| ign="center"> | | | | similar substrate which completes the electrical |
| Membrane switches are electrical switches that | | | | circuit. |
| are pressure sensitive. Membrane switches can be | | | | In order for a switch to be considered a |
| activated with the touch of a finger. Membrane | | | | membrane switch it must be pressure activated |
| switches are used to turn a circuit on or off. | | | | and the poles of the switch must make physical |
| Membrane switches differ from mechanical | | | | contact. Also when the switch is released the |
| switches which are usually made from copper or | | | | poles must immediately separate as the |
| plastic. A membrane switch is a pressure sensitive | | | | membrane returns to its original position. |
| switch that has at least one contact on a flexible | | | | Membrane switches are replacing mechanical |
| substrate. Membrane switches usually have two | | | | switches everywhere and on all kinds of different |
| contacts on a flexible substrate. | | | | things. Membrane switches are good to use |
| Membrane switches usually have a pair of stacked | | | | because they are good at keeping moisture and |
| flexible membranes that have opposing contacts | | | | dust out. Membrane switches are also good to |
| printed on their face. The ink used to print on the | | | | use because they use low voltage. Membrane |
| face of the contact is usually made from copper, | | | | switches are also good to use because they are |
| silver, or graphite so that it will be conductive. The | | | | easy to use. A person only has to touch a button |
| conductive ink is used in the membrane switch to | | | | to activate the switch or deactivate the switch. |
| complete the circuit when the switch is pressed. | | | | Membrane switches are used in many devices. A |
| Membrane switches are touch activated to make | | | | person can find a membrane switch on things |
| the electrical connection to activate the device. | | | | such as cellular phone keypads, calculator |
| Membrane switches are also touch activated to | | | | keypads, microwave oven panels, air condition |
| break the electrical connection to deactivate the | | | | control panels, remote controls for televisions, |
| device. This means a person touches the switch | | | | remote controls for DVD players and remote |
| and it activates the device. The person than | | | | controls for various other electronic devices. |
| touches the same switch in the same place and it | | | | Membrane switches can also be found on laptop |
| deactivates the device. The membrane switches | | | | computers, dryers, washing machines, sewing |
| are often flat and often do not have much of a | | | | machines, fitness equipment and even at the gas |
| bounce to them. | | | | pump. |
| Membrane switches work because they have a | | | | Membrane switches can be custom made for an |
| pair of stacked flexible membranes that have | | | | individual. Custom made membrane switches can |
| opposing contacts printed on their face and an | | | | be made to suit the consumers made. Consumers |
| intermediate layer between these faces to isolate | | | | can have their membrane switches made in a |
| the switch circuit patterns from each other. The | | | | variety of colors. Consumers can also have their |
| printed electrical conductors on the faces of the | | | | membrane switches made with LED lights behind |
| surfaces of the membranes communicate signals | | | | the switch so the membrane switch lights up |
| to and from the contacts. Pressure applied to the | | | | colorfully. |
| switch pushes the conductor into contact with a | | | | |