More than a million cycles from self-clean switch

Already renowned in the industrial electronics, automotive and test and measurement fields, K6/K12 keyswitches now boast many more new models and options as well as even smaller sizes.

Already renowned in the industrial electronics, automotive and test and measurement fields, K6/K12 keyswitches now boast many more new models and options as well as even smaller sizes.

As the contacts are light and bent against each other, these switches offer three distinct advantages: a high degree of vibration resistance, even for large vibrations; a high life expectancy, well over a million operations for the K12; and guaranteed switching.

Due to the separation of the electrical and tailor-made mechanical systems, the K6/K12 switches are able to offer distinctive tactile feedback, designed to meet any particular customer requirement.

Contacts are made of bronze with a gold plating and are based on a novel geometry that ensures secure switching, eliminating the possibility of intermittent contacting, while at the same time ensuring that the contact is cleaned during each actuation.

Both are capable of switching 0.02mW to 3W DC.

Switching voltage ranges from 2 to 30V DC with switching currents from 10uA to 100mA DC By separating the contact and tactile feel points, K12 switches are able to deliver in excess of 1 million cycles, while at the same time offering unsurpassed switching reliability.

New version includes the K12G with two make contacts (normally open, single pole double throw); K12GOL and K12PL with one LED and several possible colours; K12DL with one LED and a balcony for a second LED; and the K12C, which is IP67 sealed by a rubber cap.

Some buttons and floating caps are available for the K12 switch.

Standard travel lengths available are 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0mm with operating forces of 2.5 3,5 and 5N.

However, the special contact systems of the K12 switch allows for variation in the button travel, the tactile snap point and operating force to a particular custom application.

For example, tactile feedback can be soft (2.5N) or without snap-point at 1.5N for frequent operation or strong (5N or even 9N and more) for operation under harsh conditions or by operators wearing gloves.

K6 switches are available in four versions, with and without LED.

Leading the industry in miniaturisation, the switches offer a significant size reduction over earlier versions, requiring a PCB space of only 10.9 x 7.4mm with heights of 8.4mm.

New versions include an SMT-switch suitable for IR-reflow soldering K6 switches are momentary action, SPST (single-pole/single-throw), NO (normally open) devices offering a wide choice of travel lengths from 1 to 1.5mm with standard operating force of 2, 3 and 5N.

As the contact and tactile point are separate, K6 switches are able to deliver high reliability switching over a life span of over 200,000 cycles.

K12 and K6 are available with centre-positioned 3mm T1 and argus T1-LEDs.

Standard colours are yellow, green, red and orange, while white and blue are available on request.

The 3mm LEDs are ideal for illuminating a small surface on the top of the switch.

The argus LEDs in combination with a reflector are used to deliver homogenous illumination of the whole key on the top of the switch.

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