Custom silicone rubberized keypads are an inexpensive and reliable interface solution for many applications. A rubber keypad offers design flexibility with a wide range of appearance, feel and function. Environmental sealing ribs, light pipes and other attributes can be incorporated into the keypad’s design. They can provide the tactile feedback and contact closure or be used in conjunction with metal or polyester domes.
Silicon Rubber Keypad Design Options
Conductive Options
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 increases abrasion resistance of graphics by 20X.
How These Rubber Keypads Work?
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.
A silicone rubber keypad is 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 types of industrial equipment. Most of today's mobile phones and hand held remotes use silicone keypads as means to manipulate and access certain features of the device.
The markings of silicone keypads are used to identify the function of certain buttons or key. They are mainly printed, etched on the button or key of the device. 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.