Oki Gourd Spring
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| Manufacturer | Oki Electric |
|---|---|
| Inventor |
Kunimine Naoki Hokari Shoji Tachibana Sadao |
| Switch type | Linear |
| Sense method | Spring over membrane |
| Rated lifetime | Unknown |
| Peak force | 55 cN |
| Patents | US4755645 |
History[edit | edit source]
This switch was developed by Oki Electric in the late 1980's as a keyboard and electric typewriter switch. It takes advantage of an inexpensive contact membrane while using large springs for the actuation. These large springs provide a very smooth switch action.
These switches are only found in keyboards that were manufactured by Oki Electric, sometimes as OEM for other companies. Electric typewriters made by Oki Electric were also known to sometimes have Oki Gourd Spring switches.
The term "Gourd Spring" seems to have originated from MouseFan of the Japanese keyboard community.<ref name="MouseFan" />
Key feel[edit | edit source]
Very smooth barrel, virtually no scratchiness on press or release of the switch.
Keycaps[edit | edit source]
All known keycaps are dye sublimated.
Availability[edit | edit source]
It is unlikely that Oki Electric still produces these switches, and since they are not available as single units they can only be taken from complete keyboards. Known keyboards are from the early 1990's.
References[edit | edit source]
<references> <ref name="MouseFan">MouseFan — Reference to "Gourd Spring" on the OKI GA2260 (Japanese) Retrieved 2015-07-31.</ref> </references>
