Ultimate guide to the membrane buttons.

Membrane buttons have been around for quite some time now. They were first introduced by Apple back in 1970. Since then, they have gained popularity among users. NICEONE-KEYPAD brings an ultimate guide about these buttons for you. It includes everything you need to know about them.

Membrane buttons – what is it?

These buttons are used in electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. They are also called touchpads or touchscreen buttons. These buttons are constructed from special materials like plastic film, rubber, silicon, etc. They are printed with silver or copper ink to create an electronic circuit; they are very easy to install and remove. If the button cracks or needed to be replaced it can be easily replaceable.

Types of membrane switches

There are two main types of membrane switches:

• Non-tactile membrane switch button

A non-tactile button does not give a high level of feedback to the user, but they are inexpensive and reliable. The user can’t get direct feedback, hence no physical response, which is its drawback.

• Tactile membrane switch button

A user can notice the feedback while using a tactile button; this can be in the form of vibration, audio, or visual. Tactile buttons have a dome inside to give the feeling to users when they press them.

Applications:

These buttons are used in many applications like:

• Electronic appliances
• Industrial devices
• Security deceives
• Media equipment
• Marine equipment 
• Transport industries
• Automotive industry 
• Telecommunication devices
• Aircraft control panels
• Defense equipment

How are these buttons made?

These buttons are coated with several layers of heat and pressure-sensitive adhesives. Typically these buttons have 4 to 5 layers; a brief explanation of these layers is given below.

• 
  The top layer is the graphic presentation layer which ensures the visual communication between user and device.
• 
  Adhesive glue is used in every layer to bind the components together.
• 
  To establish a gap between the top and lower layer of the circuit, a space layer is used which assures that when the user presses the button, it contacts the circuit to act.
• 
  To transfer the electric power supply with a membrane button a circuit layer is used.

Strength of membrane buttons 

Following are the strengths of these buttons that we believe you should know to choose a better one for your appliance.

• Water and temperature resistance

As membrane switch buttons are made up of plastic silicon and rubber, they have a high resistance to heat, UV rays, and moisture. As mentioned above, membrane keys are made up of several layers and the top layer is of waterproof material which keeps all other layers protected from water, hence they are more reliable.

• Longer lifespan

As these buttons are resistant to heat, fold, temperature, water, and chemical they have a longer lifespan as compared to mechanical buttons; also the graphic layer makes it impossible to crash, and due to this, it cannot get cracked.

• Tangible feedback

These buttons can give you an excellent tangible experience as they are soft and smooth, plus they don’t produce noise. As soon as the user presses the button and releases it, it generates a smooth flow. These types of buttons are used in remote controllers to give the feel of a joystick.

• Easy to clean 

As the surface of these buttons is sealed with layers, it is very easy to clean and maintain.

• Inexpensive 

These buttons are very affordable than other keypads like mechanical keypads.

• Protection

These buttons offer high protection and safety to your device. A TV remote with these buttons lasts longer, as it protects the device from water, heat, and chemicals.

Now, let us tell you about some important characteristics of these buttons.

Characteristics of membrane buttons

The characteristics of these buttons depend on the material that is used in the layering, while manufacturing, we have a wide range of membrane switches, keypads, and buttons that are made up of different materials like plastic, rubber, silicone, polyester, etc. You can choose between different types of buttons depending on your needs. The most salient characteristics of buttons are:

• Strong stickiness
• Fast cure
• Dependable
• Fitness
• Strong conductivity 

Why these buttons are so popular?

As nowadays everyone is shifting towards these buttons and they are very famous, we have gathered some reasons for their popularity. 

• Universality

The first and foremost is universality; these buttons can be used in any application; they are so smart and flexible that they can fit in any device easily.

• Lighting

These buttons support backlighting, and nowadays users want to enhance the look of their devices owing to this they prefer to buy keypads and stuff that are made up of these buttons.

• Low voltage 

These buttons are sealed together with adhesive glue which requires very little voltage for the power.

• Long-lasting outdoor usage 

You can use them in any environment; they are made up of high-quality material which makes them feasible for outdoor usage.

• Robustness

These buttons have high durability as they are resistant to chemicals, heat, water, etc.

If you want to give a new look to your boring electronic devices and computer devices, you should buy membrane switch buttons from us as we value our customers and are always willing to manufacture the best products for them. Our products have unique designs and high performance. We hope that we provide all the information that one may need to buy or choose a button for its devices.
We know that customers prefer stuff that is handy and environment-friendly, that’s why all of our products are made using sustainable materials. We always acknowledge customers` reviews about our products. Come and visit us today to learn more about our membrane series and if you have any questions or queries then you can ask us at info@niceone-tech.com.