Design Guide

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Design your Own Membrane Keypads

With a focus on innovation, our design membrane switches go beyond traditional interfaces. From backlighting options to customizable graphics, we offer a myriad of design possibilities to suit your application’s requirements.

YU AN ELECTRONICS MEMBRANE SWITCH
Design Guide

Generally speaking, a substrate with a thickness of 0.25mm or less is referred as “thin film”. It is mainly used for the graphic overlayer of membrane switch. We can print with various indicative patterns and texts to represent the operating area of corresponding switch positions. The thickness more than 0.25mm always referred to as a “plate.” It is not suitable for forming three-dimensional keys but can be used as an indicative nameplate without buttons. It can also serve as a backing material for membrane switches to enhance their hardness.

The choice of thickness depends on the size of the panel and buttons. A thicker material increases tactile force but may result in delayed response. On the other hand, a too-thin material may provide a poor click feeling and less noticeable rebound.

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Membrane Switch Design Guide
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YU AN ELECTRONICS MEMBRANE SWITCH

We can generate artwork/design files for your product or make modifications to your existing artwork. Our in-house design team can assist in reducing your team’s workload or serve as your dedicated design resource. With over 10,000 fully produced designs spanning over 16 years, you can benefit from our expertise to streamline your project’s progress.

  • Designing for user experience
  • Meeting brand standards
  • Cohesive branding across multiple products
  • Color matching and design consistency
  • Modernizing outdated designs
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Membrane Switches Elements

Upper Circuit Layer/Dome Retainer

Spacer Adhesive

Lower Circuit Layer

Back Adhesive

Graphic Overlay

Graphic Adhesive

Upper Circuit Layer/Dome Retainer

Spacer Adhesive

Lower Circuit Layer

Back Adhesive

Graphic Overlay

Graphic Adhesive

Upper Circuit Layer/Dome Retainer

Spacer Adhesive

Back Adhesive

The bottom layer of adhesive should be chosen based on its compatibility with the adhering surface. Select a strong double-sided adhesive that adheres tightly to the surface. When selecting materials for the membrane switch, considerations should encompass overall sealing, waterproofing, insulation, and aging resistance. For outdoor use, the membrane switch must also account for exposure to elements such as wind, rain, temperature fluctuations, and strong ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Back Adhesive

Graphic Overlay

This layer is the visual layer, typically utilizes high-toughness polyester or polycarbonate transparent colorless sheets with a thickness of 0.25mm or less. Patterns, text and icons are printed on them, serving the primary purpose of providing identification and key functions. Embossed domes may be designed under the icons to look like what we say “button”.

Graphic Overlay

Graphic Adhesive

The purpose of this layer is to bond the graphic overlay to the dome retainer or circuit layer below. Yu An always use adhesive materials with 0.05-0.15mm thickness if there is no other requirement.

Graphic Adhesive

Upper Circuit Layer/Dome Retainer

This is one of two possible membrane layers featuring printed conductive and dielectric circuitry. Not all switches have a top circuit layer. Tactile switches usually utilize a dome retainer in place of this layer.

Dome Retainer

Spacer Adhesive

The spacer adhesive serves as insulation and bonding between the upper and lower circuits. It typically consists of a double-sided adhesive with a PET substrate, with a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 0.25mm. PVC material can also be chosen. The thickness of the isolation layer depends on the position and size of the isolation window. This significantly influences the operation force, sensitivity, and reliability of the membrane switch, requiring careful selection.

Spacer Adhesive

Lower Circuit Layer

Both the upper and lower circuits utilize a flexible and durable polyester film (PET) with a thickness of 0.125mm (in some cases, 0.075mm and 0.1mm may be used). The film is printed with conductive silver paste and conductive carbon paste. Drying and aging processes are applied to impart conductivity. For circuits with wire outlet spacing less than 1mm, the risk of puncturing the silver paste during connection to a gold finger socket is high. It is recommended to use a wear-resistant Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) for the entire circuit to eliminate defects.

Lower Circuit Layer

Back Adhesive

The bottom layer of adhesive should be chosen based on its compatibility with the adhering surface. Select a strong double-sided adhesive that adheres tightly to the surface. When selecting materials for the membrane switch, considerations should encompass overall sealing, waterproofing, insulation, and aging resistance. For outdoor use, the membrane switch must also account for exposure to elements such as wind, rain, temperature fluctuations, and strong ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Back Adhesive

Graphic Overlay

This layer is the visual layer, typically utilizes high-toughness polyester or polycarbonate transparent colorless sheets with a thickness of 0.25mm or less. Patterns, text and icons are printed on them, serving the primary purpose of providing identification and key functions. Embossed domes may be designed under the icons to look like what we say “button”.

Graphic Overlay

Designing for Production:

Transitioning from an idea to full-scale production can be overwhelming. Our collaborative engineering and operational excellence teams are dedicated to ensuring your idea is well-prepared. Designing to be “production-ready” involves meticulous consideration of materials, measurements, and processes essential for seamless manufacturing across all aspects of the design. All this is accomplished while optimizing the use of your budget and adhering to your timeline.

Reverse Engineering:

If you possess an existing part from a previous vendor that requires recreation or reimagination, our assistance is at your disposal. We will diligently gather comprehensive details and analyze your example part inside out. This allows us to determine the optimal approach for recreation in terms of overall design and functionality, ensuring it is also production-ready.

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