Input devices are made up of keypads that function as buttons or keys used to operate a system and input information. In all sorts of things, be it smartphones, remote controllers etc., to medical devices and industrial machinery, keyboards are everywhere. It is necessary that various factors should be kept in mind when designing a customized keyboard for the end user and application.
Understanding the User End
Knowing the final consumer well is important while creating a custom keypad. The design must put the user experience first for an intuitive response and comfortable to use.
- User Demographics: User age, physical health, and technical skills most importantly.
- Usage Environment: Where the keypad will be required to be used that whether it will be used indoor or outdoor, in low illumination or in dusty, humid or chemical influence area.
- Functional Requirements: What tasks will keypad be used for, how often the keypad will be used, and for how long it needs to last.
Material Selection for Keypad
The materials employed in making keyboards influence its functionality as well as lifespan.
Made from thin layers of polyester or polycarbonate, they are perfect for environments where there is a need for water or dust protection.
- These are strong keypads that resist hostile conditions and are ideal for industrial applications.
- Commonly used in electronic consumer items, these have a soft touch property to them because they are made using silicone rubber.
- They have sleek and modern appearance because they are made of materials like glass or acrylics with no moving parts such as capacitive touch keypads.
Circuit Design and Layout
The design of the circuit and its layout have an impact on the keypad’s performance.
- Membrane switch circuits, capacitive touch circuits, and mechanical switch circuits each call for different types of designs.
- The voltage and current levels have to be considered together with the signal quality and protection against interference.
- Both ways if the application uses flex circuits, ribbon cables or other cables it would help if the connector type used corresponds with the interface of the device.
Graphic Overlay Design
This layer forms the topmost part of the keyboard through which users interact with it. Important aspects of graphic overlay design include:
- Colour schemes give aesthetic appeal to any graphic overlay befitting application requirements.
- The durability aspect includes material selection plus printing technique capable of resisting wear/tear effects as well as UV exposure.
- Readability: Labels should be clear and easily readable even under dim light.
Keypad Prototyping and Testing
Prototyping and testing are important to ensure that the keypad meets design specification as well as user requirements.
- Prototyping: Building functional prototypes for assessing the form, fit, and function of keypads.
- User Testing: Gaining input from actual users to identify any ergonomic or usability flaws.
- Environmental Testing: Evaluating how well the keypad performs in various environmental conditions like temperature extremes, moisture, and vibration.
Designing Type and Circuit for Keypad
Different types of keypads require distinct design approaches:
- Membrane Keypads: Utilize a flexible circuitry with printed conductive traces along with contact points.
- Metal Keypads: These use mechanical switches that have metal contacts which are highly durable.
- Silicone Rubber Keypads- They consist of moulded silicone rubber with a flexible circuit built into it for providing tactile feedback.
- Capacitive Touch Keypads- Such employ capacitive sensing technology capable of detecting touch inputs without having moving parts.
Custom Keypad Design Construction
The construction of custom keypad has several layers and components, each with its own purpose:
- Top Layer: This comprises the graphic overlay with printed labels and icons.
- Spacer Layer: This is used to separate the top layer from the underlying circuit layer.
- Circuit Layer: It has electrical pathways and contact points.
- Back Layer: Acts as a structural support as well as may have adhesive for attaching the keypad to a device.
Conclusion
It is necessary to strike a balance between functionality, durability, and user experience when developing a custom keypad. Thus, considering the end user, selecting proper materials, designing circuits in the best way possible, designing proper graphical overlays and complete prototyping and testing, it is possible to design a keypad relevant to a certain application.
Linepro manufacture the different types of keypads including membrane keypads, metal keypads, silicone rubber keypads and capacitive touch keypads. Linepro has quality solutions for both consumer electronics and industrial applications in terms of keypads.
Choose a custom keypad from Linepro as the next step towards improving your product’s interface. Visit us today at www.lineproglobal.com about your specific requirements and find out how our expertise can contribute to your project.