Found a weird thing on an old Key tronic keyboard

[Jimi14]

So having lurked on these forums for quite some time now i finally decided to to register (hello everybody )

Putting that aside for a moment though, when i was recently checking a local online store for any deals, i stumbled upon a (way overpriced) key tronic keyboard whose label caught my attention.

195627268_4274cf97-94eb-436b-a2ab-25475b631943.jpg (52.75 KiB) Viewed 3062 times

At first, i just thought they where talking about the switches themselves, but after goggling a little i found out that this 'electrostatic discharge capability' was apparently a technology patented by Key tronic in 1992.

http://www.google.com/patents/US5335137

So has anyone heard about this before? I sure haven't and does that mean i can discharge myself by just touching the space bar? I didn't really get it.

Oh, and please excuse my bad English.

[chzel]

Welcome!
Probably this is a specialty keyboard for use in environments where ESD protection is paramount. Even moving around on your chair can create a static charge of tens of kV and many electronic devices can easily be destroyed by a couple of hundred Volts (MOSFETS for example). So conductive wrist-straps are used along with conductive workmats and shoe-straps, etc. so you don't accumulate a charge. Of course everything is conductive through a resistance (usually 1MΩ) to avoid fried technicians.

[Jimi14]

Didn't think it looked that special, but after taking a closer look it seems to have a lightning legend on the space bar.

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If its true, then it might at least explain its unusually high price for an 10 year old, non-mechanical, keyboard.

Still don't think i'am buying it though

[Findecanor]

The space bar is connected to shield. That's it ... It shouldn't cost more than 10 Euros.

An old Key Tronic I have has a mushy feel. But my ErgoForce and my OEM keyboard (smaller and flatter) are not, and the ErgoForce has that kind of space bar. The good Key Tronic rubber dome/membrane keyboards last long and keep their feel.

[Jimi14]

And he wants ~40 euro + shipment... and like i said i am not paying that.

Its just that i have never seen such a feature on a keyboard before, so thanks for clearing it up.

[daedalus]

The UK-made Model Ms used to have a spacebar grounding wire.

[chzel]

Yes, but the spacebar itself is not conductive.
So the wire prevents the key from accumulating a charge, but does not discharge your body.

As, for the KeyTronic, being ESD-safe means it targets a very specific niche market, and that drives the price up.
For example a simple antistatic mat ~A3 in size easily costs 50€.

[Findecanor]

Nah.. Every Key Tronic ErgoForce I've seen have had the antistatic Space Bar.

BTW, I've worked at a place that had an antistatic floor.

[woody]

BTW, I've worked at a place that had an antistatic floor.

That's pretty much a must for a place that handles PCB/IC work. And the floor requires periodical maintenance.