Technology Center
What is an Elastomer? A Heat Seal? A Pin?
Pins, Heat Seals, and Elastomers are methods of mechanically interfacing the display to a printed circuit board.
Pins are attached to the display to allow the user to either mount the display in a socket or solder it directly into a circuit board. From an end user standpoint, pins are the easiest to use since there is no requirement for a compression bezel or expensive heat seal bonding equipment. The pins are attached to the glass with a structural epoxy on the back. On the top, we apply an electrically conductive epoxy with an RTV overcoating. Pins are the most reliable connection method. |
Heat seals are similar to flexible circuit boards with the difference being that the interface tabs are made of a conductive hot melt adhesive. Generally, particles such as carbon, gold, or silver are added to the adhesive to make it conductive. The pads of the heat seal are aligned with the pads of the display and a hot bar is brought down under pressure and the conductive adhesive is melted and bonded to the display. The adhesive is allowed to cool and an electrical bond is made with the display. |
Elastomers are silicon strips of alternating conductors and insulators. These materials are generally soft and compliant and can be easily compressed between the display and circuit board. Elastomers require a bezel to squeeze the display and circuit board together. |
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