Panasonic Industry Europe reports it has launched a new tiny tactile switch which provides a unique tactile feeling and a new operation force of 3 N.

The company says the switch’s very small footprint is perfect for applications where space is scarce on the pcb.

Panasonic says despite this small footprint, the EVPBB5AHE00 is highly reliable with a long operational life of up to 500k cycles. An IP 67 rating enables the switch to easily withstand harsh environments, suiting it to a broad variety of applications.

Equipped with an actuator (push plate), the new miniature EVPBB5AHE00 tactile switch pairs a short push travel distance with a high operation force of 3N, resulting in a sharp and crisp tactile click feeling. External dimensions of just 2.6 mm × 1.6 mm and a low profile of 0.5 to 0.57 mm make this device one of the tiniest tactile switches currently available, especially with the high 3N operation force.

The EVPBB5AHE00 targets applications including medical devices, wearables, smart watches, hearing aids, headsets and smartphones.

Panasonic says its EVP-BB Series Tactile Switches are one of the smallest in the world with an IP67 rating. Featuring a laser-welded design, Panasonic Industry says it has been able to provide a high level of ingress protection while maintaining the sharp tactile feel necessary for enhanced user experience. The laser-welded design of these Tactile Switches also helps to prevent actuator peel-off in the case of side-load or impact.

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