Advantages and disadvantages of membrane switches and their application in products

Membrane switches, also known as membrane keyboards or membrane keypads, are user interfaces often used in electronic products. They consist of flexible layers with printed circuitry and pressure-sensitive contact points. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of membrane switches and their typical applications in products:

Advantages:

1. Cost-Effective: Membrane switches are generally cost-effective to manufacture compared to mechanical switches or touchscreens, making them an attractive choice for cost-sensitive products.

2. Compact Design: They have a low profile and are thin, allowing for slim and space-saving product designs.

3. Customizable: Membrane switches can be custom-designed to fit specific product requirements in terms of shape, size, layout, and graphic overlays. This customization allows for branding and aesthetic design flexibility.

4. Dust and Liquid Resistance: Properly sealed membrane switches can provide a degree of protection against dust and liquid ingress, enhancing product durability and reliability, especially in outdoor or industrial settings.

5. Durability: High-quality membrane switches can have a long operational life, often exceeding millions of actuations, making them suitable for products that require frequent button presses.

6. Tactile Feedback: Some membrane switches can provide tactile feedback through embossed or domed keys, which gives users a sense of keypress confirmation.

7. Quiet Operation: Membrane switches are usually quiet in operation, which can be an advantage in environments where noise needs to be minimized.

Disadvantages:

1. Limited Tactility: Membrane switches generally offer less tactile feedback compared to mechanical switches, which can make it harder for users to determine if a keypress has been registered.

2. Less Durability Than Mechanical Switches: While membrane switches can be durable, they are generally not as robust as mechanical switches in terms of longevity and resistance to wear and tear.

3. Lack of Keypress Variation: Membrane switches typically provide a consistent feel and actuation force across all keys, which may not suit users who prefer different keypress characteristics.

4. Limited Key Travel: The key travel (the distance a key moves when pressed) in membrane switches is usually shorter than that of mechanical switches, which some users may find less comfortable.

Applications:

1. Consumer Electronics: Membrane switches are commonly used in products like remote controls, microwave ovens, and calculators.

2. Industrial Equipment: They are often found in industrial control panels, where their durability and resistance to environmental factors are valuable.

3. Medical Devices: Membrane switches are used in various medical equipment, such as diagnostic machines and patient monitoring devices, due to their ease of cleaning and resistance to contamination.

4. Automotive: Many automotive dashboards and control panels use membrane switches for their compact design and reliability.

5. Appliances: Membrane switches are used in household appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and ovens.

6. Keypads and Keyboards: They are frequently used in numeric keypads, computer keyboards, and other input devices where compactness and cost-effectiveness are essential.

7. Aerospace and Military: Membrane switches are used in some aerospace and military applications due to their resistance to harsh environments and potential exposure to contaminants.

Overall, the choice of using membrane switches in a product depends on factors such as cost considerations, design requirements, durability needs, and user preferences for tactile feedback. They are well-suited for a wide range of applications, especially when balanced against their advantages and disadvantages.

Electrical properties
⒈ Working voltage: ≤50V (DC)
⒉ Working current: ≤100mA
⒊Contact resistance: 0.5~10Ω
⒋Insulation resistance: ≥100MΩ (100V/DC)
⒌Substrate withstand voltage: 2kV (DC)
⒍Rebound time: ≤6ms
⒎Loop resistance: 50Ω, 150Ω, 350Ω three gears, or according to user needs.
⒏ Insulation ink withstand voltage: 100V/DC

Mechanical properties
⒈ Reliability service life: > 1 million times
⒉Close displacement: 0.1~0.4mm (non-tactile type) 0.4~1.0mm (tactile type)
⒊Jianbiao force: 15~750g force
⒋ Migration of conductive silver paste: 10MΩ/50VDC between two wires after 56 hours at 55℃, temperature 90%
⒌No oxidation and no impurities on the silver paste line
⒍Silver paste line width ≥0.3mm, minimum interval 0.3mm, line burr <1/3, line gap <1/4 line width
⒎Pin spacing standard 2.54 2.50 1.27 1.25 1.0 0.5mm
⒏The lead-out line is resistant to curvature, and the line is continuously rolled for 80 times with a d=10mm steel rod.

Environmental properties
⒈ Working temperature: -20℃～+70℃
⒉Storage temperature: -40℃～+85℃, temperature 95%±5%
⒊ Atmospheric pressure: 86～106KPa

Printing indicators
⒈The printing size deviation is ±0.10mm, and the outline edge line is unclear and the error is ±0.1mm
⒉The color deviation is ±0.11mm/100mm, and the insulating ink completely covers the silver paste line
⒊No ink scattered, no handwriting defects
⒋The color difference is not greater than the second grade
⒌ No creases or peeling paint
⒍The transparent window is transparent and clean, the color is uniform, and there should be no scratches, pinholes and impurities.
For maintenance personnel, when some old-fashioned equipment is not equipped with the membrane switch used by the original machine, the line number corresponding to the button can be recorded, and then replaced with a general button (tact switch) plus a group line method. The effect is exactly the same, but more labor-intensive!