Advertisement

Tactile switch is water-resilient, potting-friendly

C&K introduces the KSC PF sealed tactile switch for automotive and medical applications

By Heather Hamilton, contributing writer

C&K recently unveiled its KSC PF switch, offering designers a switch solution that is both small and resilient to water ingress as well as potting-friendly. Recognizing the growing need in the medical and automotive industry for products that can be used in harsh environments, C&K developed a switch that withstands these environments, including leaks from everyday use and cleaning processes. 

The company claims that the switch is the first in the industry constructed to meet size and performance requirements in products with limited surface area while withstanding harsh environments that include liquid and vibration. 

The tactile switch has a soft actuator, which reduces pre- and post-travel, providing for a better customer experience. The switch is IP67-sealed, offers a life cycle of up to 1,000K, and is designed for SMT, which makes PCB assembly simple. 

The switch is housed in a compact SMT form factor (6.2 x 6.2 x 5.2 mm) and an extended cage that is potting-friendly, giving it an increased potting level tolerance, enabling faster production while also increasing overall quality.

C&K-Tactile-Switch

Image: C&K

C&K notes that potting is necessary to ensure complete protection, even when using a sealed switch, but potting levels are hard to control in production. By using the traditional method of using a flat switch top, there is the risk of the potting compound shifting inward and then closing off the actuator. The incorporation of an extended cage prevents this from occurring, said the company. 

Jerome Smolinski, global product manager at C&K, said that the new switches will be small enough to be included in any design but will retain the needed protections for use in harsh environments even with high use. 

“Designers building electrosurgical instruments or exterior automotive applications such as door handles and trunk openers need to ensure that their products work each and every time they’re used,” he added.

Check out the datasheet and request product samples here .

Advertisement



Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine

Leave a Reply