A unusual keyboard key switch • Hacker News Board

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#21

Post by tubetime » Thu, May 14, 2020, 5:40 PM UTC

ComputerGuru wrote: post #18

The claim that it was patents that prevented it from seeing widespread use doesn’t seem legitimate, especially as the list of cons doesn’t mention the high production and component costs of such a mechanism. The reason why crappy dome switches won out despite their really long list of cons is extreme price superiority. The linked design is simply far too expensive and complicated by comparison.

dome switches are definitely cheaper, but i was comparing this design to mechanical switches. the magnetic switch has far fewer moving parts and the tolerances don't have to be very tight.

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#22

Post by tubetime » Thu, May 14, 2020, 5:41 PM UTC

nick238 wrote: post #5

A flip-flop would work to convert the analog to 1-bit digital, but you could also tweak the magnetics and with a better ADC get velocity measurements! Add some software and you can type ANGRY MESSAGES by just pounding on your keyboard, no shift/cruise control needed!

that's a cool idea!

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#23

Post by tubetime » Thu, May 14, 2020, 5:43 PM UTC

jaybeeayyy wrote: post #2

Interesting! I'm curious how this would sound on a built board compared to the other unique mechanical switches out there.

it doesn't have any snap action. the force is set by a spring so it's just linear. the sound is fairly quiet.

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#24

Post by jpindar » Thu, May 14, 2020, 5:48 PM UTC

whywhywhywhy wrote: post #8

Exmoor wrote: post #4

Slightly more readable version: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1260688848104771586.html

Shocked Twitter has chosen to make their reading experience even worse. Now I get linked to a tweet thread, Twitter knows it's a tweet thread of one user but what does it choose to show? Just the single tweet, a small "Show this thread" link and then 5 random other tweets from other people not connected or related to this tweet at all.

That's not what I get. I get the 13 tweets in the thread and then replies to those tweets. Are you logged in?

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#25

Post by falcolas » Thu, May 14, 2020, 6:54 PM UTC

korethr wrote: post #20

So, how's the tactile feel on this switch?

Probably something like a U curve, with no explicit tactile bump, since the magnets would be attracted to the ferrite core, and when that force falls off, the spring force would pick back up.

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#26

Post by bjoli » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:46 PM UTC

DavidVoid wrote: post #10

bjoli wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hall effect switches are coming. Some manufacturers have already started. The cool part is that you can set the actuation point in software on them.

Hall effect switches have existed in keyboards for a long time [1]. I don't think there are many of them being produced nowadays though, but there's at least one new Chinese Hall effect keyboard that came out a few years ago [2]. Wooting also has a Hall effect switch [3]. You can't buy any keyboards with it yet but you can pre-order one at least [4]. [1] https://deskthority.net/wiki/Keystroke_sensing#Hall_effect [2]…

Oh yes, I should have written "coming back". I have one from the 70s in my posession somewhere. I am more a clicky kind of guy (or at least proper tactile, not mx brown mush), but for linear switches I would love to be able to set the actuation point!

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#27

Post by snori74 » Thu, May 14, 2020, 8:51 PM UTC

DavidVoid wrote: post #12

This just reminded me of the most unusual switch I've ever heard of: Smith-Corona's acoustic switch from the 80s. There's no per-switch sensor at all! Instead, each key-press just results in one wide metal bar being hit. And to figure out which key was pressed, there's a sensor on the right and the left side which are used to calculate what key was pressed based on how long it took for the signal (i.e. vibration in t…

Once dealt with a 2d digitising pad that worked off the audio click of a spark in a similar way. Wild.

Re: A unusual keyboard key switch

#28

Post by thesmok » Fri, May 15, 2020, 7:40 AM UTC

akssri wrote: post #9

Very cool! Old keyboards and key-switches are an endless source of fun trivia. I think Topre is the only one that manufactures keyboards with contactless key switches today. Topre key-switches measure the change in capacitance instead, and their keyboards (of the HHKB fame) sell for greater than $200. https://www.keychatter.com/topre-switches/

You can also get Topre switches in Leopold keyboards, models ending with letter C (for capacitive).