Optical Switch Keyboards

[HaaTa]

Other than the DataHand, have Optical Switch Keyboards been seen out in the wild?

[HaaTa]

No, replies?

Teaser then,

[fossala]

Broken image.

[HaaTa]

Not so for me (even not logged in, and viewing from another computer on the other side of the country)...

Do you have troubles viewing picasa? (work proxy?)

[woody]

Then, linear?

[fossala]

Still broken, and I am at home.

[HaaTa]

Heh, something's wrong with your ISP...
I don't usually do this, but,

2011-11-10 16.50.40.jpg (124.59 KiB) Viewed 8928 times

[fossala]

I can see that, I am out in a couple of hours and I will check it again when I am there.

[Spharx]

How are thy suppose to work ??

[ripster]

He won't tell you.

It's a game in the USA we call "20 Questions".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty_Questions

[webwit]

Is it a MOBBAL keyboard?

I really like the concept of an optical switch. It's so simple yet elegant, just detect key travel by checking if a light beam passes. The switch point will always be the same throughout the lifetime, which will be very long because there's no mechanical wear.

[HaaTa]

Nope, it's not MOBBAL. This keyboard is from the 80's. And was mass-produced (though I don't know to the extent).

As another hint, the company that manufactured the keyboard is Japanese for a US company. The manufacturer was bought out/merged by Hitachi in 2000.

The US company has 1 FCC certification for the computer that the keyboard came with. Unfortunately, the keyboard only says it's been certified, no FCC ID. It was granted in 1982. But I'm skeptical, since the keyboard says Class A (Industrial/Commercial use) and the grant was for Class B (Home use).

From the plastic, and ASSY 3388 8764 I'm guessing the late 80's.

More discussion == more hints .

[ripster]

I'm a big fan of the Suck & Blow switches myself.

At least the name.....


Is it Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?

[ripster]

Lulz - Mobal? Advertising in Wikipedia. How tacky.

"MOBBAL™ Technology keyboard"

I marked this section once again as an advert. While it might be novel to do away with the conventional key matrix, this is still a keyboard which uses optical sensors. I would thus rewrite the section as "Optical keyboard" where the MOBBAL is just one arrangement. For an example of another keyboard incorporating optical sensors, please see the Datahand "keyboard". --84.196.169.103 (talk) 13:17, 11 November 2009 (UTC)


As patented technology MOBBAL is the only keyboard technology of its kind - it is not a keyboard - many keyboards may use this technology, but the technology is one. There is no optical keyboard or it does not fall in the scope of this technology - and MOBBAL, once again is not a keyboard, it is a technology, so it does not fit under other technologies... right? I would ask to re-consider, thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.63.52.73 (talk) 15:03, 13 November 2009 (UTC)

The "Optical keyboard technology" section states that the MOBBAL Keyboard Technology is the only optical technology developed to a mass production stage. The only citation for this statement is a link to a primary source; a website that hasn't been updated since 2009. {{advert}}? - Soulkeeper (talk) 00:01, 4 March 2011 (UTC)

[HaaTa]

Nothing today?

More teasers:

[webwit]

Pah, I bet it does not have a detachable USB cable.

[HaaTa]

It has a detachable something

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[kps]

I am guessing that this board was buit by Burroughs Corporation/Unisys

Ah! I was trying to remember who else besides DG and Tek used light blue highlights.

I'll bet you're right.

burr0054.jpg (128.78 KiB) Viewed 8764 times

[ripster]

I'm bored.


When is the next round of 20 questions?

Optical Switch Patent.png (68.49 KiB) Viewed 8748 times

[kps]

I'm bored.

I'm not. I still want to know what the keyboard belongs to, since t№1KEotP can't tell me.

When is the next round of 20 questions?

I have a keyboard at home. The switches are contactless, but not capacitive, optical, or Hall effect.

[ripster]

I think it's this one!

[ripster]

This one?

2105110_orig.jpg (72.77 KiB) Viewed 8733 times

[ripster]

THIS one!



Oh damn!

http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?atta ... 1255420550

[ripster]

I'm going to get this YET!

THIS ONE!

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?7447 ... s-keyboard.

[ripster]

Oh crap. DB-9 (I call it DB-9 just to annoy Kishy), not RJ-45.

[ripster]

Are the 20 questions up yet?

[HaaTa]

Lol, took a bit.

The manufacturer was Kokusai.

Oh, and the keyfeel is quite interesting. Most of the keys are mid-weight linears while the blue keys (and the double width keys) are twice as heavy. And the amount of force required seems to decrease at the very end.

Don't worry, I have another neat one

[ripster]

I'll save everybody the Google Image search for Kokusai keyboard. Didn't spot it.

This puzzling pic DID pop up.

[HaaTa]