Rosemont, Illinois, June 17, 2025 – Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), a diversified industrial technology manufacturer committed to powering a sustainable, connected, and safer world, today announced the launch of the KSC PF series of sealed tactile switches for surface mount technology (SMT). These compact, IP67-rated momentary-action switches feature a unique extended protective frame design that simplifies potting processes and enhances long-term durability in harsh environments, thereby providing enhanced environmental protection.
KSC PF Tactile Switches
The KSC PF series is specifically designed to meet the demanding application requirements of industrial, transportation, medical, aerospace, and high-end consumer markets. Key features include a compact 6.2 x 6.2 x 5.2 mm size, a soft actuator with clear tactile feedback, and exceptional protection against moisture, dust, and vibration. Its encapsulation-friendly architecture provides engineers with greater flexibility when designing electronic products for outdoor and mission-critical environments. (Watch the video)
While sealed tact switches are not new to the KSC product line, the KSC PF series is the first explicitly optimized for encapsulation—a process gaining rapid adoption across multiple industries. Encapsulation involves fully enclosing sensitive PCB components in resin, providing an additional protective layer against corrosive media, thermal shock, and vibration. Standard flat protective frame switch designs typically limit the depth of resin coverage, potentially compromising protection. In contrast, the KSC PF's extended protective frame enables deeper encapsulation, increases tolerance for resin surface height, and protects adjacent PCB components—all while simplifying the production process and enhancing product reliability.
"With Littelfuse's decades of engineering expertise, our KSC components provide customers with exceptional protection against harsh environments after being encapsulated on the PCB,” said Laurent Kubat, European R&D Director and Head of the Switches and Sensors Division at Littelfuse's Electronics Business Unit. “This design approach significantly improves durability and ensures long-term reliable performance.”
Laurent Kubat added: “The innovative protective frame design around the actuator in the KSC PF series allows for thicker resin layers compared to standard versions. This unique feature ensures exceptional protection for the switch and all components on the printed circuit board, ultimately enhancing the quality and reliability of customers’ products.”
Key Features and Benefits
· Extended protective frame allows encapsulation material to fully wrap and protect the switch
· Stable performance and accurate positioning during encapsulation
· IP67-rated protection, waterproof and dustproof compatible
· Compatible with SMT automated assembly, suitable for efficient mass production
· Offers gullwing or J-bend terminal options
· Rated for up to 1 million cycles, ensuring long-term operation
· Maximum power handling capacity: 1 VA @ 32 VDC.
Why is potting-friendly design important?
Potting protects sensitive electronic components by encapsulating them in resin, shielding them from moisture, dust, vibration, and corrosive elements. However, standard switch designs may hinder this process or limit protective effectiveness. The KSC PF series addresses this issue with its extended protective frame design, allowing full resin coverage without compromising switch performance. This feature ensures precise positioning during encapsulation, accommodates thicker resin layers, and enhances protection for the switch and surrounding PCB components. As encapsulation becomes standard in demanding applications such as electric mobility, industrial automation, and outdoor electronics, encapsulation-friendly components like the KSC PF help engineers simplify designs and enhance long-term reliability.