Insight - How Tactile Switch works

Tactile Switches are most often found in control panels of monitors, televisions, mobiles, radios, etc. They are widely used in industry for different purposes. They come with various number of pins as per the requirement. A tactile switch has only two states ON and OFF. Here 4 pin tactile switch is discussed.

Fig. 1: 4-Pin Tactile Switch

Outer Metal Covering

The switch is kept closed by using a metal covering as shown below.

Fig. 2: Image of Metal Cover

Fig. 3: Metal Cover

Button

Inside the switch we can see there is a hat like thing. Actually it’s the button that we tap. The button looks very similar to a hat. At the bottom of the button there is a pointing arrow. The use of the arrow is discussed later.

Fig. 4: Hat-Shaped Button of Tactile Switch

Conducting Plate

Below the button there is a conducting plate. This plate isn’t flat but a little bulged. The image of the plate is shown below.

Fig. 5: Image of Conducting Plate

Fig. 6: Image Showing the Bulge of Conducting Plate

Bottom View

Below the plate we have the pins that we use to connect.

Fig. 7: The Four Pins Placed Below Conducting Plate

Fig. 8: Interior View of Pins

When the button is tap the arrow like structure in the button pushes down the bulged plate. When this bulged plate comes in contact with the pins conduction begins and the switch is said to be in ON state.