Alps Alpine's TACT Switch™ comes in a wide range of varieties. They include types that can perform multiple operations with a single switch. For example, Double Action types used in digital camera shutter buttons, or the 4-Direction Type with Center-Push Function allowing selection with a lever in forward, back and sideways directions. We will look at how they are constructed here.

Double Action

When performing an operation in a first and then a second step, like the shutter of a digital camera, two metal contacts, as moving contacts one on top of the other, are used to toggle between electrical circuits. The mechanism and the circuits are illustrated below.

We supply a number of double action varieties supporting smaller, thinner devices and variations of operating feel.

4-Direction Type with Center Push Function

A key that allows the user to select forward, back, left or right directions with a lever and then execute at center has five sets of moving and fixed contact combinations on the one device. Electrical circuits are toggled as the lever pushes down on the contacts.
The mechanism and circuits are illustrated below.

Alps Alpine also supplies a variety of other multi-control devices allowing multiple functions to be performed with a single device.