Membrane switch

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A membrane switch is a custom switch assembly that can open or close the conducting path in an electrical circuit and requires at least one contact made of or attached to a flexible substrate. Its assembly differs from traditional mechanical switches: a membrane switch's construction consists of various thin layers sandwiched together using pressure-sensitive adhesives.^[1] Each layer in a membrane switch assembly serves a different purpose, and custom features require the addition of specialty layers. Typical implementations arrange multiple membrane switches across its layered structure to form a keypad interface that allows human interaction to control electronic systems.

Unique to membrane switches, they are the only switches that can utilize the benefits of flexible printed electronics. These circuits are generally printed on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) substrates. The ink used for printing the circuit is usually filled with copper, silver, or graphite and therefore conductive.