Editing Clare foam and foil

{{stub}}
{{TODO photo}}

{{Infobox dswitch
| image name        = 
| manufacturer      = [[Clare]], [[General Instrument]]
| product code      = 
| product name      = 
| introduced        = 
| sense method      = [[Capacitive]]
| switch type       = 
| actuation force   = 
| family            = 
| keycap mount      = 
}}

'''Clare foam and foil''' is a type of [[foam and foil]] switch manufactured by [[Clare]] and seemingly also the parent company [[General Instrument]]. The series name of S-890 is tentatively identified with this series, but not confirmed in any way.<ref name="DT-S-890" />

The earliest known example is from 1981, branded "CP CLARE" and marked "ASM MEXICO". This keyboard pre-dates the various foam and foil patents filed by General Instrument in 1982. A 1982 Cray keyboard has been found with a single "CP CLARE"-branded switch alongside unbranded switches, giving a small indication of the change in branding.<ref name="DT-Cray" /> A 1982 keyboard has been found with the PCB branded "General Instrument".<ref name="DT-S-890" />

Like with various other foam and foil switch types from the likes of Key Tronic and Cherry, these switches use discrete modules to hold the slider and springs, mounted into a plate.

==Patents==
The following patents may be relevant:

{| class="wikitable"
! Applicant !! Patent !! Filed !! Published !! Notes
|-
| General Instrument Corporation
| [https://www.google.com/patents/EP0072784A2 EP 0072784 Keyswitch design]
| 1982-08-10
| 1983-02-23
| Single-sided PCB with through-hole-soldered capacitor pads
|-
| General Instrument Corporation
| [https://www.google.com/patents/US4450332 US 4450332 Keyswitch design]
| 1982-08-25
| 1984-05-22
| This may be the switch series in question
|-
| General Instrument Corporation
| [https://www.google.com/patents/US4454562 US 4454562 Keyswitch with telescoping plunger]
| 1982-09-15
| 1984-06-12
| 
|-
| General Instrument Corporation
| [https://www.google.com/patents/US4453198 US 4453198 Linear feel keyswitch with hysteresis]
| 1982-09-15
| 1984-06-05
| 
|}

==Keyboards==
*Unidentified keyboard from 1981<ref name="GH-CPC" />
*Cray Research keyboard from 1982 (GI PCB branded as Ampex; GI controller)<ref name="DT-Cray" />
*Unidentified keyboard from 1982, marked "GENERAL INSTRUMENT | Keyboard Division" and model "S-890 Series"<ref name="DT-S-890" />

==References==
<references>
<ref name="GH-CPC">geekhack — [https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=92988.new;topicseen#new Any ideas about what this keyboard is from?]</ref>
<ref name="DT-Cray">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/cray-research-inc-keyboard-made-by-ampex-t11783.html Cray Research Inc keyboard - made by Ampex]</ref>
<ref name="DT-S-890">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/identify-this-keyboard-thread-t10405-690.html#p327597 IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread]</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Clare switches]]
[[Category:General Instrument switches]]
[[Category:Foam and foil switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboard switches]]