Switch Keypad Reliability with FPC

Etch Circuit Boards (FPCs) contain tracks, pads, and other features, etched from copper sheets and laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. These etched features electrically connect electronic components, and the FPC offers mechanical support as well.

The Evolution of Circuit Boards to the Modern FPC

Before FPCs, creating a circuit board was a “laborious process of point-to-point wiring,” as explained by SparkFun. Not only were these circuit boards time-consuming to configure, but they were far inferior in reliability. There are frequent failures at wire junctions in this type of circuit board, and as wire insulation wears down over time, it may crack, leading to short circuits.