USB Pushbutton

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Downloads: Key Configurator 2.13.

The “USB Pushbutton” is a palm switch with a large dome. It connects to a workstation or PC via a USB cable. A press on the button sends a keystroke to the workstation. You can configure which keystroke that is. You can use the USB Pushbutton to perform any command on the workstation: launch a presentation, start a show, pause or resume playback, function as a “Quiz Buzzer”, or any other action.

The dome is illuminated with a LED.

The USB Pushbutton is recognized by the PC as a “keyboard” —with only a single key. Microsoft Windows (and other operating systems) have intrinsic support for these devices. The USB Pushbutton runs out of the box, no driver is needed (on tablets with a USB “On-The-Go” connection, an adapter-cable is needed). The button is fully compatible with “Game Show Presenter” and similar applications.

Features

The USB Pushbutton is a large illuminated hand or palm button, for indoor use. A 1 m cable is included, but the button is suitable for use with cable lengths up to 5 m. A “debounce” circuit avoids false triggering and an ESD protection filter on the USB input guarantees a reliable operation.

The USB Pushbutton needs to be mounted on a panel (control panel, front panel). The switching circuit and the USB interface extend below the button. See the image below.

The box with the control interface at the bottom of the button is detachable from the button, for easy mounting.

As mentioned above, the PC or workstation recognizes the USB Dome Button as a keyboard with one key. The key to transmit to the PC is configured via a free configuration utility, see the Downloads section. By default, the USB Dome Button transmits the key “1”.

Multiple Dome Buttons may be attached to a PC at the same time, with each Dome Button configured to transmit a different key code (when configuring the Dome Buttons, each button should be connected to the PC one at a time).

Specifications

Dimensions	Base diameter: 98 mm, dome diameter: 80 mm.
Colour	Base: black; dome: red.
Mechanical lifetime	> 10⁶ operations
Operating temperature	-25 °C to +40 °C.
Actuation force	8 to 10 N.
USB connector	Mini-B.
USB interface/profile	USB “HID”, keyboard profile, configurable key code.
Power supply	Powered through the USB connection; 15 mA nominal non-illuminated, 35 mA nominal illuminated.
Debounce criterion	20 ms stable period.
Switch latency	50 ms maximum, 35 ms average.

Accessories and variants

Yellow Pushbutton

Key Configuration utility

Button Lights utility, to be used with dome buttons with LED

Application notes

KeyConfigurator Usage Guide: The guide to using the KeyConfigurator utility, to program the USB Dome Buttons, USB Pushbuttons and Wireless Dome Buttons to a key or key sequence.
USB Buttons as Quiz Buzzers: This application note describes how to use the USB buttons as quiz buzzers, with specific focus on the illuminated buttons.

Downloads

Key Configurator utility

The KeyConfigurator utility it the utility for programming the USB Dome Buttons, USB Pushbuttons and Wireless Dome Buttons to a key or key sequence.
See also the Usage Guide.

Microsoft Windows		Version 2.13
Apple macOS		Version 2.13
Linux		Version 2.13

Button Lights utility

For buttons with LED illumination, you need this utility to control and configure the illumination. This utility can be used stand-alone or in combination with quiz master software.

Microsoft Windows

Version 1.7

USBHID SDK

The Software Development Kit for the “usbhid” devices (which includes these USB Pushbuttons). This programmer's library allows you to switch button illumination on and off under control of your own software. This SDK provides interfaces for C/C⁺⁺, C# and VB.Net, for 32-bit and 64-bit software (Linux is 64-bit only). Documentation is included.

Microsoft Windows
Linux

Version 1.7

USB Pushbutton Specifications

All systems

PDF file