What is this switch?

[quaker]

IBM Keypad 1.jpg (2.39 MiB) Viewed 1776 times

IBM Keypad 2.jpg (2.4 MiB) Viewed 1776 times

Switch

IBM Keypad 3.jpg (2.41 MiB) Viewed 1776 times

IBM Keypad 4.jpg (2.39 MiB) Viewed 1776 times

Exterior


Got this on ebay, thought it would be an another UltraNav switch but I found completely different one. What do you think it is?

[zrrion]

It appears to be a switch used in laptops of the time. My Nickelodeon keyboard also uses that sort of switch, and I've seen a few laptops with the same layout as this keyboard that I'm willing to bet use the same switch as well. I don't know if the switch has a name or anything.

The switch isn't a rubber dome switch, but rather a rubber sleeve switch. The slider presses against the membrane and the sleeve serves as a tactile and return element. It you wanted you could replace the sleeve with a spring and get a simple linear switch. Not really sure why you would do that but the option is these.

[sharktastica]

As zrrion said, these (IBM KeyPad III) use sleeves. Given the Alps-titled electronics inside and the fact it says it's made in Japan on the back of the device, they're probably Alps-made switches too but I have no idea what the switches' internal/marketing name is (or if there are any).

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