Simulation Tool for Silicone SMD Keys and Keypads 

Abatek has solved two major problems regarding silicone keys and key pads. A new online tool simplifies testing of new key designs and an extraordinary prototyping service shortens delivery time and reduces cost for customer specific buttons.

Silicone keys and silicone key pads are very popular as they adapt well to almost any product design and color. Until today it was difficult for product designers to verify if a required key design  was feasible. Material, size, color, stroke, snap and type of the contact pill are variable features of  a silicone key, but not all combinations can be produced in reality. However, as a keyboard strongly influences a product design, a feasibility validation is necessary at the earliest possible time in the  development process.

Abatek now provides a new web application that allows to simulate the target specifications of a button, key or pad. The so-called „key configurator“ is published on Abatek's web site (http://smt.abatekgroup.com) and can be used for testing single silicone keys or pads. The tool is free of charge and it's operation is easy. Each parameter is clearly described and explained by graphics and examples. The user just enters the specifications of the planned key and the simulation tool checks the feasibility.

If the feasibility test result is positive, then the user also receives a code which can directly be used for ordering of prototypes. Abatek can deliver 50 prototypes of the customer specific keys within only seven days. This extraordinary service is possible due to a second innovation: Configurable single silicone keys. The behavior of those keys is similar to the well known silicone pads. The tactile feeling is exactly the same, the lighting can be integrated into the key and the stroke and the height of the key can be also adjusted to the production requirements. The favorable differences are the reduced time for acquisition, the higher flexibility during product design, by the no longer valid tooling costs for prototypes and the possibility of the automatic assembling with a SMD-pick & place machine.

These configurable silicone keys even offer additional functionality. They can be equipped with a capacitive switching function. Such a key can already act when the user is only approaching it. For example, it can switch the monitor status from standby to on or trigger the illumination of a keyboard.

These new types of SMD-silicon entry keys of Abatek offer manufacturers and developers brand new scopes for design, cut the costs for prototypes and reduce the time of development. Today, with the new simulation tool available, engineers can even test a target function key quickly and at an early stage of the development.