Advances in the technologies associated with molded keypads have make backlighting a more popular option than ever. It provides a host of advantages for very little increase in manufacturing costs. In this article, we'll discuss some of the most significant advantages:
Backlighting Improves Usability
Molded keypads designed to incorporate backlit keys allow your customers to use your products in a wider variety of lighting conditions. A device that might be difficult or impossible to use in low light conditions can now be operated normally. This reduces user frustration and increases the value of your products to your customers.
Backlit displays are also popular with products aimed at older customers. As we grow older, our visual acuity fades. This is especially noticeable in low light conditions. Using larger keys with bold graphics make the controls more visible, but sometimes large control schemes may not integrate well into the overall product design. Molded keypads with backlighting are dramatically easier for older users to operate even when using smaller keys and fonts.
Backlighting can be used to highlight keys rather than lighting them all equally. Consider a typical laptop keyboard with a numeric keypad integrated into the letter keys. Imagine if when the user pressed Num Lock, the keypad keys lit up so they stood out from the other keys.
People who don't need the functional advantages of backlighting still often appreciate the aesthetic benefits. The use of colored backlights with molded keypads turns the lighting into a feature that is decorative as well as functional.
Design Considerations for Backlit Molded Keypads
Creating molded keypads suited for backlighting is easy with modern laser etching techniques. The precision of these computer controlled lasers means that complex designs with fine details can be created even on small key tops. It is a fast and inexpensive process, appropriate to any keypad design.
Backlighting changes the appearance of keypad graphics in subtle ways. The lighting can make fine graphics sharper but could also make complex designs bleed together and become indistinct. While non-backlit graphics turn out looking much like the original schematics, backlit keys may not. For example, traditional keypad markings are dark graphics on a light background while the backlit version is light graphics on a dark background. However in certain lighting conditions this may end up as mid-tone on mid-tone and the keys look practically blank.
Because backlighting has such profound effects on keypad appearance and usability, it is important to work closely with an experienced keypad manufacturer who can advise and guide you during the design process. Many manufacturers prefer to create a prototype before going into full production so they can evaluate exactly what the final product will look like. When using backlit keys, this step is particularly important.
Functionally and aesthetically, backlighting adds a lot of value to molded keypads. Now that the technology is in easy reach of any manufacturer, it is a feature that is likely to become increasingly popular in electronics design, either for usability purposes or simply for the wow factor.
Author Resource:-
Author is a freelance writer. For more information on molded keypads please visit http://www.sitech-corp.com.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.alltimeinfo.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
