CSI Keyboards, Inc. 56 Pulaski Street Peabody, MA 01960 (978) 532-8181 http://csikeyboards.com/ CSI Keyboards has been a global leading manufacturer of human machine interface technologies for more than 35 years. CSI was founded in 1982 in Salem, Massachusetts specializing in the design and manufacturing of membrane keyboards, membrane switches and keypads. Outgrowing the Salem location only a couple of years later, CSI moved to a larger facility in Peabody, Massachusetts, where the company still resides, expanding both its manufacturing and front office space.

1. Know The Applications And Presets Of A Membrane Switch
When you’re handling a Membrane Switch with its optical fiber option, there are some
things to bear in mind. You need to remember that remote light sources provide 10, 000 to
100, 000 life hours. Extremes and irregularities in humidity cannot optical fibers, which is a
pivotal aspect in this regard. The third primary or standard option is usage of EL or
electroluminescent lamps. The price is lower than fiber optics. Most often, they offer extra
design operation and flexibility. The EL lamp emits a light, whose color can vary in
accordance with the phosphors that you use to make it. You need to presage the
fundamentals before working with the switches. It will increase the productivity.
The basic aspects
The common colors of optical fibers of a Membrane Switch are green/blue and yellow-green,
orange, blue and white. You will find that EL lamps entail half a life, which is approximately
3000-8000 hours. It depends upon the texture, quality and format of the phosphor. After
they reach their concerned half-life stage, you’ll find that the brightness and luminescence
will start fade away rapidly. Hence, EL lamps are not a very good choice if the product is on
for a longer period of time. If you’re using it for an extension phase, it might experience
flashing or fading, which can double the lamp’s shin.
On the applications
A Membrane Switch has classic applications. They include panel of the microwave oven
panel, control panel of the air-conditioner, TV remote control, and other similar things. You
can provide tactile potency and feedback of the keys by embossing and tightening the top
layer of PET. You can also embed polyester domes, metal snap tops and domes, or form the
graphic layer to attain the goal. The benefits of these switches entail ease of surfacing and
cleaning, an admirably low profile and their superb sealing ability.
The application story
You can use a Membrane Switch together with auxiliary control systems such as lighting,
keyboards and touch screens. These things can also be intricate like the switch panels and
membrane keyboards in computers and mobile phones. Depending on the application and
the concerned industry, you can also refer to membrane switches as membrane keypads or
membrane keyboards. In a membrane keyboard, the keys are not in isolation or separate.
It’s in sharp contrast with other keyboards. Switch applications in the consumer, industrial
and medical industries have to meet certain design and weight specifications to deliver
reliability and consistency, even in extreme and rugged settings.
The membrane grid
There are esteemed companies providing the best membrane switches and related
products. They provide exceptional performance, and the superior design, built, flexibility
and tactile response can sum up the entire product. When you align with the companies, the
technicians can help you explore the manufacturing and design process. They can design
individual solutions for your applications. Extremely lightweight and shock-resistant,
membrane switches and its products offer you tremendous flexibility. You can customize
them as per your specific requirements in terms of design and application. The rates are
affordable as well.

2. Explore The Benefits And Features Of A Membrane Keypad
A Membrane Keypad is a printed electronic board or circuit. It uses pressure for opening and
closing that circuit. The circuitry of a membrane switch entails screen-printing most of the
times. It integrates conductive inks. They are typically made of carbon, graphite, or/and
silver. Membrane keypads or switches form a part of a collection of devices that you call
user-interface. You can also call them operator interfaces and some people choose to call
them man-made interfaces as well. The boards contain touch screens, which operate on the
display. You also have mechanical switches, which include toggle, slide switches, rocker,
toggle and push-button.
On the build
The main objective of a Membrane Keypad is to serve as a proper interface between the
human operator and the machine. It enables the user to communicate with a piece of
machinery, instrument or equipment. Essentially, the switches resemble a sandwich or
amalgam of thing layers, which you knit with one another through pressure-sensitive tools
and adhesives. In compliance with the application requisites, a membrane keypad will
comprise of four to nine layers. It’s totally different from the mechanical switches as it
offers the benefit of lower cost, and consumes much less design room. The low profile of the
pad makes it easy to clean. The aesthetically appealing surface and sleek ergonomics also
play a vital part in its commercial viability.
Features and advantages
The surface of a Membrane Keypad entails thorough cleaning. You can easily clean and
sterilize the surface. The low-profile ensures that no crevices or openings can trap outside
elements or contaminants. These switches are indeed a cost-effective and feasible
alternative to the capacitive touch keyboards and rubber keypad assemblies. Reiterating on
the thin profile, it really saves enormous space in the design and outlay of the product. You
can work on the interface easily and interact with existing switches and controllers. You
don’t need any special electronics to run the machine. It’s not like touch screens.
More on the benefits
The graphic interface of a Membrane Keypad is very versatile. You can digitally print or
screen the overlays with stunning graphic effects. An outstanding feature of these keypads
is that the design provides great protection to the product. Unlike rubber keypads, you can
easily protect the material from UV radiation. The products feature water-resistant patterns
and designs. All are compliant with IP 67 and NEMA 4 specifications.
Some technical details
In the graphic overlay of the keypad, you usually have polyester as the component of
choice. The manufacturers use the material because of its enhanced chemical resistance
and flexible life. You will not find the same qualities in polycarbonate. The concerned
companies can screen-print or digitally print the tools. They can also employ an
amalgamation of the two methods, ensuring that you get all the right textures, finishes and
colors that your design needs. The adhesive on the overlay knits the graphic overlay to the
circuit layer’s top. The adhesive is typically acrylic in nature. Other features include circuit
spacer, adhesive layer on the rear side and a strong support layer.

3. Do Customized Rubber Keypad Come With Graphic Fonts?
A very prominent feature of a Rubber Keypad is that it generates immense flexibility in its
back lighting section. You can light up the back of rubber keypads by using fiber optic
lamps, LEDs and EL lighting. If you perform laser-etching on the rubber keypad, it will
enhance the back lighting effects. A rubber keypad cannot function without a certain
number of auxiliary critical parts. There are companies specializing in the integration of
every necessary tool into one feature-rich, complex switch assembly of the rubber keypad.
The assemblies of a silicone rubber keypad include either one or many components. As a
customer, you need to know what you’re using in your device.
Know the components
The first one will be silicone rubber keypad. Then you have printed circuit board with bezel.
It comes with or without the extra graphics. A Rubber Keypad features superb back lighting
aspects. The LCD display or touch screen bolsters the entire mechanism. The back panels
offer rigid and constant support. They include acrylic, stainless steel, and FR4 and aluminum
material. The products also feature PEM to mount the hardware. There are companies
manufacturing a molded case/housing along with a strong enclosure.
Customizing the device
You can use light pipes in the separate keypads to customize compact back lighting. It will
prevent light from scattering. The integration of quality custom components and add-ons to
your membrane keyboard can often induce significant power and functionality. It enhances
the user experience whilst using the equipment. A very common way to make your Custom
Keypad is to focus on custom backlighting along with visual response or feedback. First, you
need to know the options. One of the main ways to bolster the user experience and make
your equipment stand out is to incorporate solid backlighting into the design of the
membrane switch.
Following the basics
The backlighting features involve a strategic placement of lights into the construction point
of the membrane switch. It makes displays, legends and keypads easier to discern and
read. There are specific cost advantages and cosmetic benefits. You also need to take note
of some disadvantages as well. LGF or Light Guide Film is a thin film. The backlighting
technology directs light, which the right-angle and side-firing LEDs produce, across the
space that you are lighting up. The main advantage of the technology is that you can
fabricate the film into any shape, which provides seamless backlighting through every area
in the switch. Hence, it has become a crucial component for a Custom Keypad.
Custom graphic fronts
A well-designed and robust graphic overlay is sure to make powerful and lasting first
impression of your equipment and your company. You can customize the membrane
overlay’s design to set your tools apart from the market rivals. The environmental
considerations concerning graphic overlay pattern and choice of material is very crucial in
this regard. The factors include sterile settings, abrasion and chemicals, abuse and heavy
use, and bright and low light. You also need to make certain aesthetic considerations.

4. Knowthe Fundamentals of a Membrane Switch From A Perspective Of Keyboard
Technology
You use a membrane switch, which in an electrical switch to turn a circuit on and off. The
switch isn’t like a mechanical switch, which is generally made of plastic parts and copper. A
Membrane Switch entails a circuit-printed ITO or PET on it. The ink that you use for screen-
printing is usually silver, copper or graphite. It’s very conductive. In the same league, a
membrane keyboard refers to a computer keyboard. The keys in the system aren’t separate
or streamlined moving parts. Majority of regular keyboards have separate parts, but the
membrane version entails pressure pads. They have only symbols and outlines, which entail
printing on a flexible, flat surface.
The construction part
According to the ASTM, a Membrane Switch is a momentary switch object or device,
wherein a minimum of one contact stays on. It comprises of a flexible and quality substrate.
The switches typically comprise at least four or more layers. The membrane switch’s
topmost layer is the graphic interface, falling between the machine and the user. Another
critical and significant layer is the printed circuit. It can also be a flex circuit, which
comprises polyimide material and copper. You normally assemble the layers, using
pressure-driven and sensitive coats and adhesives.
More on the properties
However, you can put inexpensive designs in the middle to hold the mechanical means of
keyboard bases and housing together. You can also make contact between two parts or
traces through a printed log or shorting pad, or through a strong metal dome, which stands
firm on legs. A Membrane Switch is a user-equipment and tool interface utility, allowing the
communication and percolation of commands and control messages from users to the
concerned electronic devices. You can regard membrane switches as a category or type of
interface functions that works with plastic keyboards, touch screens, toggle switches, bars
and many other types of control systems.
On the backlighting
You’ll find that the interface utilities can be really simple and light as the tactile makes,
which you use to control lighting. The end products can be as complex as switch panels and
membrane keyboards for use with any type of computer. You have three standard
procedures for back lighting a Membrane Switch. The first option is to use LEDs or light
emitting diodes. However, LEDs effectuate bright spots. They are not suitable for cohesive
and overall back lighting and holing of a panel. They are rather like the regular indicator
lights. That’s one important pointer you need to bear in mind.
On the handling
You can either surface mount the LEDs to the circuit layer. You can also place them on a
separate or classified LED format or layer. Your second option is the good, old optical fiber.
If you see its typical design, you’ll find two or more layers and patterns of woven and fine
fiber-optic piece/cloth. You use it to form a perfect light-emitting space, which is rectangular
in shape. The fibers come off from one end, and you can then bundle them into a circular
ferrule, before coupling them to one or more light sources of LED.