Talk:Keyboard technology

Is it erroneous to refer to a dome-switch keyboard as a "membrane" keyboard? I want to clarify the difference between dome-switch and (flat-panel) membrane keyboards (the former often being called "membrane keyboards" nowadays), but I'm not sure if referring to a dome-switch keyboard as a "membrane" keyboard is actually wrong.

Fourohfour 19:44, 12 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Hall effect keyboards use magnets and "Hall Effect" sensors instead of an actual switch. When a key is depressed, it moves a magnet, which is detected by a solid-state Hall-effect sensor. These keyboards are extremely reliable, and are able to accept millions of keystrokes before failing.

This sounds impressive until you realize that dome-switch and buckling spring keyboards are also guaranteed to accept "millions of keystrokes" (see, e.g. [1]). Unless there's a factor involved converting "keystrokes" to "key switch life", the "millions" are not precise enough to illustrate that Hall effect keyboards are more reliable. Does someone have more precise figures or an explanation? 82.92.119.11 12:09, 4 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

How about a section on the proper name for the feet/stand that you flip out to stand your keyboard at an angel? You'd probably also include the other standard non-electronic parts of a keyboard in that section.

What is the appropriate Wikipedia article to discuss the pattern of how the electronics are wired to the keys?

The rollover (key) article briefly mentions "a matrix of key switches", but the matrix disambiguation page doesn't seem to mention this kind of matrix. I've heard people say "multiplexed keyboard" but the multiplexer and multiplexing articles seem to focus on "devices" that "do" multiplexing. There is no such device in a multiplexed keyboard -- the only thing between the keyboard CPU and the switches are some resistors. (Higher quality keyboards also have anti-phantom-key diodes). But, of course, resistor isn't going to help me understand how a multiplexed keyboard works.

Does an article already exist that does for multiplexed keyboard input what the multiplexed display and Charlieplexing articles do for multiplexed LED output? --75.37.227.177 18:15, 20 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What kind of switch technology did the old Sun type 4 keyboards use? ISTR they were nearly as nice as the buckling spring switches, while not being quite as loud. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.234.148.165 (talk) 07:07, 15 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The links under Membrane Keyboard for IntelliKeys and Discoverboard are broken, and I have no idea where to find references for these. Just a heads up. IchiroMihara (talk) 01:02, 21 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm using (or was, until I spilt wine on it) a keyboard which uses dome switches for the key action, but a membrane for the actual circuit. The keyboard is a Microsoft Natrual 4000. A similar combination was used in a previous keyboard I used made by BenQ. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.86.245.224 (talk) 15:31, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps someone knowledgeable could add some bits about illuminated keyboards. -- Ddxc (talk) 19:07, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Mention common failure modes, "now the left and right shift keys send QQQ and ZZZ respectively", etc. and if there is a cure. Jidanni (talk) 00:22, 13 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Might it be mentioned that the scissor-switch mechanism of laptop keyboards is, well, rather flimsy? Every laptop I've owned, the first damage suffered has been that a peg breaks off of the plastic scissor-switch under some key. I wouldn't think it appropriate, but then there is mention of the unpopularity of the old chicklet keyboards. Gregory Merchan (talk) 23:16, 19 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It seems like this section has an overly critical tone compared to the rest of the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.169.187.242 (talk) 19:05, 25 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hello,

The cheap and middle-priced keyboards which i have recently disassembled use technology not described in the article. They consist of standard membrane layout (contact foil, spacer foil with holes, another contact foil), above which there are separate latex dome elements or a single silicone bump layer covering the complete keyboard, similar to dome type keyboards. The major difference to dome switch type is that inner of the bumps or domes is not conductive. The purpose of the domes is to provide tactile feedback and travel, and to reliably activate the membrane type switches below.

I can see how this might be cheaper and simpler than pure dome type switches. So in fact this might be predominant technology for PC keyboards at the time, however i have no statistical data on it so i cannot be sure.

Another interesting keyboard type is based Reed switches. I had this in a self-built home computer in the beginning of 90ies. The keyboard is similar to Hall effect sensors in that it uses a magnet in the keycap, however the magnet in the keycap activates a Reed sensor, which is a small vacuum tube with spaced metal stripes. When a magnet comes near, it pulls the stripes together thus making a contact. The advantage of Reed sensor type is that one can reuse standard keyboard electronics used for mechanical switch based keyboards, the elements are durable, and are not affected by dirt or fluids, and the full travel is not required for activation. Also, the bounce is neglegible. Disadvantage is perhaps the increased price compared to mechanical switches.

I have heard rumors that Vivanco Whiteboard/Blackboard (probably also sold by other vendors under different names) uses Reed switches in conjunction with silicone dome layer for tactile feedback and scissor-type key supports, however i haven't owned one and had no chance of disassembling it. Also i don't have any data about what other keyboard types could be using Reed switch technology

--IlyaMinkov (talk) 15:54, 31 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is a Japanese-layout laptop keyboard really the best we can do for the lead picture on this article on the English Wikipedia? How about disassembling a run-of-the-mill Dell 104-key or something? —BurnDownBabylon 08:22, 10 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Capacitive switches are not a rare find in generic keyboards these days, they are impossible to find. The only company currently producing capacitive switches for consumer keyboards is Topre, well known for their RealForce keyboard. These same switches are also used in the Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro. The most widely known capacitive keyboards are probably the vintage IBM Model F keyboards, which are the keyboards used with the XT and AT computers.