Rubber Keypads

A custom silicone rubber keypads are an inexpensive and reliable interface solution for many applications. They offer design flexibility with a wide range of appearance, feel and function. Environmental sealing ribs, light pipes and other attributes can be incorporated into the keypads design. They can provide the tactile feedback and contact closure or be used in conjunction with metal and polyester domes.

Certain features can also be incorporated on the design of the rubberized silicone keypads such as sealing ribs, light pipes and other features.

• Tactile, non-tactile
• Key profile, travel and force
• Backlit
• Environment

Conductive options

• Molded conductive pill in carbon from 1.5mm to 10mm in diameter. Silver, gold and oval shapes are also available.
• Printed conductive pills can be used for irregular shaped contacts, such as "ring" for LED backlighting in individual keys.

Markings

• Screen printed
• Painted and laser etched

Chemical and Wear resistant coatings

• Silicone spray overcoat doubles the abrasion resistance of printed graphics.
• Polyurethane spray coating can increases abrasion resistance of graphics by 20X.
• Clear epoxy drip on key tops for a hard plastic feel or lens effect.
• Parylene coating for resistance to most chemicals.

One of the most common features found in almost all household electronics these days are silicone rubber keypads. They are considered as an economical and highly reliable user interface solutions found in almost all types of applications. There are several design options for rubberized silicone keypads (of which attributes to the flexibility of the keypad).

Silicone rubber keypads work by creating momentary contact once a particular key or button is pressed. The contact is then disconnected when the pressure of the key or button is released. The key or button returns to its neutral position once the pressure is released.

Silicone rubber keypads are commonly found on remote controls and on control panels of various electronic household products such as television sets, audio and video products, electronic toys and as a user interface for numerous industrial equipments. Most of today's mobile phones and hand held gadgets use silicone rubberized silicone keypads as means to manipulate and access certain features of the device or gadget.

The markings of the rubberized silicone keypads are used to identify the function of certain buttons or key. They are mainly printed, painted or etched on the button or key of the device or gadget or electronic product. Rubberized silicone keypads are very durable and are known to be resistant to certain chemicals. They have wear resistant coatings, which makes them more resistant to wear and tear.