[answered, thanks] 4 or so buttons in a dip?

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Having a number of switches in a dip is common- they've been used to configure baud rates and what not for, like, ever.

But I'm wondering if there's any equivalant package with momentary buttons not switches?

I want to make a small setup on protoboard with a bunch of buttons, switches and LEDs to save messing around with loose components and thought it would be easier to add say 8 or 10 buttons if they were all in one physical block.

Mr Google didn't find any, so wondering if anyone has ever seen any?

So in the pic, the buttons on the left in the package on the right?

buttons and switches.GIF

2

I have, in over 40 years in the electronic hobby, never seen a momentary DIP switch. The DIP switches with rocker actuators are as close as I have seen.

3

groundfungus:
I have, in over 40 years in the electronic hobby, never seen a momentary DIP switch.

Same here, but thought I'd ask.

4

Momentary switches are meant to connect mechanically to buttons on the front panel, so never need to be less
than a finger's width apart in practice. DIP switches are intended for setup on the PCB, not as a main
user interface switch. Momentary buttons have no mechanical state so aren't useful for setting hardware
options.

5

I've never seen anything like that - in a product when there are multiple buttons to push, designers typically use discrete buttons, paired with a custom molded housing that has proper labels on each button.

DIP switches are also falling out of favor - they're fairly expensive for what they are.

6

And many microcontrollers have built-in EEPROM so settings can be done that way rather than switches - even most Arduinos have EEPROM. DIP switches are also bulky and through-hole, both of which have costs.

7

There ARE tactile switches (and even "microswitches") that are small enough to be mounted 4 to a 0.3*0.8 inch PCB area... Probably you're better off finding individual switches that will fit in a protoboard, like: http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G14045

8

Maybe mount several of these side by side:

.

9

Multiple "buttons" in a sip:

  • Turn on INPUT_PULLUP(s).
  • Touch with jumper wire that's attached to GND.
  • Easily converted to male.
  • To reduce bounce time, drink a caffeinated beverage.

Some of these PMOD modules (1x6 pinout version) might be of interest:

10

"To reduce bounce time, drink a caffeinated beverage."

lol

.

11

Someone did a "bounceless pushbutton" DIP-size PCB with a couple of tactile switches, an SMT 74hc and passives on the bottom. I though the debounce circuits should be replaced by a small micro, but it was pretty neat.

Now, I can't find it :frowning:

I did do a "theoretical" redesign (not built, no code.) Looks like:
Screen Shot 2017-02-25 at 6.25.52 PM.jpg

12

LarryD:
Maybe mount several of these side by side:

Yep that's what I've done before, and will do. (But thru-hole not surface.)

13

dlloyd:

  • To reduce bounce time, drink a caffeinated beverage.

I think you've got that backwards.

14

I think you've got that backwards.

I think you're right (except in this case)

@manor_royal ... it would be interesting to see your final solution when ready.