Computer keyboard technology notes
The following pages represent my ongoing research and documentation process into the history of computer keyboard technology. All pages are subject to change as new information becomes available. See the updates page for changes.
Keyboard and switch brands
- Advanced Input Devices
- Alphameric
- Alps
- Amkey
- Amphenol
- Apple
- Applied Dynamics International (ADI)
- The Bendix Corporation
- Bunker Ramo
- Cherry
- Chomerics
- Colorado Instruments
- Control Devices
- C. P. Clare & Company
- Controls Research Corp (CRC)
- Dai-Ichi
- Datacomp
- Data Interfaces (DII)
- Datanetics
- Dell
- Digitran
- Donnelly Mirrors
- FR Electronics
- Elec-Trol
- Flex-Key Corp
- Fort Electronic Products (FEP)
- Fujitsu
- Futaba
- Gateron
- George Risk Industries (GRI)
- Greetech
- Hathaway
- Hi-Tek and NMB
- IKOR
- IMS International
- IMSAI (IMS Associates, Inc.)
- Invac
- ITW, Cortron and Licon
- Jameco
- Jelco
- The Keyboard Company
- Key Tronic
- Магніт (Магнит/Magnit)
- Magsat
- Marquardt
- Matsushita/Panasonic
- Maxi-Switch
- Mechanical Enterprises (MEI)
- Micro Switch/Honeywell
- Minebea/MinebeaMitsumi
- Mitsumi
- NAVCOR (Navigation Computer Corp)
- Oak
- Omron
- OTI
- Parex
- PED (Pye Electro-Devices)
- Pendar, France, and ESM
- Pertec
- Preh
- RAFI
- Raytheon
- RCA
- RFT
- SAGEM
- Samsung
- Sasse
- Siemens
- SMK
- Stackpole
- Synergistics
- Tai-Hao
- TEC
- Tipro
- TKI (Távközlési Kutató Intézet)
- Tulip
- Zbrojovka Brno
Unconfirmed
Switches from the following companies are said to be “keyboard” switches, but as the term “keyboard” was ambiguous in the past, no assumption is being made that they were used in actual data entry keyboards.
Switches from the following companies appear to be suitable for keyboards but have not been proven to have been used as such. They could for example have been used by hobbyists or small scale manufacture.
Component manufacturers
Semiconductors
Keyboard and switch-specific parts such as single-chip encoders and Hall sensors
- American Micro-Systems
- Electronic Arrays
- General Instrument
- Harris Semiconductor
- Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt (Oder) (HFO)
- Matsushita/Panasonic
- MOS Technology
- National Semiconductor
- Siemens
- SMC (Standard Microsystems)
- TESLA
- Texas Instruments
PCBs
Keycaps
- Comptec
- B&M†
- Leo Tanaka Moldmaker
- Signature Plastics
Equipment
- New Hermes (engraving)
- Maxi-Switch (testers)
- Osawa & Company (testers)
Materials
Other
- Endicott Coil Company (ticker solenoids)
- Deltrol Controls (clapper solenoids)
† See defunct unidentifiable
Keyboard technology
- Keyboard switches
- Switch types
- Switch operating characteristics
- Switch design characteristics
- Switch operating functions
- Travel
- Encoding and output
- Comparative specifications
- Materials
- Switch manufacture
- IC date codes
- Switch travel
- Tactile feedback
- Low water marks
- Keycap mounts
- Standards
- Glossary
- Repairs
Research
- Keyboard prehistory
- Eastern Bloc types
- Keycap compatibility
- Keycap mounts (Keycap compatibility II)
- Patents
- Listings of available products
- Certification codes (FCC, CSA, UL)
- Non-keyboard part data
- Factual nuggets
- Knowledge bookmarks
- Keyboard–switch database
Other
- About
- My switch collection
- Notable switches
- Wishlist (parts and information)
- Updates