Editing Cherry solid state capacitive (section)

==Families==
===Cross stem===
Based on the data in the [[Cherry catalogues|1982 US keyboard catalogue]], the switch uses discrete spring/slider assemblies. The switches are not fully discrete as they rely on a dedicated PCB and controller. The earliest [[Cherry catalogues|catalogue]] appearance discovered to date is 1979.

US patent 4445164, filed on the 5th of May 5 1982, describes the illuminated version of the switch. A patent for the switch itself has yet to be located.

The keystem is cruciform, and has ridges to grip the keycap.

There are at least two variations of the shell; the most distinct difference is the design of the plate retention clips:

<gallery widths=187 heights=210>
File:Cherry solid state capacitive KB79-2.jpg             | Catalogue KB79-2 image
File:Cherry solid state capacitive -- catalogue image.jpg | Catalogue KB79-2R image (May 1982)
</gallery>

The later design looks like it may be easier to remove from the keyboard for replacement. The following construction diagram is from catalogue KB72-2R; the older catalogue has a very similar diagram:

[[File:Cherry solid state capacitive -- catalogue diagram.jpg|640px]]

The following images are from a [[Cherry B4VB-5601]] keyboard, which uses the later design:

<gallery widths=250 heights=166>
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-Springs.JPG                 | Switches
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-Dummy-Stabilizer-Switch.JPG | Dummy switch used as a stabiliser
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-Spacebar-Stab-Housing.JPG   | Switches with springs removed
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-Switch-Parts.JPG            | Disassembly slider assembly
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-Slider-5.JPG                | Slider
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-Slider-2.JPG                | Slider with foam visible
File:Cherry-B4VB-5601-PCB-Front-Labeling.JPG      | Capacitance sense pads on the PCB
</gallery>

===Shamrock===
There are two variants of this, both found from 1983. The "barred" version has a bar across the slot in the slider, which is fully open in the "open" version. This version is presumably the DIN-compliant redesign.

US patent 4466046 filed in 1983 depicts the new switch shell, but continues to primarily describe and solely depict the coil spring–based design. The possibility of using a foam pad and foil sheet is however mentioned briefly in the patent. US patent 4458293, filed in 1982, shows a switch very similar in shape to the cross stem version but this also uses a metal spring to control the capacitance. At this point, it is not clear whether the metal spring was intended to replace the foam pad, as the only known examples of this entire series are all foam and foil.

<gallery widths=250 heights=167>
File:Cherry Shamrock.jpg                                         | Barred vs open sliders
File:Cherry KFN3-8358 key switchew with springs close-up.jpg     | Barred switches in the Cherry KFN3-8358
File:Cherry KFN3-8351 key switch assembly foam and foil side.jpg | Underside of the Cherry KFN3-8351
File:Cherry KFN3-8358 key switch pic 1.jpg                       | Underside detail
</gallery>