circuit open when not in use.
The membrane layer lies above the spacer layer and contains the printed circuitry which connect to the circuits of the static layer thus closing the circuit and activating the switch. This layer is made from a durable yet flexible material which gives when pressure is applied allowing for the closing of the circuits and the activation of the device.
The final layer atop all the others is the graphic panel overlay, sometimes called the front panel overlay. This layer contains the text and graphic elements of the user interface.
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