Have you considered ScreenKeys? - SparkFun Electronics Forum

Have you considered ScreenKeys?#35755

By MarkS - Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:11 pm

- Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:11 pm #35755

I got a sample of the RGB24 from www.ScreenKeys.com and have designed a small protoboard that holds one switch, includes two surface mount pull-up resistors and uses .1" pin spacing on a staggered grid for solderless breadboard mounting. The problem is that the board is less than 1" square and making only one would be cost prohibitive. The switch is really novel and easy to control though. It would be nice to have a prototyping system for these buttons. ScreenKeys makes their own, but the design is not very realistic. Why use a 48-pin DIP 8051 microcontroller for a couple of switches when you can get the same effect from a smaller SMD controller?

#35767

By ttabbal - Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:41 am

- Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:41 am #35767

You could send the board through BatchPCB. I had a 4sqin board done for about $30. Hard to beat that price for a full board. That would get the PCB cost down and you can design it to be whatever you want.

Cool switches though. I might have to get a sample to mess with. Might be an interesting product for SFE to sell...

#35768

By Heffo - Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:30 am

- Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:30 am #35768

I could find a use for a few of those switches myself

#35772

By MarkS - Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:42 pm

- Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:42 pm #35772

This is the breakout board and schematic:

As you can see, its very simple, but very small. The board measures 24mmx23mm. There are no mounting holes. Mounting would be accomplished with the 6 pin headers. The two pull-up resistors are 0805 package SMD.

The control board will be a little bit more complicated, but not by much.

#35773

By Philba - Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:24 pm

- Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:24 pm #35773

cool product. how liberal are they with samples?

What is the cost per switch in small quantities? I couldn't find the products on the disti web sites they point to.

For a one-off, I'd just use vector board and axial resistors. not a lot of work to wire up.

#35799

By phalanx - Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:02 am

- Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:02 am #35799

Philba wrote:cool product. how liberal are they with samples?

What is the cost per switch in small quantities?

I just sent a sample request to them using my work information and also requested their pricing tables. I'll send you the info once I receive it.

-Bill

#35805

By MarkS - Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:10 am

- Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:10 am #35805

Philba wrote:cool product. how liberal are they with samples?

What is the cost per switch in small quantities? I couldn't find the products on the disti web sites they point to.

They sent me one switch, so they are not very liberal.

Their distributor's web sites suck. I don't know if they sell them only in volume, or what the pricing is per switch. You are forced to deal with their sales staff, which means getting small quantities may be a hassle.

#35820

By wiml - Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:46 pm

- Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:46 pm #35820

NKK has a product like this also; their brand name is "SmartSwitch". But they also seem to be impossible to buy. You can buy an evaluation kit from Mouser with 2 switches for $250. I'm guessing the switches themselves are more expensive than I'm willing to pay just for the niftiness factor.

#35840

By phalanx - Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:49 am

- Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:49 am #35840

I just received a few quotes from one of their sales people.

The RGB version of the switch is about 20 Euro in 1-100 quantities.

The RG version is 14 Euro.

Development boards are as follows:

RGB microcontroller kit with 2 buttons = 75 Euro
RG microcontroller kit with 2 buttons = 65 Euro

Too bad the dollar isn't that strong at the moment because those are very reasonable prices in my book.

-Bill