Keypad systems.

It's all about the right combination.

When materials, technology, and system understanding come together

Keypad systems are a central component of modern control elements and are based on precisely designed silicone keypads. They combine mechanics and electronics and have a decisive influence on the feel, sound, appearance, and perceived quality of a product.

As a specialist in industrial silicone solutions, Sateco develops silicone keypads and keypad systems for demanding human-machine interface (HMI) applications. The focus is on functional safety, durability, and design flexibility.

Internationally, such solutions are often referred to as silicone keypads or silicone rubber keypads. At Sateco, however, the focus is not on prefabricated standards, but on project-specific requirements and the optimal design of the silicone keypad in the overall system.

Silicone keypads as part of modern HMI concepts

Silicone keypads play a central role in modern human-machine interfaces. They form the direct interface between the user and the electronics and have a decisive influence on the usability and value of a product.

Sateco keypad systems differ significantly from standardized keyboard solutions in that they are fully customizable. The shape, surface, switching characteristics, lighting, and electrical design are defined on a project-specific basis. This results in control elements that integrate seamlessly into the respective product design while meeting high technical requirements.

This consistent system approach makes silicone keypads from Sateco the preferred solution for demanding HMI applications in a wide range of industries.

What makes Sateco silicone keypads special

At Sateco, a keypad system describes the functional interaction between:

• Silicone keypad
• Switch contact
• Optional lighting elements
• Integrated assemblies

It is this combination that defines the feel, acoustic feedback, electrical function, and long-term stability.

Unlike individual components, silicone keypads at Sateco are always developed as a complete system. Stroke, switching point, reset behavior, contact material, and light guidance are not considered in isolation, but are specifically coordinated with each other. This allows a wide range of requirements to be met—from clearly defined click points to virtually silent actuation.

Design of silicone keypads under real installation conditions

The development of silicone keypads requires a deep understanding of the installation situation in the housing. The mechanical path of the keypad, the preload in the installed state, and the contact to the printed circuit board determine the feel, acoustics, and service life of the switch.

Key design parameters for silicone keypads include:

• Dome geometry and membrane slopes for controlling the actuation force
• Base thickness of the silicone keypad depending on the desired force
• Design of the contact pills (standard, low resistance, gold, nickel)
• Defined preload to prevent resonance noise
• Precise coordination of paths S1 to S4 for reproducible switching points

The electrical contact is only established when the silicone keypad and the printed circuit board interact. That is why Sateco always considers and designs the keypad in conjunction with the PCB, housing, and actuator.

Areas of application for silicone keypads in various industries

Sateco silicone keypads are used wherever functions need to be triggered safely, reproducibly, and reliably over many millions of switching cycles. Typical applications can be found in the following industries, among others:

• Automotive
• Motorcycles
• Coffee machines
• Industry and heavy transport
• Building automation
• Consumer goods 

Advantages of silicone keypads and keypad systems from Sateco

• System development instead of individual components
• Precisely defined haptic and acoustic profiles
• Seamless integration of snap discs, contacts, and lighting
• High degree of design freedom combined with reproducible series quality
• Very high process stability for industrial-scale quantities
• Many years of experience in regulated and demanding markets

Project-specific development of silicone keypads and keypad systems

At Sateco, keypad systems are not created from a modular system, but rather based on the specific application. Innovation and quality are firmly anchored in the corporate culture. At the Sateco Engineering Center, over 60 specialists from the fields of materials engineering, design, electronics, and process engineering work on customer-specific solutions.

At the Sateco Engineering Center, over 60 specialists from the fields of materials engineering, design, electronics, and process engineering work on customer-specific silicone keypads and keypad systems.

Requirements for haptics, acoustics, lighting, electrical characteristics, and environmental conditions are defined early on in the project phase and incorporated into the system design. In-house test laboratories enable testing under realistic operating conditions. The high level of vertical integration ensures that the silicone keypads developed can be reproduced in series production and remain stable throughout the entire product life cycle.

Our own fully equipped test laboratories at all locations enable us to test and further develop keypad systems under realistic operating conditions. The high level of vertical integration ensures that developed concepts can be reproduced in series production and remain stable throughout the entire product life cycle.