RSP is a membrane switch manufacturer with operations in the US and China. Our team has extensive experience creating membrane panels for a variety of uses for our clients.Membrane switches, also known as membrane panels or keypads, are electrical switches with a user interface to control equipment and machines. The top layer is typically the graphical interface, also known as a graphic overlay, which identifies the functions being controlled using icons or text. Next, below the graphic overlay, are adhesive layers and a spacer layer to bond the circuit to the graphic overlay. The circuit layer is where the magic happens. Conductive inks are applied through a silk screen-printing process. In some cases, the membrane switch requires additional insulating layers made of non-conductive materials to prevent short-circuits. To complete the switch, an additional adhesive layer is used on the rear of the circuit to bond it to the bezel or substrate. To improve the user experience, membrane switches typically provide haptic or visual feedback. A great example of haptic feedback is through the use of tactile metal domes or poly-dome construction. When this type of feedback is used, a user will press a key or button and feel a ‘snap’ action as the dome is compressed. This type of key might also provide some audible feedback from the ‘snap’ of the dome. As for visual feedback, the membrane switch can have embedded LED indicators or feedback can be visually displayed on a separate display or monitor. Typically the membrane switch circuit only has resistors and LEDs mounted to it, as opposed to a circuit board which has limitless options.