Membrane switch is an electrical switch for turning a circuit
on and off. It differs from a mechanical switch, which is usually
made of copper and plastic parts: a membrane switch is a circuit
printed on PETor ITO. The ink used for screen printing is usually
copper/silver/graphite filled and therefore conductive.Membrane switches are primarily utilized with microprocessor based
control systems found in medical, communication, instrumentation
and appliance products.
ZDS standard membrane switches are thin, low-profile, micro-motion
assemblies, with one or more layers of silver or carbon conductors
printed on polyester substrate layers. Pressure-sensitive adhesives
are used to bond the layers together. ZDS membrane switch assemblies incorporate electronic components,
such as LEDs, seven-segment LEDs, photo diodes resistors and
capacitors that are integrated to the membrane switch substrate
using conductive adhesive technology.These advances are customized in a variety of configurations to fit
increasingly smaller, more demanding and cost competitive
applications. For higher level integration, ZDS has experience and manufacturing to include copper flex
circuits and PCB assemblies, LCDs, plastic housings or
metal backers and lenses.
The benefits of membrane switches include ease of cleaning, sealing
ability and their low profile. Membrane switch can be used together
with other control systems such as touch screens, keyboards,
lighting, and they can also be complicated like the membrane
keyboards and switch panels in mobiles and computers.