ALPS has developed the heavy-acting, long-life TACT Switch™ soft touch "SKPS Series" for in-car operation and began mass production in January of this year.

In order to achieve a "comfortable, safe" interior environment, the car is equipped with a variety of operating switches. Among them, the air-conditioning operation switch on the central console, the AV equipment operation switch installed on the steering device, and the operation switch for hands-free communication are the most representative examples.

These vehicle-mounted equipment switches not only need to have the durability to withstand temperature, vibration and other severe interior environment, but also need to consider its safety, in order to prevent inadvertent operation caused by the wrong action. In addition, with the popularity of car navigation and the large screen, the on-board switch needs to save space. At the same time, because a number of functions are concentrated on a switch, the demand for long life is also increasing.

In addition, due to the launch of electric vehicles without engine noise, there is a growing demand for silent products that suppress operating noise as an essential element of creating a quiet interior environment.

In 2000, ALPS launched and began mass production of the TACT Switch™ soft touch surface mount SKPM series of switches for on-board devices. With small size (5.9×6.0×5.0mm) and a variety of 1.57 ~ 3.0N movement force, the series has obtained excellent market evaluation and excellent performance.

The TACT Switch™ soft touch surface mount "SKPS Series", developed by ALPS and mass-produced by ALPS, provides the same size as the SKPM series, with a heavy action capacity of 3.6N and a long life of 300,000 cycles (SKPM series is 100,000). In addition, the previous 1.3mm travel to 1.05mm, the operation of the travel is shorter than the previous products, to create excellent reliability and robustness of the operating environment has made a contribution.

Moreover, this product lens adopts lead-free glass, in line with ROHS6 and REACH two major standards.

In addition, the re-adjustment of the sliding structure of the main rod and the rubber dots, the new construction of dust prevention, while ensuring the same quietness as the previous products, but also help to reduce contact defects.

In addition, in the case of SKPM series, due to the same external size and mounting area size, there is no need to design a new mounting substrate, which makes a contribution to reduce the burden of the installer.

【 Main Specialties 】

The TACT Switch™ soft tactile surface mount provides both heavy action and long life

3.0N, 3.6N heavy action force type to meet the needs of vehicle equipment

Heavy action force type, at the same time to achieve a long life of 300,000 times

Intermediate stroke of 1.05 mm

【 Main Technology 】

Vehicle AV equipment, vehicle navigation, steering device and other vehicle equipment switches

Industrial equipment, measuring equipment, etc

[Sales Plan]

Volume production in January 2017

Sample price is 200Yen (tax included)

Monthly production of 2 million pieces (scheduled in February 2017)

Development Department Technology Department Furukawa Factory (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Production Department Production Head Office Kadada Factory (Kadada City, Miyagi Prefecture)

【 Main Specifications 】

Product name SKPS series

Dimensions (W×D×H) 5.9mm × 6.0mm × 5.0mm

Action force 3.0N / 3.6N

The movement is 1.05mm

Action life 300,000 times

Maximum rated 16 V DC 50 mA

The initial contact resistance 100 m Ω Max.