Multicolor backlit LEDs on Mechanical keyboards

[jabar]

So, several rubber dome keyboards already feature multicolor LEDs, I imagine some sort of RGB diode, on backlit keys. Has this option been presented on a mechanical keyboard yet, or is that something we'll likely see in the future? Why have RD keyboards seen this option but not mechanical keyboards yet?

I'm surprised Ducky keeps going at individual colors matched up against the four main switches, with every color added (like Orange), an entire line of MX Blue, Red, Black, Brown keyboards will need to be made.

[tp4tissue]

So, several rubber dome keyboards already feature multicolor LEDs, I imagine some sort of RGB diode, on backlit keys. Has this option been presented on a mechanical keyboard yet, or is that something we'll likely see in the future? Why have RD keyboards seen this option but not mechanical keyboards yet?

I'm surprised Ducky keeps going at individual colors matched up against the four main switches, with every color added (like Orange), an entire line of MX Blue, Red, Black, Brown keyboards will need to be made.

Different voltages per led, if they put in a complicated LED controller along with say RGB leds, they'd be looking at tripling the price for the keyboard on a feature not everyone wants..

[jabar]

Different voltages per led, if they put in a complicated LED controller along with say RGB leds, they'd be looking at tripling the price for the keyboard on a feature not everyone wants..

Yes, to me it seems a superfluous feature. But I guess with rubber domes the keyboards are cheap enough to integrate RGB LEDs and charge standard mech keyboard prices.

[xDezor]

It shouldn't cost much of anything to implement an LED controller if they chose to.

[jabar]

It shouldn't cost much of anything to implement an LED controller if they chose to.

Then the real question lies, why would manufacturers like Vortex and Ducky rely on single LED models when RGB is an available option like Logitech have done long ago? I have a feeling backlit mechanical keyboards are moving in this direction.

[xDezor]

It shouldn't cost much of anything to implement an LED controller if they chose to.

Then the real question lies, why would manufacturers like Vortex and Ducky rely on single LED models when RGB is an available option like Logitech have done long ago? I have a feeling backlit mechanical keyboards are moving in this direction.

I'm not sure. I haven't taken apart a cherry switch before, but it is possible a tri-colored led may not fit (the 4 legs of the led). That's my theory at least.

[alaricljs]

You can't fit a multi-lead LED into a cherry MX switch without modifying it.  It has room for 3mm and 2 leads.  The only RGB LEDs start at 5mm and get larger, and they have 4 leads.

[tp4tissue]

You can't fit a multi-lead LED into a cherry MX switch without modifying it.  It has room for 3mm and 2 leads.  The only RGB LEDs start at 5mm and get larger, and they have 4 leads.

nawh.. they could make this happen.. just too expensive.

[jabar]

You can't fit a multi-lead LED into a cherry MX switch without modifying it.  It has room for 3mm and 2 leads.  The only RGB LEDs start at 5mm and get larger, and they have 4 leads.

There's an engineering answer. Thanks for that explanation, although I think with the influx of interest in mechanical keyboards, we shall soon see RGB backlighting whether through Cherry or third-party initiatives.

[Hyde]

You can't fit a multi-lead LED into a cherry MX switch without modifying it.  It has room for 3mm and 2 leads.  The only RGB LEDs start at 5mm and get larger, and they have 4 leads.

This and the reason they can fit RGB LEDs in rubber dome keyboard is because they use diffuser sheets.  They didn't put 1 LED per key like mechanical keyboard does.  They probably put like 10 LED across the board and put diffuser sheet to light up the whole thing, so they have a lot more room to fit the larger LEDs.

[xDezor]

You can't fit a multi-lead LED into a cherry MX switch without modifying it.  It has room for 3mm and 2 leads.  The only RGB LEDs start at 5mm and get larger, and they have 4 leads.

Figured as much.

[FoxWolf1]

Perhaps not entirely impossible, though.

[whiskerBox]

Tsangan showed me a video of his KMACs caps lock where it changed colors when on, prolly what your talking about. It was pretty wild looking.

[SmallFry]

Huh. That's cool! I'd love to know how he did it.

[Halverson]

Pretty sure Tsangan is a wizard, I think I saw him in Wizard city last week, hitting up a convo with huntress wizard

[alaricljs]

Perhaps not entirely impossible, though.

Note that those are renders and the LED shown has 2 leads and it's hard to tell how many emitters in it.  Certainly doesn't look like more than 1.  The perfectly lit legends (both shifted and non-shifted) of the num-keys make it pretty obvious.

Tsangan showed me a video of his KMACs caps lock where it changed colors when on, prolly what your talking about. It was pretty wild looking.

That is a 2 lead LED that color cycles all on its own.  Someone did up a whole ducky like that and it looks cool but gets out of sync in only a couple minutes and turns into chaotic color epilepsy.

[whiskerBox]

Perhaps not entirely impossible, though.

Note that those are renders and the LED shown has 2 leads and it's hard to tell how many emitters in it.  Certainly doesn't look like more than 1.  The perfectly lit legends (both shifted and non-shifted) of the num-keys make it pretty obvious.

Tsangan showed me a video of his KMACs caps lock where it changed colors when on, prolly what your talking about. It was pretty wild looking.

That is a 2 lead LED that color cycles all on its own.  Someone did up a whole ducky like that and it looks cool but gets out of sync in only a couple minutes and turns into chaotic color epilepsy.

Oh ok lol, yeah it looked pretty crazy I couldn't imagine a whole board of those.

EDIT: O.O I see the video

[Hyde]

Perhaps not entirely impossible, though.

So it's a tri-color LED keyboard eh?  That's pretty cool.  I also think it's smart for them to put the lettering on the left side and turn the LED side to the left too, this way you can light both the regular character and the shift characters.

[fruktstund]

Googled for RGB LEDs and ended up here, interesting...

Well, anyway, wouldn't it work to use those square LEDs and use PWM to get all possible colours? Of course, it depends on whether or not it has a separate leg for each colour, which it maybe hasn't. Would still be pretty hard to source I guess, since the only thing I can find on the internet is this, which doesn't say much...

I'll have to look into this again after getting some sleep, to tired to even write now. :>

[tp4tissue]

Googled for RGB LEDs and ended up here, interesting...

Well, anyway, wouldn't it work to use those square LEDs and use PWM to get all possible colours? Of course, it depends on whether or not it has a separate leg for each colour, which it maybe hasn't. Would still be pretty hard to source I guess, since the only thing I can find on the internet is this, which doesn't say much...

I'll have to look into this again after getting some sleep, to tired to even write now. :>

Problem is "Controller... "

[IvanIvanovich]

I think 'easiest' solution, but only would work well for PCB mount board is use SMD RGB led next or in between the switches instead of the usual 3mm led inside the switch. This way sidestep the MX design limitation. Of course there may be some problem to design all the traces for that, with 6 leads per led.... :O Might need some madness of 3 layer pcb or something and use ARM processor for keyboard/led controller.

[FoxWolf1]

I believe that the new Matias switches support lighting via an external LED plus clear switch housing...if I'm recalling this fact correctly, it'd mean you could have a good bit more freedom in the backlight department.

[luckynet]

Christmas lights! i tried this once.. then failed.. T.T

[mashby]

I do enjoy backlighting and it would be nice to be able to switch the color now and again. I don't know about that crazy disco stuff though.

[tp4tissue]

I do enjoy backlighting and it would be nice to be able to switch the color now and again. I don't know about that crazy disco stuff though.

Just ordered some crazy disco lights... gonna replace my indicators

[fruktstund]

Problem is "Controller... "

Yeah of course, but I don't think it's entirely impossible, but it would probably require something like an ARM controller and good thinking on the PCB side.

I think 'easiest' solution, but only would work well for PCB mount board is use SMD RGB led next or in between the switches instead of the usual 3mm led inside the switch. This way sidestep the MX design limitation. Of course there may be some problem to design all the traces for that, with 6 leads per led.... :O Might need some madness of 3 layer pcb or something and use ARM processor for keyboard/led controller.

Hm, this could also work, but wouldn't it look kind of weird? If the LEDs are bright enough it may not though.

This whole RGB LED business sounds like madness in general, but if I'll ever buy/build a backlit keyboard it definitely has to be bright multicolour LEDs so I don't grow tired with it in a week.

[IvanIvanovich]

Another lazy way, make plate of plexiglass and edge mount the led in the plexi and use it more like a diffuse panel. Would only need 6 or so led for it to look decent and even, one in each corner and top and bottom center.
But both my idea is more of the underglow effect style, not like the light up legend in the keycap style.

[tp4tissue]

Another lazy way, make plate of plexiglass and edge mount the led in the plexi and use it more like a diffuse panel. Would only need 6 or so led for it to look decent and even, one in each corner and top and bottom center.
But both my idea is more of the underglow effect style, not like the light up legend in the keycap style.

I love plexi as much as the next guy, but it's just impossible to keep them looking good for long..