Touch-sensitive and tactile switches operate by touching or pressing to make a connection. Touch-sensitive are touch-operated switches that do not have moving parts. Tactile switches are electromechanical switches that provide tactile feedback. Specifications to consider when searching for touch-sensitive and tactile switches include maximum current and maximum power, sock and vibration ratings, and compliance with Ingress Protection (IP) standards.
Selecting touch-sensitive and tactile switches requires an understanding of available technologies. Touch-sensitive switches operate by human touch, as opposed to making or breaking a mechanical connection by pushing a button or flipping a switch. Many different principles can be used to operate a touch-sensitive switch. Examples include temperature, resistance, radio reception, acoustic resonance dampening, and capacitance. Typically, touch-sensitive switches do not provide any tactile feedback.
Touch-sensitive and tactile switches operate by touching or pressing to make a connection. Touch-sensitive are touch-operated switches that do not have moving parts. Tactile switches are electromechanical switches that provide tactile feedback. Specifications to consider when searching for touch-sensitive and tactile switches include maximum current and maximum power, sock and vibration ratings, and compliance with Ingress Protection (IP) standards.
Selecting touch-sensitive and tactile switches requires an understanding of available technologies. Touch-sensitive switches operate by human touch, as opposed to making or breaking a mechanical connection by pushing a button or flipping a switch. Many different principles can be used to operate a touch-sensitive switch. Examples include temperature, resistance, radio reception, acoustic resonance dampening, and capacitance. Typically, touch-sensitive switches do not provide any tactile feedback.
Tactile switches are so named because they provide tactile feedback to the user when the button or switch has made contact with the control panel beneath, usually a printed circuit board (PCB). Tactile switches are electromechanical switches designed for keyboard, keypad, instruments or interface control-panel applications. They are used extensively in aerospace and aviation, defense, communication and all electronic instrumentation applications. Specialized touch-sensitive and tactile switches are also available.
Selecting touch-sensitive and tactile switches requires an understanding of tactile switch types. Tact switches are tactile electromechanical switches designed for keyboards, keypads, instruments or interface control-panel applications. Keyswitches are tactile mechanical switches that are designed for keyboards and keypads. Both types of tactile switches give the user sensor or tactile feedback that the button or switch has made contact with the control panel beneath, usually a printed circuit board (PCB).
Touch-sensitive and tactile switches also include dome switches, tactile switches that are so named for their location under a rubber bubble or dome. When a dome switch is pressed, it collapses the dome and makes the switch contact. Dome switches are used n keywords and membrane keypads. They are relatively quiet when operated, and are a good choice for office and consumer environments. Tactile metal domes and metal dome arrays are also commonly available.
Accessories for touch-sensitive and tactile switches such as dome switches include dome placement pens and automated dome placement systems. A dome placement pen is a handheld device for the manual placement of a metal dome. An automated dome placement system can be used to place large numbers of tactile metal domes on PCBs, membranes, or flex circuits.
