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Keyboard technology
Computer keyboards can be classified by the switch technology that they
use. Computer alphanumeric keyboards typically have 80 to 110 durable
switches, generally one for each key. The choice of switch technology affects
key response (the positive feedback that a key has been pressed) and pre
travel (the distance needed to push the key to enter a character reliably).
Newer keyboard models use hybrids of various technologies to achieve
greater cost savings.

Contents Keyboard construction, in four

layers, of a typical notebook
Types computer keyboard
Membrane keyboard
Dome-switch keyboard
Scissor-switch keyboard
Capacitive keyboard
Mechanical-switch keyboard
Buckling-spring keyboard
Hall-effect keyboard
Laser projection keyboard
Roll-up keyboard
Optical keyboard technology
Debouncing
Keycaps
Other parts of the PC keyboard
Keyboard switch matrix
See also
References
External links

Types

Membrane keyboard
There are two types of membrane-based keyboards, flat-panel membrane keyboards and full-travel membrane
keyboards:

Flat-panel membrane keyboards are most often found on appliances like microwave ovens or photocopiers. A common
design consists of three layers. The top layer has the labels printed on its front and conductive stripes printed on the
back. Under this it has a spacer layer, which holds the front and back layer apart so that they do not normally make
electrical contact. The back layer has conductive stripes printed perpendicularly to those of the front layer. When
placed together, the stripes form a grid. When the user pushes down at a particular position, their finger pushes the
front layer down through the spacer layer to close a circuit at one of the intersections of the grid. This indicates to the
computer or keyboard control processor that a particular button has been pressed.

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Generally, flat-panel membrane keyboards do not produce a noticeable physical feedback. Therefore, devices using
these issue a beep or flash a light when the key is pressed. They are often used in harsh environments where water- or
leak-proofing is desirable. Although used in the early days of the personal computer (on the Sinclair
ZX80, ZX81 and Atari 400), they have been supplanted by the more tactile dome and mechanical switch keyboards.

Full-travel membrane-based keyboards are the most common computer keyboards today. They have one-piece plastic
keytop/switch plungers which press down on a membrane to actuate a contact in an electrical switch matrix.

Dome-switch keyboard
Dome-switch keyboards are a hybrid of flat-panel membrane and
mechanical-switch keyboards. They bring two circuit board traces together
under a rubber or silicone keypad using either metal "dome" switches or
polyurethane formed domes. The metal dome switches are formed pieces of
stainless steel that, when compressed, give the user a crisp, positive tactile
feedback. These metal types of dome switches are very common, are usually
reliable to over 5 million cycles, and can be plated in either nickel, silver or
How a dome-switch keyboard
gold. The rubber dome switches, most commonly referred to as polydomes, works: Finger depresses the dome
are formed polyurethane domes where the inside bubble is coated in to complete the circuit
graphite. While polydomes are typically cheaper than metal domes, they
lack the crisp snap of the metal domes, and usually have a lower life
specification. Polydomes are considered very quiet, but purists tend to find
them "mushy" because the collapsing dome does not provide as much
positive response as metal domes. For either metal or polydomes, when a
key is pressed, it collapses the dome, which connects the two circuit traces
and completes the connection to enter the character. The pattern on the PC
board is often gold-plated.

Both are common switch technologies used in mass market keyboards

today. This type of switch technology happens to be most commonly used in Dome switches mesh with keys
handheld controllers, mobile phones, automotive, consumer electronics and (keyboard is upside down in this
medical devices. Dome-switch keyboards are also called direct-switch image)
keyboards.

Scissor-switch keyboard
A special case of the computer keyboard dome-switch is the scissor-switch.
The keys are attached to the keyboard via two plastic pieces that interlock in
a "scissor"-like fashion, and snap to the keyboard and the key. It still uses
rubber domes, but a special plastic 'scissors' mechanism links the keycap to
a plunger that depresses the rubber dome with a much shorter travel than
the typical rubber dome keyboard. Typically scissor-switch keyboards also
employ 3-layer membranes as the electrical component of the switch. They
also usually have a shorter total key travel distance (2 mm instead of 3.5 –
Scissor switch mechanism 4 mm for standard dome-switch keyswitches). This type of keyswitch is
often found on the built-in keyboards on laptops and keyboards marketed
as 'low-profile'. These keyboards are generally quiet and the keys require
little force to press.

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Scissor-switch keyboards are typically slightly more expensive. They are harder to clean (due to the limited movement
of the keys and their multiple attachment points) but also less likely to get debris in them as the gaps between the keys
are often smaller (as there is no need for extra room to allow for the 'wiggle' in the key, as typically found on a
membrane keyboard).[1]

Capacitive keyboard
In this type of keyboard, pressing a key changes the capacitance of a pattern of capacitor pads. The pattern consists of
two D-shaped capacitor pads for each switch, printed on a printed circuit board (PCB) and covered by a thin, insulating
film of soldermask which acts as a dielectric.

Despite the sophistication of the concept, the mechanism of capacitive switching is physically simple. The movable part
ends with a flat foam element about the size of an aspirin tablet, finished with aluminum foil. Opposite the switch is a
PCB with the capacitor pads. When the key is pressed, the foil tightly clings to the surface of the PCB, forming a daisy
chain of two capacitors between contact pads and itself separated with thin soldermask, and thus "shorting" the contact
pads with an easily detectable drop of capacitive reactance between them. Usually this permits a pulse or pulse train to
be sensed. Because the switch doesn't have an actual electrical contact, there is no debouncing necessary. The keys do
not need to be fully pressed to be actuated, which enables some people to type faster.

The IBM Model F keyboard is mechanical-key design consisted of a buckling spring over a capacitive PCB, similarly to
the later Model M keyboard that used a membrane in place of the PCB.

The most known company for their capacitive (electrostatic) switching technology is Topre Corporation[2] from Japan.
Unfortunately though, their products are not available in large parts of the world.

Mechanical-switch keyboard
Each key on a mechanical-switch keyboard contains a complete switch
underneath. Each switch is composed of a housing, a spring, and a stem.
Switches come in three variants: linear with consistent
resistance, tactilewith a non-audible bump and clicky, a tactile with an
audible click.[3][4]Depending on the resistance of the spring, the key
requires different amounts of pressure to actuate. The shape of the stem
varies the actuation distance and travel distance of the switch.The amount
of sound produced by actuation can also be changed. Mechanical keyboards
allow for the removal and replacement of keycaps. Cherry MX blue mechanical switch
(left) and disassembled MX brown
Mechanical keyboards also have a longer lifespan than membrane or dome-
switch (right).
switch keyboards, with an expected lifespan of 50 million clicks[5] per
switch for Cherry MX switches, while switches from Razer have a rated
lifetime of 60 million clicks per switch. [6]

The major current mechanical switch producer is Cherry. Alps Electric, a former major producer, ended production in
the early 2000s,[7] but Alps style switches continue to be made by others companies as Matias, Xiang Min(XM),[8] Tai-
Hao(APC)[9] and Hua-Jie(AK).[10] Others switch manufacturer are
Gateron,[11] Kaihua(Kailh),[12] Gaote(Outemu),[13]Greetech,[14] TTC[15] and Omron.

Buckling-spring keyboard

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Many typists prefer buckling spring keyboards.[16] The buckling

springmechanism (expired U.S. Patent 4,118,611) atop the switch is
responsible for the tactile and aural response of the keyboard. This
mechanism controls a small hammer that strikes a capacitive or membrane
switch.[17]

In 1993, two years after spawning Lexmark, IBM transferred its keyboard
operations to the daughter company. New Model M keyboards continued to
be manufactured for IBM by Lexmark until 1999, when Unicomppurchased
the keyboard technology.

Today, new buckling-spring keyboards are manufactured by Unicomp.

Unicomp also repairs old IBM and Lexmark keyboards.
Illustration from the original buckling
spring U.S. Patent 4,118,611, issued
to IBM in 1978.
Hall-effect keyboard
Hall effect keyboards use magnets and Hall effect sensors instead of
switches with mechanical contacts. When a key is depressed, it moves a magnet that is detected by a solid-state sensor.
Because they require no physical contact for actuation, Hall-effect keyboards are extremely reliable and can accept
millions of keystrokes before failing. They are used for ultra-high reliability applications such as nuclear power plants,
aircraft cockpits, and critical industrial environments. They can easily be made totally waterproof, and can resist large
amounts of dust and contaminants. Because a magnet and sensor are required for each key, as well as custom control
electronics, they are expensive to manufacture.

Laser projection keyboard

A laser projection device approximately the size of a computer mouse projects the outline of keyboard keys onto a flat
surface, such as a table or desk. This type of keyboard is portable enough to be easily used with PDAs and cellphones,
and many models have retractable cords and wireless capabilities. However, sudden or accidental disruption of the
laser will register unwanted keystrokes. Also, if the laser malfunctions, the whole unit becomes useless, unlike
conventional keyboards which can be used even if a variety of parts (such as the keycaps) are removed. This type of
keyboard can be frustrating to use since it is susceptible to errors, even in the course of normal typing, and its complete
lack of tactile feedback makes it even less user-friendly than the lowest quality membrane keyboards.

Roll-up keyboard
Keyboards made of flexible silicone or polyurethane materials can roll up in a moderately tight bundle. Tightly folding
the keyboard may damage the internal membrane circuits. When they are completely sealed in rubber they are water
resistant. Like membrane keyboards, they are reported to be very hard to get used to, as there is little tactile feedback,
and silicone will tend to attract dirt, dust, and hair.

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Most keyboards are rigid, but this

keyboard demonstrates one of
many variations from the norm.

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