Tactile Membrane Switches
Diagram showing the layers of
a typical tactile membrane switch
Tactile membrane switches provide feedback to the user through sound, resistance or feel. This feedback is provided by an actuator which closes the circuit when pressure is applied.
Advantages of Tactile
Membrane Switches
Tactile membrane switches are the most desirable because of the assurance to the user that the switch has been closed. However, they are less durable and more costly to produce.
The feedback in tactile membrane switches is provided by actuators which are available in a number of materials and types. The most common actuators are metal domes, conductive pills or embossed areas within the graphic overlay.
Tactile Membrane
Switch Layers
The typical tactile membrane switch contains five or six layers. The bottom layer is the rigid layer which provides structure for the switch and support for the actuation of the switches.
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 tactile layer rests directly above the static layer and contains the actuator components and a spacer. Each actuator sits above the open switch circuits and provides the contact for closing the circuit. The spacer is a thick die cut material that creates a space between the circuit and the actuator, keeping the circuit open when not in use. The actuators are seated in the die cut areas.
The membrane layer lies above the tactile layer. It is made from a durable yet flexible material which provides stability to the tactile components, and keeps them in place.
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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