Custom Keyboard Construction Technologies

At Epec Engineered Technologies, we offer a wide array of custom user interface options for various industries including medical, aerospace & military, telecommunications, and consumer products.

Each keyboard technology has features and advantages that we can compare for you to aid in the best technology selection for your specific application.

At a Glance: Keyboard Construction Technologies

• Epec offers a wide range of custom keyboard construction technologies, enabling designers to select the most appropriate user interface solution for medical, aerospace, military, telecommunications, and consumer applications.
• Keyboard assemblies can be configured with tactile metal domes, conductive rubber keypads, molded pushbuttons, graphic overlays, bezels, shielding, displays, and integrated electronic components.
• Designs can incorporate environmental protection, EMI/ESD shielding, advanced illumination technologies, and compliance with demanding military and aerospace standards.

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Our Capabilities Include:

Tactile metal domes mounted to a rigid printed circuit board with the following design options:

• Printed graphic overlays can be incorporated for a flat, unified appearance.
• Non-conductive molded rubber boots with 3-dimensional pushbuttons for unambiguous feel and high reliability operation.
• Molded plastic pushbuttons for professional appearance in higher volume, low cost applications.
• Metal or molded plastic bezels with many mounting options to finish the assembly.
• Conductive rubber keyboard assemblies.

General options available for core keyboard technologies:

• Custom shielding materials for Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI), Electro-Static Discharge (ESD), and Tempest-sensitive applications.
• General backlighting or selective backlighting graphic overlay areas or translucent rubber boots using Electro-Luminescent lamps (E/L) or Light-Emitting Diodes (LED).
• Clear or tinted windows for displays using either graphic overlay material or our proprietary hard plastic windows.
• Displays, discrete electronic components, drivers and encoders.
• Rugged design to meet the Environmental and EMI requirements of highly reliable and exacting applications; including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and RTCA/DO-160.
• Illumination - Compliance with MIL-DTL-7788 and NVIS (Night Vision Imaging System) MIL-STD-3009. Lighting options – LED, incandescent, and electroluminescent.
• Waterproof and other protection from liquids, bodily fluids, and most other foreign materials.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Links

• What keyboard construction technologies are available?
• What backlighting options are available for custom keyboards?
• Can custom keyboards be designed for rugged environments?
• What shielding and protection options are available?
• What additional features can be integrated into a keyboard assembly?

What keyboard construction technologies are available?

Epec supports multiple keyboard technologies, including tactile metal dome assemblies mounted to printed circuit boards, conductive rubber keyboard assemblies, molded rubber pushbuttons, molded plastic pushbuttons, and graphic overlay-based designs.

What backlighting options are available for custom keyboards?

Custom keyboards can be designed with electroluminescent (EL) lamps or LED backlighting for full-panel illumination, selective backlighting, or translucent rubber key illumination. Lighting options can also support NVIS requirements when needed.

Can custom keyboards be designed for rugged environments?

Yes. Keyboard assemblies can be engineered for demanding environments with waterproof construction, protection against liquids and contaminants, environmental sealing, and compliance with standards such as MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and RTCA/DO-160.

What shielding and protection options are available?

Designs can include custom shielding materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI), electrostatic discharge (ESD), and other sensitive electronic applications requiring enhanced protection.

What additional features can be integrated into a keyboard assembly?

Custom assemblies can incorporate displays, electronic components, drivers, encoders, clear or tinted viewing windows, metal or plastic bezels, and specialized mounting options to create a complete user interface solution.

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Interested In Taking Your Project To The Next Level?

Discover the optimal user interface for your industry with Epec's versatile keyboard technologies. Whether it's medical, aerospace, or consumer products, we've got the features and custom options tailored to your specific needs.

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