What Is a PCB Membrane Switch?
Electrical switches come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of which are smaller and more compact than others. Printed circuit board (PCB) membrane switches, for example, are better suited for small electronics than conventional mechanical switches because of their small size. Unless you're familiar with them, though, you might be wondering how PCB membrane switches differ from other electrical switches exactly. To learn more about PCB membrane switches, keep reading.
Overview of PCB Membrane Switch
A PCB membrane switch, as the name suggests, is an electrical switch that's characterized by the use of a printed circuit as well as a flexible construction. They feature a printed circuit board made of copper-covered cloth or resin-infused fiber. In high-precision applications, gold may be used to ensure reliability with the PCB membrane switch. Regardless, all PCB membrane switches feature a printed circuit as well as a flexible design.
Like many other electrical switches, PCB membrane switches support the use of a backlight. Common backlighting solutions used in PCB membrane switches include electroluminescent (EL) and light-emitting diode (LED), which may be used in conjunction with light guides or fiber optic to evenly distribute the light.
PCB Membrane Switch vs Flex Membrane Switch
Many people assume that PCB membrane switches are the same as flex membrane switches. While similar, though, they each feature unique characteristics. Flex membrane switches, for example, feature thin dielectric materials, whereas PCB membrane switches feature a fiber material inner layer. Both PCB membrane switches and flex membrane switches feature at least one electrical contact made of a flexible material.
