Touch switches make robust, reliable UIs

28th August 2015

Barney Scott

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Molex LLC capacitive and metal touch switch solutions provide robust, reliable custom UIs. Vertically integrated Molex design and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities facilitate fast time-to-market on custom capacitive and metal switches with a wide range of design options. Molex custom capacitive and metal touch switches offer excellent immunity to environmental conditions, including resistance to EMI.

Available in rigid and flexible substrates including polyester, polyimide and PC boards, Molex capacitive and metal touch switches offer a range of functional and value-added features including custom backlighting, discrete buttons, linear sliders, and rotary wheels. Designed to IP67-rated specifications, Molex capacitive and metal touch switch panels offer protection against dirt, water and chemical ingress.

Metal touch switches are pressure activated, which prevents accidental actuation by user error or environmental factors. Fully compatible for use with gloves and styluses, Molex metal touch switches are available with stainless steel, aluminium, and other metallic or non-metallic material overlays, and can feature embossed key or Braille designs.

Capacitive switches recognise when a conductive object, such as a finger, enters the field. Glass, metal and enamel-coated substrates plus tempered-glass, polycarbonate, polyester or acrylic overlays deliver streamlined easy-to-clean Molex capacitive switch designs. Optional Molex PEDOT-based capacitive switches make the transition to one-touch controls more economical and efficient.

“Our industry-leading turnkey switch solutions optimise design flexibility with rapid time-to-market that our manufacturing customers need in competitive consumer, industrial and medical markets,” says Jeff Nagy, Global Product Manager, Molex. “Featuring excellent electromechanical and thermal properties, Molex PEDOT is a transparent conductive polymer coating that blends conductivity, optical clarity and unlimited finger-control cycles in highly demanding switch applications.”

Popular applications for Molex touch switch solutions include aviation systems, ATM terminals, appliances, fitness equipment, hot tubs, barcode scanners, telecommunications two-way radios, mobile phones, routers and servers, industrial automation equipment, and a host of medical applications including defibrillators, EKG leads, glucose meters, portable oxygen units, infusion pumps and patient monitoring devices.