Our Operating Controls
The requirements for an input solution are very diverse. Traditional products such as membrane and silicone keyboards are not just our core business. Touch solutions with glass fronts are important to us too. We are on the ready to assist in your search for the ideal technology and would like to offer you the entire range from simple foils to complex capacitive control panels. Our customers still rely on the tried and tested membrane and silicone keyboards, which are very reliable with their long service life. However, we are also your perfect partner if you prefer a capacitive glass front with complex lighting system.
Marelcom offers 3D gestures. Gestures are detected with the help of electrical fields. The 3D gesture control can be integrated in combination with a display and 2D touch, or in combination with mechanical buttons. All kinds of non-conductive materials can be used as the front cover, for example, a hardened and printed glass or polycarbonate, a “gorilla” glass, a top player, or a plastic cover. The carrier material for the 3D electrodes can be a PCB, FPC or ITO.
We will be delighted to advise and demonstrate what is feasible for your product.
The 3D gesture control enables a completely different operation of devices. You can define and implement your own gestures.
No complex controls can be produced only with gesture control alone. It must be achieved in addition to other input systems, such as with an additional 2D touch control.
Gesture recognition is advantageous in technological systems used in environments where hygiene is important. It’s used in medical and laboratory technology, publicly accessible operations like lifts, automatic door opening, water taps, or soap dispensers. As gesture recognition works without having to remove gloves, it’s highly convenient in industrial technological systems.
(Source: Microchip)
Membrane keyboards are just plain flat and has a less tactile feel. They are extremely reliable and durable, giving your device an individual touch. Membrane keyboards are also more affordable than mechanical keyboards in terms of initialization and production.
You have a lot of creative freedom to the design of membrane keyboards.
Silicone switch mats are a cost effective solution for creating customised user interface. The keyboards can be designed in one colour or with different coloured keys. The rubber switch mats can be printed, varnished, lasered, and coated with protective varnishes and refined for individual labeling. The high-quality tactile feel of our rubber switch mats will make your device a high-end product.
The silicone keypads manufactured by Marelcom are 100% customised to the customer’pecifications.
Capacitive or Resistive
Resistive touch panels are configured in 4-wire, 5-wire or 8-wire circuits. They can be produced independently or in combination with membrane keyboards. This means that the fully integrated resistive user interface can be individually designed according to customer requirements. Such solutions are particularly popular in medical technology where transitions like dirt edges are avoided.
Capacitive touch panels first became known through smartphones and tablets. They are now everywhere. They offer a more modern operating surface than the resistive touch panel. The sensors can be mounted behind Plexiglas or glass, and can also be combined with membrane keyboards. Capacitive touch panels can be implemented in connection with displays or as a standalone user interface.
What’s the difference between surface touch and capacitive keyboards? With capacitive keyboards, the area is divided into a fixed number of sensor areas. With a surface touch, you move freely over the entire surface and have multi-finger functions available. Common interfaces are I2C, SPI or USB.
A newer way of combining touch operation with a display is touch in cell technology. As the name suggests, the touch panel is already part of the display. As a result, the design is very thin compared to conventional display or touch combinations.
Zytronic's products complement Marelcom’s touch screen range very well, and wherever conventional capacitive touch panels don’t meet requirements. Zytronic has more than 40 years of experience in glass processing and lamination.
Zytronic touch sensors work perfectly behind thick glasses and in extreme environments. Gloves are not a challenge for Zytronic’s touch sensors, and neither are water or residues of any kind.
You only need a cover for your front. Of course, MARELCOM AG also offers you this option.
Capacitive sliders and buttons integrated with finger recesses
