We realize your membrane keyboard
Benefit from our many years of experience and expertise.
For more than 20 years we have been offering our customers high quality membrane keyboards and decorative films for a wide variety of industries and applications. We advise you comprehensively on your specific requirements in terms of equipment and technical features and actively support you in the design.
Thanks to an enormous variety of design options, the membrane keyboard used in all types of electronic devices. Your ergonomic and creative possibilities are almost unlimited. The membrane keyboard is used in areas where dirt and water resistance and easy cleaning are required. It is also very robust and scores with a compact design.
Housing?
Laser cut
For flexible and fast production of membrane keyboards, we offer the possibility of tool-free laser cutting. With this method, we implement short-term requirements, functional development models and smaller special series quickly and cost-effectively. Individualized printing of existing variants is also possible without any problems. Due to the elimination of punching and printing tools, the delivery time is significantly reduced. Near-series components reach the customer within just three weeks. In this way, laser cutting perfectly complements the standard process for medium and large series production.
Advantages of membrane keyboards
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Small thickness and weight
The membrane keyboard is very flat and has a low height. As a result, it is often used in devices and applications where lack of space is an issue.
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Integration
Easy integration of LEDs, signal generators, sliders, controllers, rotary encoders and viewing windows for combination with displays.
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Individual tactility
There are various technologies to achieve the desired tactility.
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capacity
Realization through capacitive sensor foils
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Design option
Almost unlimited design options.
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user interface
The keyboard surface is completely closed. It is also resistant to chemicals (solvents)
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longevity
The membrane keyboard is very durable due to its construction. The service life is at least over 1 million switching cycles. It is less prone to wear and damage than traditional keyboards with mechanical switches.
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Low noise
The membrane keyboard is usually quieter than mechanical keyboards. It only produces a quiet click when pressed or is completely noiseless due to the key embossing.
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Easy customization
The membrane keyboard easily adapts to the specific requirements and needs of the application.
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EMC shielding
For applications exposed to electromagnetic interference or which may themselves generate electromagnetic interference.
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Low cost
A membrane keyboard is usually cheaper than conventional mechanical keyboards.
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In-house production
Our membrane keyboards are manufactured in our own production facilities with modern production facilities and class 1000 clean rooms for particularly demanding processing and assembly processes.
Membrane keyboard for a machine control
Structure of a membrane keyboard
The base construction A membrane keyboard consists of five basic parts: decorative membrane, upper and lower switch membrane, spacer membrane and adhesive membrane.
Decorative film
switch foil
spacer film
For example: Membrane keyboard with LED – membrane composite of 8 membranes
tactility of a membrane keyboard
metal domes
40g - 700g
Metal snap disks are used for striking tactility and high actuation forces. When the metal snap-action disc is actuated, it is pressed down and establishes contact between two conductor tracks.
Metal domes come in different sizes and shapes. Snap disks with a central recess for the LED are used for illuminated membrane keys. Depending on the model, the actuating force of a snap-action disc is 40g - 700g, and the service life is up to 10 million cycles.
key embossing
terrace embossing
frame embossing
Individual embossing of the keys on a membrane keyboard not only allows for an attractive appearance, but also better finger guidance and tactile feedback. The dome embossing enables tactile feedback without metal snap disks. In addition to round keys, this embossing is also suitable for square keys. For small keys we recommend the terrace embossing or frame embossing .
Capacitive membrane keyboards
Capacitive membrane keyboards are very flat, extremely robust and resistant to environmental influences such as dust, dirt and moisture. Because they contain no moving parts, their lifespan is typically longer than that of mechanical keyboards. They can be combined very well with other technologies such as touchscreens, LCD displays or LED lighting and increase user-friendliness and functionality.
Degrees of protection
EMC protection
IP degrees of protection
Equipment of membrane keyboards
Membrane keyboards are equipped with various features to ensure optimal operation and user-friendliness.
Illumination options of membrane keyboards
LEDs
LGF (Light Guide Film)
vanish effect
Rotary encoders / signal transmitters / capacitive control
Viewing window / touch panel
advantages of both worlds
Hand pockets
With slide-in pockets, membrane keyboards offer an extremely practical solution for individually labeling the keys. Simply slide the printed slide-in strips into the corresponding pockets above the keys - and you can easily adapt the key labeling without having to replace the entire keyboard. This is particularly beneficial when a device's features or commands change, or when multilingual labeling is required.
support plate
Design options of membrane keyboards
Membrane keyboard in screen printing / digital printing
Membrane keyboards are printed on the back. This achieves a particularly long service life for the print and the print is protected from abrasion and wear. The common methods are:
Screen printing
Digital printing
Membrane keyboard with silicone keys / silicone cover
Membrane keyboards with silicone keys offer a non-slip key surface and convey the feeling of a high-quality keyboard. The key shape is implemented in various geometries. Alternatively, the decorative film can be replaced over the entire surface with a silicone layer and protruding keys with free shapes, guide elements such as separate rings around a key, Braille lettering or cursor keys can be implemented. These robust and durable membrane keyboards with a silicone cover are often used in industry. Depending on the requirements, the surface coating is adjusted.
Membrane keyboards with doming technology / epoxy finish
An effective method for implementing three-dimensional keys is epoxy finishing. Instead of embossing, an epoxy material is applied to the key surface. Due to its high transparency, this creates a particularly elegant and shiny surface, gives the keys a raised look and ensures a pleasant feel. The design options are almost unlimited and are individually tailored to the customer's requirements.
Surface structures of membrane keyboards
Special decorative foils allow a wide range of surface structures. The options range from classic high gloss to a soft satin finish. In addition, specially embossed foils achieve a metal look or carbon look effect.
Development
Thanks to our many years of expertise in the field membrane keyboards we offer you a comprehensive full service. Our engineers actively support you in the design and construction phase and in the selection of suitable materials. On request, we can make suggestions for improvement or work out options for reducing costs.
In-house production
We manufacture membrane keyboards in our own production facility in Asia. The dedicated on-site team includes over 100 specialists, including experts in research, development, project management and quality control with years of expertise in the production of input solutions. The production facility includes modern manufacturing facilities from Japan, the USA and Taiwan, as well as Class 1000 clean rooms for particularly demanding processing and assembly processes.
Your Request
For an initial offer, we need a technical drawing, a first sketch or a sample, as well as technical specifications and information on extra equipment. Please also tell us the required quantity or the annual requirement. We would be happy to conclude a non-disclosure agreement / NDA with you in advance.
Contact us under info@nh-technology.de. We look forward to your inquiry!
pattern set
The N&H sample set includes a special sample silicone keymat with a variety of buttons and constructions, as well as a sample membrane keyboard with the various equipment options.