Alps common mount low profile
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| Manufacturer | Alps Electric |
|---|---|
| Switch type | Linear, Tactile |
| Sense method | Metal leaf |
| Keycap mount | Alps mount |
| Switch mount | PCB mount |
| Patents |
US 4760225 (1987) US 5004880 (1990) |
Alps common mount low profile (or Alps octagonal for short) is a provisional name for a low-profile PCB mount switch from Alps. SKFM/SKFN series is likely to be the official designation.
Contents
Nomenclature
Keyboard assembly KFFMBB0034 has white switches.[1] Assuming these are linear, this would give SKFM series for linear switches. Since the preceding series name (SKFL) is already taken, then the second series within the pair (for tactile switches) would be SKFN. SKFNAA is a known Alps model number, of which no details are known.[2] Tentatively, it appears that these switches should be classified as Alps SKFM/SKFN series.
Description
This switch uses the common Alps mount, unlike Alps SKFR/SKFS series which has a unique mount.[3] The slider design is similar to that of Alps SKCL/SKCM series, but reduced in front-to-back depth to fit inside the switch's small shell. The contact mechanism is very similar to that of Alps SKFL; the latter is cited as prior art in the patent.
Where SKFR/SKFS series has a black slider for linear and a colourless slider for tactile, the colours are reversed with common mount low profile: black for tactile as with SKCM series, and colourless for linear.
The only branding is a minute Alps logo in the centre of the base, visible only by desoldering the switch.[3]
The switch features an integrated jumper. The tactile version has a click leaf and likely arranges this in the same way as SKFR/SKFS.[4] The patent for the leaf (which curiously shows the base as rectangular instead of octagonal) describes the switch as "click-type", but a clicky version has yet to be encountered.
Variants
| Slider | Type | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Colourless | Linear |
 |
Colourless | Linear, with LED support |
 |
Black | Tactile |
Keyboards
- Acer 6083 (Black slider)
- IBM 5535-M18 Multistation keyboard[5]
- IBM 5556-P01 (not clear if some, or all; LED variant without LEDs)[6]
- Leading Edge DC-8212[7]
- Nixdorf 8810 M15 / M20
- Toshiba J3100[8]
- Toshiba T1200 (White slider)[9]
- Toshiba T1600 (White slider)[10]
- Toshiba T5200/100 (White slider)[11]
- Toshiba Rupo JW98UP[12]
- Tron TK1[13]
- Zenith TurbosPORT 386
Keypads
- Toshiba UE0254P02 (Standard variant)[14]
- Zenith ZA-180-89 (LED variant)
- Zenith ZA-3034-NP
Gallery
Linear
Top
Partially disassembled, with keycap
Slider and return spring
Contact mechanism
Toshiba T1200, linear
Tactile
Switch with black slider in an Acer 6083
Switch with black slider in an Acer 6083
Switch with black slider in an Acer 6083
LED variant
Top
Contact mechanism
Return spring and slider
Slider
Upper shell viewed from below, showing LED recess
References
- ↑ Dropbox — alps-low-profile [Volatile reference]
- ↑ Tyro teQ Inc. — SKFNAA ALPS | 在庫通販 [Volatile reference]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ちゃたりたいね — ZENITH ZA-180-89 ALPS導電ゴム枕
- ↑ Deskthority — Best Tactile Switch?
- ↑ YouTube — IBM 5535 Keyboard Module Typing Demo Uploaded 2021-07-04.
- ↑ MouseFan — IBM 5556 P/N5962851
- ↑ Imgur — [1] Uploaded 2022-04-20.
- ↑ Imgur - [2] Posted 2019-11-20.
- ↑ Deskthority — Toshiba T1200
- ↑ Deskthority — https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23803&p=463314#p463314]
- ↑ Deskthority — Toshiba T3100 & T5200
- ↑ Imgur - Toshiba Rupo JW98UP (Alps Common Mount Low Profile, Alps SKFL Compact) Posted 2024-09-23.
- ↑ Imgur - Tron TK1 (Alps Common Mount) Uploaded 2024-09-17.
- ↑ MouseFan — Toshiba UE0254P02
