deskthority

Hasu has posted a PDF link on the [wiki]Alps CM[/wiki] page with actual Alps specifications. He's also pointed out this topic to me: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=5318.0

Basically, the evidence is clear that "CM" is not common to Alps or Forward Electronics part numbers. The part numbers all start "SK", but so do all their normal microswitches. Alps "CM" switches have nothing in common in their part numbers that we can use.

Is there any evidence that Alps used "CM" as a generic family name for what we call CM switches?

If "CM" is wrong, I'd like to stamp this out before we spread this new incorrect name too far. It's bad enough people using "XM" for switches Xiang Min never made.

Trouble is, if Alps Electric never used "CM" for the family name, then did they have a name? Should we just invent something new that is generic but precise?

Chloe and sandy55 in one thread. Those were the days.

I don't have a good answer btw. Alps...

There's always finding the patent on the things, and using the name they chose in the patent, which is what's typically done for IBM switches.

(Although, it turns out that there actually IS a marketing name for the Alps variant of buckling spring - Supermembrane.)

Edit: Looks like the relevant patents are:

http://www.google.com/patents/US4642433
http://www.google.com/patents/US4153829

I'd vote for "Alps Leaf Spring" tentatively.

The snag is that I can't reference the wiki to look up all the older switches to make sure that "leaf spring" doesn't cover them as well. I'm not even clear on what the older switches were any more.

That older patent is interesting as it looks a bit like a switchplate from a leaf spring switch, a detail that is omitted from the later patent.

And there is a Fujitsu Leaf Spring...

Could use Alps Pushbutton Switch With Aural Confirmation Of Operation, but that only applies to the clicky ones...