C&K Develops High-Performance, IP67-Sealed SMT Key Switches for Harsh Environment Applications

Designated the K12S Series, key switches are available with LED illumination or double action and detect versions. Featuring excellent tactile feedback, the highly reliable K12S Series is able to achieve 1,000,000 life cycles on specific versions, making it ideal for the harsh environmental conditions often found in automotive, off-road transportation, industrial and medical applications.

The K12S Series rugged SMT key switches are available with a wide range of customization options to meet virtually any application requirement, said Gustavo Jimenez, product manager at C&K Components. The IP67 sealing and extended life cycles make the K12S Series ideal for applications where in-field failure is unacceptable.

The RoHS-compliant and halogen-free K12S Series' advanced design offers customers the flexibility to tailor force values, actuation travel options and provide single pole double throw (SPDT) custom solutions that meet application requirements. The K12S Series features an actuation force range of 1.5N to 9N with an overload of 100N and a total travel of 1.5mm.

The double-action design provides extremely good and sharp tactile feedback on both actions. The K12S Series device features a maximum power rating of 3 WDC and a minimum/maximum voltage of 2V - 30VDC with a minimum/maximum current rating of 10uA - 100mA. The operating temperature ranges from -40°C to +85°C. The K12S Series is also available in an IP40-rated package for less demanding applications.