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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jameslr on Tue, 19 August 2014, 08:12:58

Title: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: jameslr on Tue, 19 August 2014, 08:12:58
From a news article put out in Feb of this year. That switch on the right looks really weird. WTF is it? Looks a little like a "Topre compatible" MX-type switch.

(http://www.kailh.com/upfile/image/56.jpg)(http://www.kailh.com/upfile/image/57.jpg)

Reference: http://www.kailh.com/en/Newsdetail.asp?Newsid=61
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: BlueBär on Tue, 19 August 2014, 08:21:59
WTF is it? Looks a little like a "Topre compatible" MX-type switch.

Topre sliders are slightly different, I think the problem would be that you could rotate Topre caps on a slider like that because it has nothing that sticks out on the vertical axis on the inside of the slider. It's probably just like that because it is a

Quote
Center Full-color Light-emitting Keyboard Switch

which sounds pretty cool.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: Oobly on Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:04:02
It's amazing what counts for "innovation" nowadays. They have a PATENT for both types of switches. I can understand the second one, but the first one is just a normal Cherry / Kailh switch with a bit cut out to fit the LED. Even the 4 holes are in the same place as on all Cherry MX. Innovation for patent purposes is supposed to be "not obvious to a professional in the same field". Seems pretty obvious to me, and I'm not even a switch designer.

Anyway, seems they're trying to block Cherry from doing the same thing by getting the patent. I think it's better than Cherry's all clear housing with lens that Corsair are using. I think Cherry will be the loser here. Maybe it's about time they had some competition.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: BlueBär on Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:39:05
I think it's better than Cherry's all clear housing with lens that Corsair are using.

Why?

I think Cherry will be the loser here. Maybe it's about time they had some competition.

Agreed.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: jameslr on Tue, 19 August 2014, 12:03:16
Something I just noticed that is odd is that they decided to use 3 separate LEDs (1 large 3mm and 2 ~1.8mm) instead of a single LED with RGB leads inside the same diode.Maybe the diameter was too large for the standard tri-color RGB LEDs that are out there now. I think they're 5mm which would probably make them too big for the switch housing.

Edit: I think it just looks that way - after looking at it again it seems it must be just the shape of the LED plastic that is confusing me.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: Puddsy on Tue, 19 August 2014, 12:12:03
gross

i wanna know what plastic they used
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: qwack on Tue, 19 August 2014, 15:41:07
I don't care about their housing, but I'd like to know where to find this kind of RGB LEDs. Looks like they're a bit smaller than 5x5x2 LEDs, and that they could fit Cherry switches with minimal modifications.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: Grendel on Tue, 19 August 2014, 16:58:50
It's a single LED, the Rosewill RGB80 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201071) uses these switches:

(http://s15.postimg.org/6mzmv3muf/20140819_144831_cr.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/6mzmv3muf/)
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: jameslr on Tue, 19 August 2014, 18:12:13
Nice find!
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: dante on Tue, 19 August 2014, 18:25:36
Noppoo was supposed to have come out with a Capactive keyboard switch but I haven't seen any sign of it.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 20 August 2014, 01:55:11
I think it's better than Cherry's all clear housing with lens that Corsair are using.

Why?

...

I prefer the light to be emitted under the keycap rather than the whole switch glowing. I use low profile cases and the switch glow would irritate me.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Wed, 20 August 2014, 02:55:41
I prefer the light to be emitted under the keycap rather than the whole switch glowing. I use low profile cases and the switch glow would irritate me.

I find that I'm not as bothered by light bleed as I thought, but Matias switches—where the whole switch glows under the keycap—really does look wrong!
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: jameslr on Wed, 20 August 2014, 09:15:09
Noppoo was supposed to have come out with a Capactive keyboard switch but I haven't seen any sign of it.

Off topic, but It's Noppoo 108 EC Pro.

The user that posted this article on it has an account here on GH and is running a Tai Hao group buy.

http://www.hkepc.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2079319

Looks nice.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: BlueBär on Wed, 20 August 2014, 09:20:16
Off topic, but It's Noppoo 108 EC Pro.

The user that posted this article on it has an account here on GH and is running a Tai Hao group buy.

http://www.hkepc.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2079319

Looks nice.

Those legends are terribly light.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 20 August 2014, 12:31:53
Noppoo was supposed to have come out with a Capactive keyboard switch but I haven't seen any sign of it.

Off topic, but It's Noppoo 108 EC Pro.

The user that posted this article on it has an account here on GH and is running a Tai Hao group buy.

http://www.hkepc.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2079319

Looks nice.

That's VERY interesting. It has MX compatible sliders, "orings" installed for the upstroke, space for 2 LED's per switch, costar style stabs, thick Cherry-esque profile PBT caps...

Looks very promising.

Not sure I'd like the 35g switches, though.
Title: Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
Post by: BlueBär on Wed, 20 August 2014, 13:58:16
It has MX compatible sliders...

Looks like they're not compatible to Topre caps though (see the issue I mentioned above), correct me if I'm wrong.

Not sure I'd like the 35g switches, though.

Personally I hated the 35g switches on a RF with variable weights. They're really mushy. Maybe these are better but I kind of doubt it right now.