The Structure and Principle of Film Switches

Release date:

2021-10-27

        Thin-film switch It sounds quite professional, but in reality, it’s just the popular panel buttons—hence the familiar name. Many of the device’s control panels utilize membrane switches, which are widely applied across various fields such as electronic communications, electronic measuring instruments, industrial control systems, medical equipment, the automotive industry, smart toys, and household appliances. As the ancients said: "Understand the 'why' behind things." Let’s learn together with everyone! Thin-film switch The basic structure and working principle.

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　　 Thin-film switch It is a multi-layered (planar) non-locking button switch composed of layers of insulating material with a certain degree of elasticity, integrating the functions of a button, indicator component, and dashboard into a single unit. Thin-film switch The motion is achieved solely through the vertical bouncing of an elastic membrane. Although the elastic membrane has already undergone millions of cycles of movement, the amplitude of each bounce remains within a narrow range of just 0.1–0.3 mm. Moreover, thanks to the rational selection of materials, the membrane material can endure over one million cycles without deformation, thereby ensuring the long-lasting durability of the membrane switch.

　　 Thin-film switch Widely used across various industries, from household appliances to high-tech products, these switches have gradually replaced a portion of the touch switch market due to their aesthetic appeal, long service life, simple structure, easy installation, comfortable tactile feel, and compact footprint—ultimately capturing a significant share of the market.

　　Generally speaking, common ones are Thin-film switch It is primarily composed of six layers of material, arranged from top to bottom as follows: the panel, surface adhesive, upper circuit layer, isolation layer, lower circuit layer, and bottom adhesive. The structure of each layer is described below:

　　1) Panel: The panel serves as the "outer layer" of the entire membrane switch. On top of properly arranged keys, it provides essential decorative elements through various colors, patterns, and key shapes. Most importantly, the panel plays a crucial role in identifying keys and facilitating their operation; therefore, the selected material should exhibit high transparency, excellent ink adhesion, superior elasticity, and excellent resistance to folding.

　　2) Upper and Lower Circuits: The upper and lower circuits are the electrical components of a membrane switch, serving as the "closed" and "keyed" states of the switch. Their performance directly influences the overall functionality of the switching device, which is primarily achieved by printing a layer of conductive material onto the membrane. When the switch is closed, these circuits play two essential roles in establishing electrical contact. Typically, their thickness ranges from 0.05 to 0.175 mm, with PET material measuring 0.125 mm being commonly used.

　　3) Surface Adhesive, Release Layer, and Primer: These three layers are made of double-sided adhesive materials, each named differently based on its specific position within the switch structure. The thickness of these three-layer double-sided adhesives varies depending on their respective layers, primarily determined by the overall thickness of the switch and the actuation force required for the key operation.

　　 Thin-film switch The basic working principle is as follows: When the panel is not pressed, the membrane switch remains in its normal state, with the upper and lower contacts separated by an insulating layer that isolates the two circuits. Once the panel is pressed, the contact on the upper circuit deforms downward, re-establishing electrical connection with the lower circuit and completing the circuit. This completed circuit then sends a signal to the external connected device (circuit board), thereby activating the corresponding function. When the finger is released, the upper circuit contact springs back, breaking the circuit and terminating the signal.

 

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