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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: xsphat on Fri, 24 August 2007, 01:09:37

Title: capacitive?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 24 August 2007, 01:09:37
What kind of mechanism is that and what uses it?

Never heard of it.
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: iMav on Fri, 24 August 2007, 02:09:33
Quote from: xsphat
What kind of mechanism is that and what uses it?

Never heard of it.

From wikipedia:
Capacitive keyboard
In this type of keyboard, pressing the key changes the capacitance of a pattern printed on a PC board. Usually this permits a pulse or pulse train to be sensed. Unlike "dome switch" keyboards, the pattern will be covered by a thin, insulating film. Capacitive keyboards are inexpensive, and resist wear, water, foreign objects and dirt. They are common in PC keyboards.


This type of keyboard uses changes in capacitance (stored static electricity), rather than changes in flows of electricity to register a keystroke.

The HHKB Professional uses capacitive keyswitches coupled with cone-shaped spring.  See here (http://www.pfusystems.com/hhkeyboard/leaflet/keyspec.html).
Title: capacitive?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 24 August 2007, 02:27:21
Impressive, thanks.
Title: capacitive?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 24 August 2007, 02:39:34
So do the newer Microsoft and (C)apple mushy style keyboards use this?
Title: capacitive?
Post by: iMav on Fri, 24 August 2007, 02:45:25
Quote from: xsphat
So do the newer Microsoft and (C)apple mushy style keyboards use this?

I believe they use membrane switches (see the above link and look at what the HHKB Lite keyboard uses).

I am most-certainly not an expert though.  If you turn up different information, let me know.  :)
Title: capacitive?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 24 August 2007, 02:47:14
will do
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 01 April 2015, 17:48:13
Did you ever find more information?
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: hwood34 on Wed, 01 April 2015, 17:49:51
Did you ever find more information?
^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 01 April 2015, 18:25:49
Did you ever find more information?
^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^

OP never updated, the suspense is killing me.
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: Novus on Wed, 01 April 2015, 18:28:10
Did you ever find more information?
^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^

OP never updated, the suspense is killing me.

Yea same here.
I'm literally pissing myself in suspense.
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: jonathanyu on Wed, 01 April 2015, 18:52:03
 ^-^
Title: Re: capacitive?
Post by: Huxley2500 on Wed, 01 April 2015, 21:02:51
2007 must have been a good year for keyboards.   :))