Keyboards have been an integral part of the human lifestyle for decades. The earliest forms included the teletype machine. From those primitive inventions to the latest keyboards, for instance, the membrane keyboards we use these days, keyboards have come a long way and have miles to go! Speaking of membrane keyboards, what are they? Can you customize membrane keyboards? If yes, where do you find membrane keyboard manufacturers in India who can customize them for you? Let’s see in this blog.

In a membrane keyboard, the keys are not separated. Instead, they are covered by transparent and soft plastic. These keyboards are portable and remain protected from dirt and damage. But they aren’t as popular among everyone, as they are less accurate and slow down the typing pace. Hence, people usually prefer using regular keyboards.

Essential Aspects Associated with a Membrane Keyboard

A membrane keyboard has a pressure pad. When you press the pad, it completes the circuit and transmits the pressed key’s command. It has a flat surface with symbols. Pressing the symbol performs tasks like a regular keyboard with mechanical keys. 

Although portable and flexible in design, people refrain from using membrane keyboards for touch typing. It is because quick typing on a membrane keyboard can produce many errors. But another significant advantage of these keyboards is that they are inexpensive for production at scale. Besides, as mentioned earlier, they are resistant to dirt.

How Does a Membrane Keyboard Work?

A membrane keyboard’s topmost layer consists of all the keys. It is here that the users touch and press the keyboard and where the keys are exposed. The layer comprises plastic or rubber. Further, below the keys, the keyboard has pressure pads – thin, flexible rubber or plastic membrane with printed conductive traces on its rear.

The next layer is the hole layer. It separates the pressure pad next to a key from the bottommost layer in a way to prevent mechanical contact when the user does not press the key. The lowermost layer also has printed conductive traces connected to the keyboard’s circuit. When the user presses a particular key, the conductive trace below the key touches the conductive trace tethered to the keyboard’s internal circuit. The circuit comprises various switches, each of which is assigned to a key.

This mechanical contact results in the closing of the assigned switch and enable electrical current to flow. The action registers the pressed alphanumeric character or command by transmitting the corresponding signal to the device’s processing system. All switches in the keyboard circuit are usually open when the user doesn’t use the key.

Types of Membrane Keyboards

Some types of membrane keyboards include the following.

• Full Travel Membrane Keyboards

These keyboards have their keys directly integrated into the keypad. They are made of a single piece of plastic or rubber.

• Membrane Switch Keyboard

A membrane switch keyboard comprises a flexible material covered with a transparent flexible membrane.

• Scissor Switch Keyboards

These types of keyboards use a rubber dome with a plastic scissor mechanism, linking the keycap to a plunger.

• Chiclet Keyboards

Also called island-style keyboards, they are used in laptops and desktops. They are sleek and minimalistic with square or rectangular keys with rounded corners.

• Dome Switch Membrane Keyboards

Also termed direct-switch keyboards, these keyboards combine the features of mechanical switch keyboards and switch panel membranes.

Build Customized Membrane Keyboards with Cutek Circuits, One of the Leading Membrane Keyboard Manufacturers in India!

Choose Cutek Circuits, one of the most reliable membrane keyboard manufacturers in India to build customized membrane keyboards for your use. 

We manufacture customized membrane keyboards for aviation, industrial automation machine control, process control, bio-medical devices, etc. Some features of custom membrane keyboards include the following.

• Instant touch feedback on contact
• Embossing for enhanced aesthetic look and key feel
• Sleek and compact size to prove space-friendly
• Front overlay design and color combination per client needs

Please email us at info@cutekcircuits.com to learn more about our custom membrane keyboards. Our experts will gladly help you.