Double-action TACT switch suited for mobile devices

Smartphones and other mobile devices are becoming increasingly portable and sophisticated, requiring the electronic components inside them to be ever more compact while retaining their functionality. Reducing the size of a switch or other control device, on the other hand, can sometimes have an adverse effect on operating feel and operability. It is a particularly difficult challenge technically to both reduce the size and retain the functionality of mobile device components like camera shutter buttons, which require a two-step press function for focusing and capture.

A new metal contact was developed to generate an operating feel. By optimising the shape and material of the contact using proprietary know-how, ALPS managed to both reduce size and realise an excellent feel.

To ensure reliable operation, a projection structure was adopted for the metal contact. This increases the size of the area for operating the switch, widening the mounting accuracy tolerance range. At the same time, it removes the need for projections into the switch button, thus facilitating integration into end products. In addition, the projection structure used is an “inner projection.” This increases projection strength, thereby improving durability.