« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in  (Read 5781 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jameslr

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 516
  • Location: Indiana
Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« 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.



Reference: http://www.kailh.com/en/Newsdetail.asp?Newsid=61
Logged
CM Novatouch | Filco MJ2 TKL w/ HID Lib | REΛLFORCE 87U 55g | CM QFR

Offline BlueBär

  • Posts: 2231
  • Location: Germany, SB
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 08:21:59 »
Quote from: jameslr on Tue, 19 August 2014, 08:12:58
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.
Logged

Offline Oobly

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #2 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.
Logged
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline BlueBär

  • Posts: 2231
  • Location: Germany, SB
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:39:05 »
Quote from: Oobly on Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:04:02
I think it's better than Cherry's all clear housing with lens that Corsair are using.

Why?

Quote from: Oobly on Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:04:02
I think Cherry will be the loser here. Maybe it's about time they had some competition.

Agreed.
Logged

Offline jameslr

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 516
  • Location: Indiana
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #4 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.
Logged
CM Novatouch | Filco MJ2 TKL w/ HID Lib | REΛLFORCE 87U 55g | CM QFR

Offline Puddsy

  • nice
  • * Elated Elder
  • Posts: 12277
  • Location: RSTLN E
  • "Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?"
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 12:12:03 »
gross

i wanna know what plastic they used
Logged
QFR | MJ2 TKL | "Bulgogiboard" (Keycon 104) | ctrl.alt x GON 60% | TGR Alice | Mira SE #29 | Mira SE #34 | Revo One | z | Keycult No. 1 | First CW87 prototype | Mech27v1 | Camp C225 | Duck Orion V1 | LZ CLS sxh | Geon Frog TKL | Hiney TKL One | Geon Glare TKL



"Everything is worse, but in a barely perceptible and indefinable way" -dollartacos, after I came back from a break | "Is Linkshine our Nixon?" -NAV | "Puddsy is the Puddsy of keebs" -ns90

Offline qwack

  • Posts: 310
  • Location: ISO FR
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #6 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.
Logged

Pure Pro w/MX Red - [review]

Offline Grendel

  • Posts: 462
  • Location: OR, USA
    • Firmware for Costar Replacement Controllers
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 16:58:50 »
It's a single LED, the Rosewill RGB80 uses these switches:

Logged
Currently using: RK-9000WH/GR, CMS QFXT w/ Ghost Squid
- I'm game !

Offline jameslr

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 516
  • Location: Indiana
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 18:12:13 »
Nice find!
Logged
CM Novatouch | Filco MJ2 TKL w/ HID Lib | REΛLFORCE 87U 55g | CM QFR

Offline dante

  • Posts: 2553
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #9 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.
Logged

Offline Oobly

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 01:55:11 »
Quote from: BlueBär on Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:39:05
Quote from: Oobly on Tue, 19 August 2014, 11:04:02
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.
Logged
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline Daniel Beardsmore

  • Posts: 1874
  • Location: Hertfordshire, England
  • RIP
    • Boring twaddle
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 02:55:41 »
Quote from: Oobly on Wed, 20 August 2014, 01:55:11
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!
Logged
Bore Awards
Most Boring Person on the Planet – 2011 Winner

Offline jameslr

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 516
  • Location: Indiana
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 09:15:09 »
Quote from: 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.

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.
Logged
CM Novatouch | Filco MJ2 TKL w/ HID Lib | REΛLFORCE 87U 55g | CM QFR

Offline BlueBär

  • Posts: 2231
  • Location: Germany, SB
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 09:20:16 »
Quote from: jameslr on Wed, 20 August 2014, 09:15:09
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.
Logged

Offline Oobly

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 12:31:53 »
Quote from: jameslr on Wed, 20 August 2014, 09:15:09
Quote from: 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.

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.
Logged
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline BlueBär

  • Posts: 2231
  • Location: Germany, SB
Re: Kailh making switches with RGB LEDs built in
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 13:58:16 »
Quote from: Oobly on Wed, 20 August 2014, 12:31:53
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.

Quote from: Oobly on Wed, 20 August 2014, 12:31:53
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.
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »