OREANDA-NEWS. Alps Electric has developed the "SKTG Series" Side Push TACT Switch(tm) (PC Board Cut-Off Type) (IP67-rated), ideal for embedding in smartphones and other mobile devices. Mass production is already underway.

Smartphones and other mobile devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and their displays keep growing bigger. Not only that, end products are continually being made thinner and lighter to improve portability, requiring the electronic components inside them to support ongoing size and thickness reductions.

Switches employed in these devices, besides retaining an operating life on a par with existing models, must also provide reliability with the durability to withstand unexpected events such as dropping, as well as dust and water resistance to allow outdoor use.

Responding to these market needs, Alps Electric has developed and commenced mass production of the SKTG Series Side Push TACT Switch(tm) (PC Board Cut-Off Type). Because the SKTG Series is designed to be mounted into a PC cut-out, it has an even lower profile than the existing SKTD Series, achieving a switch height above the PC board of 0.85mm, around 45% smaller than the existing model. This contributes to ongoing size and thickness reductions of end products.

The SKTG Series uses a PC board cut-off format, whereby the switch is mounted into a cut-out in the board. This format does not require a flexible or sub PC board for connecting the switch and board and thus contributes to cost reductions in end product design. Optimizing the design and composition of the various parts using mechanical design and material technology built up by Alps Electric over many years has also helped to ensure strength when mounted.

Operating life, which tends to deteriorate with size and height reductions, was secured through optimization of the metal contacts using analysis technology. An operating life of 200,000 cycles was thus realized despite compact dimensions of 3.7 x 3.5mm. Furthermore, use of a sealed contact structure realizes IP67 dust and water resistance.