Adomax Flaretech
This article is a stub. You can help Deskthority by expanding it.
| Family | Adomax Flaretech |
|---|---|
| Sense method | Optoelectronic |
| Keycap mount | Cherry MX mount |
| Switch mount | Plate mount |
Flaretech is a optoelectronic keyboard switch family from Adomax.
Description[edit | edit source]
Switches consist of individual switch modules mounted in a metal plate over a printed circuit board. Switches and mounting holes are keyed to allow insertion in only one orientation.
There are no electronics in the switch modules themselves. Instead, surface-mounted infra-red optoelectronic components on the circuit board provide the sensing in conjunction with a prism in the module's transparent slider.
Because the sensing is optical, sensing is fast with debouncing rated at 0.03 ms. It also allows "analogue" reading of key travel, currently at between 2 and 4 mm of key travel. There are 2 type of switches, Type A are conventional functionality, and Type B, which have analogue functionality. So far, keyboards with Flaretech switches Type B are only available in the Wooting One and Wooting Two.
Flaretech switches support backlighting through a transparent light-guide from a surface-mounted LED on the circuit board into the keycap. The light-guide is almost in the same position as the LED on a Cherry MX switch, only somewhat to the right. That makes them compatible with most keycaps for backlighting made for Cherry MX switches.
Variants[edit | edit source]
A linear "Red" switch module variant and a clicky "Blue" variant are available in keyboards on the market. A linear "Black" variant has been announced<ref name="blogwtksrp" />.
| Name | Type | Force |
|---|---|---|
| "Red" | Linear | 55cN |
| "Blue" | Clicky | 55cN |
| "Black" | Linear | 85cN |
The click-mechanism in the clicky variant is similar to that in Cherry MX Blue, with an inner slider that interacts with a click leaf situated next to the light-guide.
The switches shipped with the Wooting One do not have different colours to designate switch type: all have black housings and transparent sliders. However, the inner slider in the clicky variant is orange and can be seen through the top of the transparent slider.
In promotional materials at Computex 2015, the switch variants were instead indicated by different colours of the top housing. A "black" and a "brown" switch were also shown.<ref name="custompcreviewcomputex15" />
Modifications[edit | edit source]
- The coiled springs can be replaced with springs for Cherry MX.
Keyboards[edit | edit source]
- Wooting One and Wooting Two. Have analogue sensing: which enables also adjustable activation point and double action. Were first introduced through crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter<ref name="wootingks"/>, but are not available from Wooting and/or retail.
- Zowie Celeritas II
- Aorus K9, announced at Computex 2017, is supposed to be waterproof.<ref name="cnetcomputex17" />
References[edit | edit source]
<references> <ref name="custompcreviewcomputex15"> Custom PC Review – Computex 2015: Adomax Flaretech Infrared Keyswitches Could Be Keyboard’s Next Big Thing. Retrieved 2016-05-31 </ref> <ref name="wootingks"> Kickstarter.com – The Analog mechanical keyboard for precise movement in Games by Wooting. Retrieved 2016-05-31 </ref> <ref name="cnetcomputex17"> c|net – The Flaretech Prism Switch is the key to smarter keyboards. Dated 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2017-07-26. </ref> <ref name="blogwtksrp"> Wooting Developer Blog — Wooting Two Kickstarter Rewards Preview. Calder Limmen. Dated 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-04-25</ref> </references>
