Editing Alps integrated dome

{{TODO photo|more=true|reason=photos needed of some variants, and a family photo showing several variants side by side}}

{{infobox dswitch
| image name          = Alps integrated membrane black.jpg
| manufacturer        = [[Alps Electric]]
| product code        = 
| contact mechanism   = Conductive dome
| switch type         = Tactile, linear
| force               = 
| introduced          = 
| discontinued        = 
| switch mount        = [[Plate mount]], [[PCB mount]]
| keycap mount        = [[keycap mount#Custom cruciform|Custom cruciform]], [[Alps mount]]
}}

'''Alps integrated dome''' is a provisional name for a wide variety of discrete switches from [[Alps Electric]] which contain conductive rubber domes as part of the contact mechanism.

==Description==
[[Alps keyboard codes]] suggest that these switches will have part numbers beginning "SKE". No part numbers have yet been discovered, but the switch modules in [[Alps semi-integrated dome]] switches appear to a variant of Alps SKEY series. One series name (SKEW) has been decoded to date.

Alps integrated dome switches appear from the outside as standard mechanical switches. However, they each contain a single rubber dome inside the switch. Two flat, horizontal metal contacts are placed side by side at the bottom of the switch; a carbon coating on the bottom of the dome conducts current between the contacts. The base of the switch appears to be moulded around the terminals/contacts, which cannot be removed.

The cross mount variants have the Alps logo embossed on the base. The Alps mount variants have the Alps logo embossed on the top; the base has not yet been examined.

Patent [https://www.google.com/patents/US5345051 US5345051] filed in 1992 depicts an Alps SKE* switch. It appears to be a more compact arrangement than that found in the keyboard switch versions.

==Variants==
Alps integrated dome appears to be not a series, but a collection of similar series, across which there is a surprising variety of shapes and sizes.

{| class="wikitable variants-table"
! !!Series!!Moniker!!Keycap mount!!Switch mount
|-
|[[File:Alps integrated membrane white side.jpg|175px]]|| ||White cross mount||Cruciform||Plate
|-
|[[File:Alps Integrated membrane - black slider.JPG|175px]]|| ||Black cross mount||Cruciform||Plate
|-
|[[File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- branding.jpg|175px]]||SKEU||Alps mount (round slider)||Alps mount||PCB
|-
|[[File:No photograph.svg|175px]]||SKEU||Alps mount (central peg)||Alps mount||PCB
|-
|[[File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount square -- detail.jpg|175px]]||SKEW||Alps mount (square slider, white)||Alps mount||Plate
|-
|[[File:Alps integrated dome Alps plate blue -- recognition.jpg|175px]]||SKEW||Alps mount (square slider, blue)||Alps mount||Plate
|-
|[[File:Alps-skew-grey.png|175px]]||SKEW(?)||Alps mount (square slider, grey)||Alps mount||Plate
|-
|[[File:Alps integrated dome one-piece -- variants table.jpg|175px]]||SKPA||One-piece (white or black slider)||Alps mount||Plate
|}

===White cross mount===
Plate-mounted. The slider has a cross 4.5 mm across, with arms 1.2 mm wide. The side arms have a small bump on them that increases the effective width to 5 mm, and keycaps have a cross 5 mm wide and 4.5 mm long accordingly. Travel is 3 mm. Reported to be older than the black-slider version. Unlike other variants, the shell of the white slider variant is held closed by melted plastic lugs; these have to be drilled out in order to open the switch, after which point it will not remain reassembled.<ref name="TR808" /> The [[Futaba clicky switch]] is also sealed in this manner.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps integrated membrane white side.jpg|Top and side
File:Alps integrated membrane white lower.jpg|Top and base, with Alps logo
File:Alps integrated membrane white disassembled.jpg|Disassembled; the remains of the sealing lugs are visible on the left
</gallery>

===Black cross mount===
Plate-mounted. There is a helical spring above the dome; this variety is [[spring over dome]]. The shell design is completely different, with inverted retention tabs attached to the upper half instead of the bottom. This variant is described as "extremely linear and buttery smooth".<ref>Reddit — [https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/4drthp/keyboard_science_i_managed_to_fit_an_mx_switch/ {{sq|keyboard science}} I managed to fit an MX switch into an Alps Integrated Dome plate]</ref> Most rubber domes are shaped in a way that will produce a tactile bump when pressed. The rubber dome in this switch, however, is shaped in a way that it falls without a tactile bump, and simply collapses in a linear manner. This is what gives the switch its linear key-feel.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps integrated membrane black.jpg|Top
File:Alps integrated membrane black base.jpg|Base, with Alps logo
File:Alps integrated membrane black internals.jpg|Disassembled
File:Alps integrated membrane black dome base.jpg|Base of the dome with the conductive pad
</gallery>

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps int dome - top 1.jpg|Top
File:Alps int dome - side 2 - 1.jpg|Side 2
File:Alps int dome - side 1.jpg|Side
File:Alps int dome - base 1.jpg|Base shell
File:Alps int dome - bottom 1.jpg|Bottom of shell
File:Alps int dome - partial dis 1.jpg|Without top shell
File:Alps int dome - dis 1.jpg|Internals
File:Alps int dome - bottom slider 1.jpg|Bottom of slider
File:Alps int dome - dome 1.jpg|Rubber dome
File:Alps int dome - spring 1.jpg|Spring + dome
File:Alps int dome - dome shape 1.jpg|Shape of rubber dome
File:Alps int dome - top shell 1.jpg|Top shell
</gallery>

===Alps mount (round slider)===
PCB mounted. The Alps mount variant has the four legs at the base of the slider the same as the black cross mount version, but no helical spring. The upper shell has the inverted retention tabs, but no support for plate mounting, and a tiny Alps logo is present on the top; no Alps logo is found on the bottom.<ref name="rzw" /> The blue slider is cylindrical all the way to the top, with a slot for standard Alps keycaps. The four legs appear to be the same spacing as the other variants, but this is not confirmed.

The four legs of the switch form the corners of a rectangle 13 mm by 5 mm.

The example depicted below is highly tactile and with a faint but distinct metallic sound. This cannot be taken as a certain characteristic, because the feel of rubber domes varies depending on condition of the domes.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Zenith Supersport SX -- diodes.jpg|Alps integrated dome switches
File:Zenith Supersport SX -- Alps integrated dome switches.jpg|Alps integrated dome switches
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- branding.jpg|Alps branding
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- shell partially open.jpg|Shell partially opened
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- upper shell removed.jpg|Upper shell removed
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- slider removed.jpg|Slider removed
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- dome removed.jpg|Dome removed
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- components.jpg|Switch components
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- dome.jpg|Conductive rubber dome
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- dome, inside out.jpg|Rubber dome turned inside out to help illustrate the conductive pad
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount -- Alps compatibility.jpg|The sliders are Alps mount (shown here with Matias keycaps)
</gallery>

===Alps mount (central peg)===
This variant appears to be identical to the blue slider version, with the exception of having a central peg in the slider slot as with [[Alps SKFL]].<ref name="NB-central-peg" /> Keyboards with these switches often use SKFL for one or more keys, such as where an LED is needed, which may account for the matching keycap mount.

===Alps mount (square slider)===
Similar to the round-slider variant, but with a square slider. These should not be confused with [[Alps semi-integrated dome]], which have a similar slider but are not discrete switches. These are confirmed to be plate mount, and are identified as SKEW series by a keyboard identifier in a Canon typewriter keyboard.<ref name="S-14" />

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount square -- detail.jpg
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount square -- dome and contacts.jpg
File:Alps integrated dome -- Alps mount square -- disassembled.jpg
</gallery>

===Alps mount (square slider blue)===
Similar to the square slider variant, but this variant is clearly plate mounted. The slider is sky blue. The source keyboard is not known. These appear to be outwardly identical to the white version above, except for the slider color; these are therefore likely to also be SKEW series.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:10pcs-lot-alp-Keypads-Keyboards-switch-sky-blue.jpg
</gallery>

===One piece===
These do not have a separate lid. The entire shell is a single part, into which the slider is snapped. Removal of the slider without destroying the switch appears to be quite difficult. 

The slider can be white or black.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:IMG 8317.jpg
File:Alps integrated dome one-piece -- variants table.jpg
</gallery>

==Keyboards==
*Canon V20 (Alps mount, central peg)<ref name="Eski-V20" /> (space uses SKFL)
*DK'Tronics Spectrum Keyboard "Mk2" (full-size space bar model) (black cross mount)<ref name="DKTronics1" /><ref name="DKTronics2" />
*Hitachi B32LXT portable computer (One piece, white slider)<ref>Deskthority—[https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27518 Any ideas about the switches on this 1991 Hitachi computer?]. Posted 2022-08-30</ref>
*[[NEC PC-8801]] TYPE C (One piece, black slider)<ref name="pgrkbd" />
*Pioneer AWX-323 (Alps mount, round slider)<ref>Chyrosran22 via YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7wgqg15oHY</ref>
*Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III keyboard — Alps P/N 12KE010C (black cross mount)<ref name="HaaTa-TRS80" />
*Some Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4 keyboards (white cross mount)<ref name="TRS80_4" />
*Sharp PC-7000 portable computer keyboard (Alps mount, central peg)<ref name="LT-286-PC-7000" /> (LED keys use Alps low-profile oval slider switches)
*Tandy Model 102 (Alps mount, round slider)
*Toshiba Home Computer HX-10 (Alps mount, central peg);<ref name="HX-10" /> the HX-10D uses [[Alps SKFL]] switches
*Tulip LT 286 portable computer keyboard (Alps mount, round slider)<ref name="LT-286-PC-7000" />
*[[Zenith Supersport SX]] 386 portable keyboard (Alps mount, round slider)
*Nixdorf Computer 8810/16 aka PC 17 Luggable/Laptop (Alps mount, round slider)

==Typewriters / Word Processors==
*Canon AP150 (SKEW, white slider)
*Canon Canakey 4100J<ref name="canakey"/> (One piece, white slider)
*Canon Canoword 360<ref name="canoword360"/> (SKEW, white slider)
*Canon S-14<ref name="S-14"/>(SKEW, white slider) (Note: Caps Lock uses [[Alps SKCL Green]])
*Canon S-66 MX<ref name="S-66"/>(SKEW, white slider) (Note: three keys use [[Alps SKCL Green]])
*Sharp PA-950W<ref name="sharp950"/>(SKEW, grey slider)
*Sharp PA-1050<ref name="sharp1050"/>(SKEW, grey slider)
*UTAX T-5600 (SKEW, white slider) (Note: Lock keys use [[Alps SKCL Green]])

==Keypads==
*Some [[Apple Numeric Keypad IIe]] (black cross mount)
*Ricoh R915-12 numeric keypad (SKEW, white slider)<ref name="R915-12" />
*[[The Keyboard Company Numeric Keypad]]
*[[Zenith ZA-180-89]] numeric keypad (Alps mount, round slider)

==Calculators==
*Condor 1200PD (black cross mount)<ref name="Condor_1200" />
*Victor 12PD (white cross mount)<ref name="HaaTa-12PD" />

==See also==
*[[Maxi Switch integrated dome]] — appears to be a copy or clone

==References==
<references>
<ref name="TR808">Real World Interfaces — [http://www.firstpr.com.au/rwi/tr-808/TR-808-switches/ Replacing or repairing TR-808 switches and pots]</ref>
<ref name="rzw">ちゃたりたいね — [http://kbd.rzw.jp/alps/zenith_za-180-89/ ZENITH ZA-180-89 ALPS導電ゴム枕]</ref>
<ref name="HaaTa-TRS80">Google+ — [https://plus.google.com/photos/113845661925823397356/albums/5738834958927114337 Alps 12KE010C]</ref>
<ref name="TRS80_4">Knut Roll-Lund's web pages — [http://home.online.no/~kr-lund/repair.htm Keyboard keyswitch cleaning]</ref>
<ref name="Condor_1200">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/calculator-canon-mp-1210-d-t6600.html Calculator Canon MP 1210-D]</ref>
<ref name="HaaTa-12PD">Google+ — [https://plus.google.com/photos/102292861895163144229/albums/5520625933867776417 Victor 12PD]</ref>
<ref name="R915-12">MouseFan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/ricohten.htm RICOH テンキー R915-12]</ref>
<ref name="HX-10">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/toshiba-hx-10-t668.html Toshiba HX-10]</ref>
<ref name="LT-286-PC-7000">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/tulip-lt-286-t6566.html Tulip LT 286]</ref>
<ref name="NB-central-peg">Nightfall Blog — [http://www.nightfallcrew.com/16/12/2015/toshiba-hx-10-64k-msx-keyboard-pad-fix/ Toshiba HX-10 64k (MSX) Keyboard PAD Fix.]</ref>
<ref name="Eski-V20">Eski Bilgisayarlarım — [http://bilgisayarlarim.com/Canon/V-20/ Canon V-20]</ref>
<ref name="S-14">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/kbp-v60-build-with-skcm-amber-and-canon-hipros-t15633.html KBP V60 Build with SKCM Amber and Canon HiPros]</ref>
<ref name="S-66">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/gambled-on-a-canon-typewriter-s-66-mx-t17463.html Gambled on a Canon typewriter (S-66 mx)]</ref>
<ref name="DKTronics1">Kevman 3D — [http://kevman3d.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/tech-fixing-dktronics-keyboard-for-my.html Tech: Fixing the Dk'Tronics keyboard for my ZX Spectrum]</ref>
<ref name="DKTronics2">RobeesWorld.com — [http://www.robeesworld.com/blog/63/repairing-a-dktronics-keyboard-and-scoping-out-a-zx-spectrum-48k-part-one Repairing a dK'Tronics Keyboard and Scoping Out a ZX Spectrum 48k - Part One]</ref>
<ref name="pgrkbd">ＰＣＢ－ＧＡＭＥ－ＲＯＯＭ — [https://pgrkbd.web.fc2.com/keyboard/adv2020a.html キーキャップ交換とメンテナンスについて] Posted 2020-12-11</ref>
<ref name="canakey">Imgur — [https://imgur.com/a/Uz6lqBI Canon Canakey 4100J (Alps Integrated Dome)] Uploaded 2022-12-24.</ref>
<ref name="canoword360">Imgur — [https://imgur.com/a/6qNqTrJ Canon Canoword 360 (Alps Integrated Dome)] Uploaded 2022-12-24.</ref>
<ref name="sharp950">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=26757 Sharp PA-950w update- Alps semi-integrated dome?] Posted 2022-01-10.</ref>
<ref name="sharp1050">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=12067&start=990 Stuff you just bought] Posted 2017-07-01.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Alps switches]]
[[Category:Spring over dome switches]]
[[Category:Keyboard switches with Alps mount]]
[[Category:Tactile switches]]
[[Category:Linear switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboard switches]]