Tactile Feedback System

• Polyester Dome
• Metal Dome
• Duraswitch Pushgate

Polyester Dome

An exclusive Xymox manufacturing process produces the industry’s highest quality polytactile dome in the graphic layer. This provides switch users with keypad that has strong, uniform tactile feel and a choice of standard or high temperature performance at an affordable price. And the combination of in-house manufacturing and design means shorter lead times.

System Features and Benefits

• Dual Purpose - the dome helps the user identify the key location and provides tactile feedback.
• Consistency - thanks to our in house designed and manufactured equipment, we can produce a consistent dome from keypad to keypad and order to order.
• Withstands High Temperature - because we use a proprietary forming process developed in-house, the polyester is molecularly reshaped into the geometry of the dome, thus the “memory” of the plastic sheet is in the geometry of the dome.
• Crisp Tactile Feel - due to the process and the dome geometries developed, we can ensure a firm “snap” throughout the specified life of the switch.
• Reliability - tested beyond 2 million actuations.
• Design Flexibility - We can custom design our dome to meet any of our customers requirements . And additional domes on a given part can be added with little or no increase to the piece price.

System Specifications

• Mechanical
  • Life Cycles: >2,000,000
  • Operating Force (see chart below)
  • Switch Thickness: .025 - .050” Typ.
  • Switch Travel: .025 - .037” Typ.
• Environmental

• Electrical Characteristics (Switch Circuit)
  • Contact Resistance: varies proportionately with part size, typically 100 ohms or less. Resistance values are typical through the life of the switch.
  • Open Circuit Resistance: 5x10⁶ ohms minimum.
  • Contact Rating: 30 DVC maximum,100mA maximum, 1 watt maximum
  • Contact Bounce: 10ms nominal, 20ms maximum at 2,000,000 activation cycles.

Standard Dome Offering

Round Graphic Domes

Oval Graphic Domes

Notes:

• The material used in each case is polyester. Polycarbonate is not recommended because of its limited life cyclability.
• Data is based on the use of a printed texture on the faceplate surface. This adds about .001” to the thickness of the graphics layer. If no texture is used, you can expect a slight decrease to the nominal force.
• Actuation force measurements for round domes are based on standard Xymox test methods. A flat tipped nylon actuator that is half the dome diameter is used to measure force.
• For actuation forces on oval domes .600” in length and below, force is measured with a flat tipped nylon actuator that is half the dome width. For ovals greater that .600” length, force is measured with a .250'' diameter nylon tip.

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Contact metal Domes

Xymox Technologies, Inc. has the capability to machine place Nicomatic four-leg contact metal domes. Using these domes offers the following advantages:

• Switch constructions that eliminate the top layer of the membrane switch
• Stable forces
• Excellent tactile feel
• Very long life cycles; in excess of one million actuations

Contact Domes Available

Xymox currently offers the 12.2 mm and 8.4 mm domes as illustrated below:

220g Force 280g Force 340g Force

12.2 mm

220g Force 280g Force

8.4 mm

Typical Switch Construction

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duraswitch pushgate

PushGate™ Technology

This revolutionary new push-button switch combines and improves on the best properties of mechanical and membrane switches. Its sharp, consistent tactile feedback, coupled with its low profile and its ability to be environmentally sealed, makes this the best solution for durable front panel controls.

Features

• Positive, consistent tactile feel through life of switch and temperature extremes
• Large “sweet spot” to accommodate off-center hits
• Able to tolerate extreme temperatures
• 250 million cycles
• Environmentally sealed
• Used with printed circuit or circuit board
• Normally closed switch available
• Double or single pole
• Increased shielding ability

Application: Commercial Appliances Steam, grease, and high usage make for a tough operating environment and a high replacement rate for the membrane switch interface. One application required a 20 day submersion in cola. The PushGate technology passed. Another application required interchangeable overlays and field replaceable overlays due to grease and user abuse. The Pushgate technology provides for easy and affordable overlay replacement without the need to replace the entire switch.

Application:

Monorail Control, Walt Disney World
A metal dome membrane switch sitting on the outside of a monorail car sees outdoor exposure, washdowns and high usage. The sealed PushGate switches have been in the field for over two years with no problems versus a three month average life with the prior switch used.

“You guys really hit a home run on this one. This is the first modification that we’ve seen that has worked flawlessly from day one.”

“The Hankster”
Director, Engineering
Walt Disney

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