Membrane switches remain a popular user interface choice for various industries after their invention decades ago. Manufacturers choose these switches in different applications customized to meet the project demands. In this article, you’ll learn what a membrane switch is and how it can benefit your projects.
What is a membrane switch?
A membrane switch connects the machine with its users who operate it by pressing the buttons. When making a membrane switch, a lot of practical, mechanical, and electrical details need to be taken into account during design. It’s also about the aesthetic of the graphic overlay layer, but functionality is key, pun intended!
At Melrose, we solve problems so that we can make good parts that combine your vision with the realities of electricity, physics, and electro-mechanics. We’re not unique in that, but it is what defines Melrose as the company it is.
Case Study: The Outdoor Device Application
Consider an actual scenario where we helped design an outdoor device. The client needed specific features, such as a NEMA-4 seal for protection against dust and water, circuit material considerations (silver vs. copper), tail dimensions, and other critical details (refer to the above image). These elements were key for the switch to work efficiently and integrate seamlessly with the client’s microcontroller and LCD.
Why should you choose a membrane switch for your project?
A membrane switch is a very affordable interface because it is a simple series of ON-OFF circuits closed by pressing a button and opened by releasing it. It acts as an HMI bridge for your device, providing not only tactile feedback and lighting options but also the opportunity to dress your product up for both branding and providing people with a user-friendly interface in guiding and interpreting a device. It marries the concepts of modifying light and color to the function of a circuit layer.
Often, this is at a fraction of the cost of a touchscreen or purely PCB alternative. It’s not the end-all for every application, but there are many reasons why it is so widely used. In life-and-death situations such as military or invasive medical, it is sometimes combined with a touchscreen to provide the benefits of both types of human-machine interface.
These switches are also often combined with silicone rubber keypads, because of the environment they operate in, and other reasons.
Membrane switches prove to be highly practical assets within the realm of user interfaces. Their foremost emphasis lies on functionality, presenting an efficient and adaptable solution for a wide array of applications. When people interface with electronics, membrane switches can balance functionality with cost and aesthetics, to augment user experience.
