What are Membrane Switches? Individual2 years ago - Cattle - Chennai - 633 views
What are Membrane Switches?
Membrane switches are a type of human-machine interface characterized by being constructed from several layers of plastic films or other flexible materials. Conductive materials and graphic inks are printed or laminated onto the surface of these plastic films. They function by temporarily closing or opening an electric circuit. The compact and efficient construction of membrane switches makes them suitable for a vast array of applications such as household appliances and industrial equipment interfaces.
Membrane switches have been around for about five decades. In the early 1970s, the first membrane keypads were introduced. They were made up of polycarbonate plastic films printed with copper or silver infused ink creating the electronic circuit. These were composed of two conductive layers with one spacer in between. The products were inexpensive but threatened by problems such as degradation and cracking of the polycarbonate film and missing tactile feedback.
The next iteration solved the durability and quality-of-life issue by changing the plastic film into polyester and adding metal domes into the design. However, membrane switches have not been readily adopted since, during that time, the huge personal computer market was dominated by mechanical keyboards. Mechanical keyboards were preferred due to their more tactile feedback.
Come the 1990s, thinner keyboard keys and membrane switches were used to make more compact and quieter keyboards. By that time, smaller electronic devices were the future of technology. The emergence of appliances and equipment with small electronic components further elevated the need for membrane switches.
Today, the global membrane switch market has a market size of approximately $4.2 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow to $13 billion by 2025. Membrane switches are extensively used in industrial, medical, and consumer goods applications.
Membrane switches are extensively used in a variety of applications may it be domestic, commercial, or industrial. There are other types and forms of user interfaces such as touchscreens, keyboards, switches, and selector knobs. Membrane switches are preferred because of their compact profile, simple construction, reliability, resistance to harmful elements, and low cost. These advantages are further elaborated below.
Thin and compact profile: Each plastic layer of a OCA membrane switch can have a thickness of about 0.005 to 0.040 inches. They typically have three to six layers depending on the design. Even applying the conductive and graphic inks and installing other components such as the metallic domes and EMF screens, the final thickness still results in only a fraction of an inch. This makes them suitable for household appliances and equipment controllers with small form factors.
Vifungo vya Mimea ni nini? Mfano wa kwanza ni Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano wa Mfano. Kiunganishi cha membrane ni aina ya kiunganishi cha binadamu-mashine ambacho kina sifa ya kutengenezwa kutoka kwa tabaka kadhaa za filamu za plastiki au vifaa vingine vya kubadilika. Vifaa vinavyoongoza umeme na wino wa picha huchapishwa au kupakwa rangi kwenye uso wa filamu hizo za plastiki. Hufanya kazi kwa kufunga au kufungua mzunguko wa umeme kwa muda. Ujenzi wa kiunganishi na ufanisi wa swichi za utando hufanya iweze kutumika kwa matumizi mengi kama vile vifaa vya nyumbani na vifaa vya viwanda. Vifungo vya utando vimekuwapo kwa karibu miongo mitano. Katika miaka ya 1970, keyboards ya kwanza ya utando ilianzishwa. Zilikuwa zimefanyizwa kwa filamu za plastiki za polycarbonate zilizochapishwa kwa wino wa shaba au fedha uliotumiwa kuunda mzunguko wa elektroniki. Hizi zilikuwa na tabaka mbili za kuongoza na spacer moja katikati. Bidhaa hizo hazikuwa za bei ghali lakini zilikuwa na matatizo kama vile uharibifu na kupasuka kwa filamu ya polycarbonate na kukosa maoni ya kugusa. Iteration ya pili ilisuluhisha suala la kudumu na ubora wa maisha kwa kubadilisha filamu ya plastiki kuwa polyester na kuongeza vipaji vya chuma katika muundo. Hata hivyo, switches za utando hazikuchukuliwa kwa urahisi tangu, wakati huo, soko kubwa la kompyuta za kibinafsi lilitawaliwa na kibodi za mitambo. Vifaa vya kubonyeza vya mitambo vilipendekezwa kwa sababu ya kurudia kwao kwa kugusa zaidi. Katika miaka ya 1990, funguo nyembamba za kibodi na swichi za utando zilitumiwa kutengeneza kibodi ndogo na zenye sauti ya chini. Kufikia wakati huo, vifaa vidogo vya kielektroniki vilikuwa teknolojia ya wakati ujao. Kuibuka kwa vifaa na vifaa na vipengele vidogo vya elektroniki zaidi kuongezeka haja ya swichi utando. Soko la kiunganishi cha membrane duniani lina thamani ya dola bilioni 4.2 na inatarajiwa kufikia dola bilioni 13 kufikia 2025. Vipuli vya utando hutumiwa sana katika matumizi ya viwanda, matibabu, na bidhaa za watumiaji. Vipuli vya utando hutumiwa sana katika matumizi mbalimbali iwe ni ya nyumbani, kibiashara, au viwandani. Kuna aina nyingine na aina ya user interfaces kama vile touchscreens, keyboards, switches, na selector knobs. Vipuli vya utando hupendekezwa kwa sababu ya muundo wao mdogo, ujenzi rahisi, kuegemea, upinzani kwa mambo yenye madhara, na gharama ya chini. Faida hizi zinaelezwa zaidi hapa chini. Kwa mfano, kila safu ya plastiki ya kubadili membrane ya OCA inaweza kuwa na unene wa inchi 0.005 hadi 0.040. Kwa kawaida huwa na tabaka tatu hadi sita ikitegemea muundo. Hata kutumia conductive na inks graphic na kufunga vipengele vingine kama vile domes chuma na skrini EMF, unene wa mwisho bado matokeo katika sehemu ndogo tu ya inchi. Hii inafanya yao yanafaa kwa ajili ya vifaa vya nyumbani na vifaa controllers na ndogo fomu sababu.