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Alps Electric Develops “SKTK Series” TACT Switch™

2015-10-01 | Return

October 1, 2015
Double the Travel Despite a Low Profile

Alps Electric has developed the “SKTK Series” TACT Switch™ with IP67 dust and water resistance, ideal for home function switches on smartphones. Mass production is already underway.

Smartphones have recently started to include home function switches for greater operability and fingerprint recognition switches for enhanced security. Used frequently, these switches need to provide a pleasant, clear operating feel over a long operating life to maintain the quality of the smartphone.

Smartphone casings have little space to house parts and switches must simultaneously realize a low profile, long travel distance, long life and excellent feel, all without affecting operability.

Recognizing these market needs, Alps Electric has developed the SKTK Series TACT Switch™, which delivers on all of the above features. Mass production began in September.

Alps Electric applied mechanical design expertise accumulated over many years to realize a TACT Switch™ with external dimensions of 5.9 × 4.0mm and a height of 0.78mm for a low profile while at the same time achieving a 0.23mm travel, almost double the travel of existing switches of the same size. An excellent operating feel and a one-million-cycle long life on a par with game controllers have also been achieved and will help to improve the reliability of end products.

To ensure sound reliability, a projection structure was adopted for the metal contact. This both prevents differences in feel caused by position variations during installation and enables stable operation of the switch even when it is pressed from the edge or diagonally. The projection structure used is an “inner projection.” This increases projection strength, thereby improving durability.

Features

TACT Switch™ achieving low profile, long travel, long life and excellent feel

Travel of 0.23mm achieved despite the low profile
Long operating life of 1 million cycles
Projection structure facilitates handling during installation

Principal Applications

Smartphones and other mobile devices

Wearable computers and hobby equipment

Controls for other electronic devices

Planned Release

Mass production	From September 2015
Sample price	¥100 (incl. tax)
Monthly output	3 million units
Development	Furukawa Plant, Engineering Headquarters (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Production	Kakuda Plant, Production Headquarters (Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Specifications

Model	SKTK Series
Dimensions (W×D×H)	5.9 × 4.0 × 0.78mm
Operating force	2.5N
Travel	0.23mm
Operating life	1,000,000 cycles
Rating (max.)	50mA 12V DC
Contact resistance	500mΩ max.
Protective structure	IP67

Source:http://www.alps.com/