How JN White® Helped
JN White came up with a solution for the intricate user interface by utilizing black injection molded elastomer, which addressed all three main objectives. The elastomer provided a full seal to protect the interface from environmental issues, served as a light piping medium to effectively guide the NVIS LEDs, and acted as a barrier to prevent light bleeding. Additionally, it provided excellent tactile feedback to ensure users could operate the interface with ease, even while wearing gloves.
- Gasketing: To create integrated o-ring gaskets, the elastomer keypad was designed with ridges around the perimeter and each button. Once mounted inside the customer’s product, the ridges compressed against the metal plate, fitting into grooves pressed into the metal to provide a complete seal. Elastomers are highly versatile and can be molded into various shapes and sizes, making them an excellent choice for products requiring a customized fit, such as seals and gaskets. They are well-suited for use as seals and gaskets due to their ability to withstand harsh conditions, including high temperatures, chemicals, and physical stress, which helps reduce friction and prevent leaks in harsh environments.
- Tactile Feedback: To address the feedback of the interface, the design integrated a force actuator onto the backside of the elastomer positioned over the metal dome. The force actuator provides a slight preload to the dome which in turn dramatically enhances the tactile feedback experienced by the user.
- NVIS LEDs: The user interface features NVIS LEDs, which are specifically designed for night vision imaging systems (NVIS) used by military, law enforcement, and search and rescue personnel. These LEDs are more durable than traditional displays and consume less power due to their reduced luminance requirements. They are equipped with a filter or cap that filters out certain wavelengths of light, making them readable for those using night vision goggles (NVG) without blinding them. The team had to consider the additional height of the NVIS LEDs and compensate for it by designing recesses in the back of the elastomer to accommodate the Z-Axis height of LEDs without compromising tactile feedback. The fully backlit interface provides even illumination, improving visibility in low light conditions, which is essential in military and aviation applications. These specialized LEDs emit light within a specific wavelength range, calibrated to meet strict military and industry standards.
The Result
To meet the strict requirements of the customer, we utilized elastomer rubber to build and design the entire user interface, which includes a printed circuit board and custom-designed NVIS LEDs. The use of elastomer rubber provided a complete seal to protect the interface from harsh environmental conditions, acted as a light piping medium to smoothly direct the NVIS LEDs, and offered excellent tactile feedback to allow easy operation by users wearing gloves. With this design, we successfully achieved the three primary objectives specified by the customer.
See What Our Customers Are Saying
"Very pleased with your team's response to our need during the COVID-19 crisis."
Lisa L., Medical Device
"JN White has been exceptional in working with our company in order to develop the look and feel of our new MRI patient worn transmitter. We had originally worked with a prior manufacturer for an earlier version of this product with much less desirable results. JN White delivered a clean professional product at a very reasonable price on time!"
Gary P., Medical
"We had very little information to work with and Jessica James made it nearly effortless on our end to get us exactly what we needed in a timely manner."
Lexi W., Industrial Equipment
"Getting any after-market graphic overlays done always has a certain risk factor in getting it all right. You guys were helpful, patient, & knowledgeable to achieve the best end result. Even pointing out some things that might be [an] oversight or [areas for] improvements. The outcome was perfect."
John S., Technology
"The print task was between the USA and Australia and everything went so smooth. I submitted a drawing, got a return email for me to confirm what I wanted. Even though this was over the Christmas period the print was waiting for me when I got back to work after the holidays. Great job and thanks."
Matt C., Military
"All of the folks there at JN White that I have talked to and dealt with have been very nice and professional."
Vern L., Industrial
"Customer service is wonderful. Receive confirmations and responses in a timely manner. Product has great quality."
Sara H., Medical
"It has been a pleasure working with JN White. We switched suppliers for some of our products to your company and you have given us higher quality. Excellent work!"
Roger W., Education
"I feel confident that JN White will do my order correctly."
Marie P., Government
"I found working with Sara to be a pleasant experience. We were trying to dial in the color to get just the right look on the printed substrate...Sara sent us a sample print sheet that had several variations, up and down, from the colors we specified, which allowed me to pick exactly the color we wanted. The end result product is perfect!"
Don M., Safety
"Our department has used JN White for a number of years for our inspection labels. They always respond very quickly when we contact them to place an order and communication is great with any questions we have. Highly recommend them."
Jim R., Government
"Easy process and great people to work with."
Richard Z., Military
"I'm very satisfied with your service. Always looking forward to bring the best!"
Ramses Z., Medical Devices
"JN White is very responsive to their customers. Product is delivered as expected...and they provide quality products. They have a clear understanding of the obstacles facing US based customers regarding the entire supply chain."
Bob M., Point of Sale
"We always deal with Steve Matacz. He is the best at making sure all details are perfect. Timely communication with any questions we have."
Paul A., Recreational
"Customer response time is one of the best; always prompt and helpful. On-time performance the last 12 months is 100%."
RoseMarie C., Utilities
"Customer service, quality and lead time are great! No complaints."
Sara H., Medical Devices
