Very low profile illuminated switch

Foremost Electronics has announced the launch of the Marquardt 3006 series of low profile, short-travel, LED Illuminated TACT switches.

The 3006 TACT switch series offers users a superb tactile “feel” using Haptic technology. Haptics is a tactile feedback technology that takes advantage of the user's sense of touch to provide reassuring or relevant feedback on operation of the switch. Common uses of Haptics are arcade games and home games consoles and controllers, frequently taking the form of vibration or force-feedback in joysticks and controllers.

The key to the advanced design of the 3006 TACT switch family is a damped snap action disc, a mixture of switching mat and snap action disc, which allows very flat control elements with a fine tactile response and a clear user feedback signal with minimum travel. The design of the LED illumination makes backlit symbols (pictograms) visible even at night.

The 3006 series short-travel TACT switch has a very low profile at just 3.95mm while still providing a 1.1mm actuator travel and is the only SMD mountable switch of its size with integrated LED illumination, damping and dust protection to IP50. The contacts are single pole, normally closed and 5 colours of LED are available as standard with other colours and non-illuminated versions available at special request. The definition of the LED colour provides an exclusive low ambient light design.

Other features include; standard actuation force of 4N with other actuating forces available on request, user defined tactile pressure point and a large actuation surface. Switch life expectancy is greater than 500,000 cycles and operating temperature range is -40 °C to +95 °C.

Alan Cook, managing Director of Foremost Electronics comments; "This high quality, high reliability TACT switch manages to combine a very low profile, even with an integrated LED, while offering a remarkably long actuation travel and superb tactile response for users.”
Applications for the Marquardt Mechatronik GmbH 3006 TACT switch family include low profile control panels, multi-function switches, car steering wheel switching systems, medical products and as individual switching elements.