Providing design engineers with a comprehensive selection of switch designs for numerous board and panel applications, TT Electronics BI Technologies Electronic Components Division has expanded its product offering to include a complete line of RoHS-compliant tactile switches. Designated the SWT Series, the sealed switches are available in multiple sizes, as well as surface mount and through-hole configurations. According to Frank Pipitone, Vice President of Variable Products for BI Technologies’ Electronic Components Division, the tactile switches are designed to provide reliable performance over a long life cycle.

‘The tactile switches feature multiple actuation forces and life cycles of up to 1 million rotations’, said Pipitone.

‘The versatility of this product line allows the switches to be used in a wide variety of applications, including white goods, medical devices, information appliances, automotive and entertainment equipment’.

Specific applications for the tactile switches include: (appliances) dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, paper shredders, and coffee makers; (medical devices) digital thermometers, blood pressure measurement, and medication dispensing machines; (personal electronics) LCD monitors, remote controls, and set-top boxes; cameras, MP3 players, video keyboards; and (automotive) radios, steering wheel controls, and CD players.

The SWT Series of tactile switches includes: the SWTW Series of through-hole 6mm sealed washable switches, with an operating force range of 160-360gf and life cycle range of 100,000-500,000 rotations; the SWT3 Series of surface mount 6 x 3.5mm switches, with an operating force range of 100-260gf and a rotational life of 50,000 cycles; the SWT4 Series of low profile surface mount switches measuring 4.6 x 4.6 x 0.5mm, with a life cycle of 500,000 at 160gf and 50,000 cycles at 260gf; the SWT5 Series of surface mount lightweight switches that measure 5.1 x 5.1mm, with a life cycle of 100,000 rotations at 100 and 160gf, and 50,000 rotations at 260gf; the SWT6 Series surface mount 6 x 6mm switch with a rotational life cycle of 1 million actuations; and the SWT7 Series surface mount 6.2 x 6.3mm switches with an operating force range of 100-260gf and a rotational life of 100,000 cycles.

All devices in the tactile switch product family are RoHS-compliant, and feature a contact resistance of 100m ohms and an insulation resistance of 100Mohm.

Dielectric strength is 250V, with an operating temperature range of -20 to +70C.

BI Technologies will also produce devices beyond these specifications to meet customer requirements.

Typical pricing for the tactile switch products is US $0.06-0.15 depending on quantity, with lead times from stock to 4 weeks.