Gaming, office, mechanics—all of these are keyboard types. Now optical is also more and more popular. We understand what optical keyboards are and if they have a chance to win the market and users.
Before moving on to optics, let's review what other types of keyboards exist based on the type of switches (switches). There are a few of them, but let's pick the most common. Mechanical fully lives up to their name - the switching happens mechanically. There is a metal contact under the key that closes and opens when the key is moved, and returns under the action of a spring. In most models, the signal to the computer about the keypress begins about halfway through its travel.
There are several membranes in the membrane model, one of which has contacts. The top mounts a silicone substrate with small bumps below the keys. Pressing the key pushes the bump, connecting it to the lower membrane, on which the contacts are applied. In thin-film devices, after the button is fully pressed to the end, a signal is sent to the computer about the press.
How Optical Switches Work
An optical keyboard is of the mechano-optical type because it has mechanical moving elements. When the key is pressed, its rod moves down and then returns under the action of the spring. In fact, here, mechanics ends and optics begins. If, under normal circumstances, such a movement of a "pure" mechanical key would close the corresponding contact, the principle of operation in optics is quite different. For example, in Light Strike or Razer switches, there is an emitter inside the switch that directs an infrared beam to a special sensor.
In some keyboards, there are two such beams - horizontal and vertical. The keystick blocks the beam, but when pressed, allows it to connect to the sensor, which gives a command to the system. For example, if we are entering text, then the character we press at that moment will appear on the page of the text editor.
In the Flaretech technology, all components are located directly on the printed circuit board, with an LED backlight and a sensor to detect the movement of the switch under the switch.
What is the difference between optics and mechanics?
In classical mechanics, there must be some kind of contact, most commonly metals (don't forget good old membranes). In optics, everything is run by light or infrared radiation. We figured out how it works, now we need to understand what pros or cons will be experienced by optical users. A significant advantage is that the keys operate with relatively little pressure and a short delay when pressed. In classical mechanics, the pressing force reaches 45, 50, 75 grams, and the response time varies from 15 to 60 milliseconds. On the optics side, depending on the model and manufacturer, the pressure can be up to 45 grams, and the delay on pressing can vary from 0.03 to 0.2 milliseconds. In fact, a signal is sent to the computer immediately after a single keystroke.
This speed is primarily attractive to gamers. Unlike classical mechanics, optics have no metal contacts that oxidize and wear out over time. In this case, the resource of the button is up to 100 million clicks. For thin films, resources go up to 10 million clicks, and for machinery, from 5 to 100 million clicks. Putting all of the above together, the conclusion is that optics are much cooler than mechanics. However, optical keyboards are still poorly distributed in the market due to their complex structures.
Signature switch Light Strike. Emitter visible (red) Aiming beam to sensor (green)
Additional Optical Chip
There are also special options for optical keyboards, however, they are mechanically identical. Each manufacturer will have its own switch brand and switch technology. For example, A4Tech Bloody uses Light Strike branded switches in its keyboards. The ZET Blade PRO keyboard uses Kailh Red Optical switches, while the Asus TUF Gaming K7 optical keyboard uses TUF Optical-Mech.
In most cases, the optics come with RGB backlighting, which users can customize to their liking. Some manufacturers, such as Razer, offer stable and balanced keystrokes for fast, precise keystrokes. It still works if your finger touches the edge of the key. When choosing an optical device, you need to pay attention to whether all buttons are optical, as some manufacturers make only a few keys.
Razer Blade 15 Laptop Keyboard Positioned by Manufacturer as First Optical Laptop Keyboard
pressure
With the Huntsman V2 Analog, Razer offers adjustable key actuation. First, it's appealing to gamers because the switch adapts to a certain play style and keystroke intensity. According to Razer, users will be able to independently adjust the key actuation points from 1.5 to 3.6 mm, while highlighting small, medium and full actuation heights. At lower altitudes, the keys are more sensitive and require a light tap. This option is suitable for games where responsiveness is important. At the full height of the trigger, you'll need strong pressure, which is useful when typing. It works by measuring the exact amount of light the switch is passing through the sensor.
Optical keyboards seem to be a promising robotic hand. It's unlikely to replace Classic Mechanics, but it would certainly be a good competitor.