Ultraminiature tactile switch endures 3 lakh cycles

C&K Components has expanded its KMT series of ultraminiature tactile switches with the KMT0 that features a lifespan of more than 3 lakh electrical and mechanical cycles, and is sealed to IP57 specifications.

"The ultraminiature size provides an ideal solution for applications with an extremely small footprint, while the IP sealing is an excellent solution to protecting against sweat and water in nomad devices," said Jerome Smolinski, senior product manager for C&K Components. "With these design features as well as the extended life cycles, the KMT0 ultraminiature switches are the ideal solution for a number of consumer electronics and medical devices, including hearing aids, mobile phones, MP3 accessories and Bluetooth headsets."

The RoHS-compliant and halogen-free ultraminiature KMT0 switches measure just 2.6mm x 3mm x 0.65mm, with a body height of 0.45mm. The SPST NO switches are constructed with silver plating and are available with four operating forces: 1.0N, 1.6N, 2.3N and 3.4N. Maximum overload is 30N.

Actuator height is 0.2mm, and the integrated actuator allows for simpler button design while yielding an excellent tactile ratio of up to 30%, providing sharp feedback (low tactile ratio of 10% is available for hearing aids and headsets). Operating temperature ranges from -40°C to +85°C.