What is an optical switch? Advantages and disadvantages of optical switches

For the gaming community and those with a passion for technology, the term optical switch will certainly no longer be unfamiliar, also known as Optical Switch Technology (Light Strike). To have a more general overview of this type of technology switch and evaluate for yourself whether the optical mechanical keyboard is any different from a normal keyboard, let's find out with TipsMake in the article below.

What is an optical switch?

Optical switch or optical switch is a type of switch whose signal reader is replaced by light and sensor instead of using a resistor and closing circuit like the old switch. The structure of the optical switch is similar to popular switches today.

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Vertical movement of the switch will be seen as a keystroke. This is a mechanism that helps optical keyboards overcome the disadvantages that conventional mechanical keyboards often encounter such as metal wear and tear, rust, and frequent dust accumulation.

Structural components of optical switches

In general, the structure of the optical switch in a mechanical keyboard is identical to that of regular mechanical switches, including the following main components:

1. Top housing: The upper shell.
2. Stem: The body that connects the switch to the keycap.
3. Crystal prism: Lens assembly.
4. Bot housing: The bottom shell.
5. Slider & Spring: Slider & Spring.
6. Stabilizing bar: Key balancing bar.
7. Optical Receiver: Optical receiver.

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The optical switch is designed with the upper body being a push button, the bottom being a plastic shaft and spring system. In addition, there is also a signal LED system and receiver integrated into the switch. All parts are placed directly on a circuit board to create convenience for the operating mechanism as well as ensure aesthetics and streamline production costs.

How does an optical switch work?

Optical switches operate based on two main principles:

Principle of blocking light

With the principle of blocking light, the optical switch will only use a signal generator including a LED to generate signals and a set with the function of receiving light signals. This is completely opposite to traditional mechanical switches that often use 2 pieces of copper at the same time.

At that time, the signal LED will always be separated from the receiver by the stem. In case the user performs keystrokes, the stem will sink and create a certain gap so that light can go from the lamp to the receiver. From there, a signal is created for the computer to execute the action.

Principle of light refraction

When operating according to this principle, the optical switch does not create a signal by blocking or opening but will actively change the path of light using a prism block available on the stem. The optical switch will now also have a signal transmitter and receiver.

The signal light is always turned on while using the keyboard but will not shine directly on the receiver. Only when the stem sinks due to the impact of percussion force will the light rays shine into the prism. Depending on the number of light beams projected towards the receiver, the same signal will be transmitted to the computer.

One outstanding feature that optical switches possess is the ability to change the receiving point of the key press. If traditional mechanical switches use 2 copper leaves to create signals with a constant distance, there are only 2 signal levels: receiving keys or not receiving keys. As for the optical switch, the number of light beams received by the receiver can change based on the light gap. This causes the key press receiving point to change depending on the settlement of the stem.

2 types of optical switches

Currently on the market there are many optical switch models, but they are all divided into two main types:

1. Optical switch sensor in horizontal axis

The characteristic of a horizontal optical switch is that there is an infrared signal receiving and transmitting system located horizontally inside the moving axis (slider) of the switch. The infrared signal receiver and transmitter will be activated and receive signals when the moving shaft creates an opening on the shaft after moving a certain distance. The response speed of the optical switch will be much faster than that of conventional switches thanks to this mechanism and completely eliminates the limitations of traditional switches.

2. Optical switch sensor along the vertical axis

At this time, the infrared sensor cluster is still placed on the circuit board to receive keyboard signals. However, this sensor will be placed vertically upward and can automatically measure the distance from the sensor to the switch axis. This mechanism allows the keyboard to accurately detect key travel and change the distance to suit heavy or light pressing force.

Overview of mechanical switches

A mechanical switch (or mechanical switch) is a part designed in the form of a switch and placed right below each key of the keyboard. Each switch will be made up of many moving parts, with an internal spring attached to create elasticity and 2 or more contact pins made of metal.

The mechanical switch works by transmitting signals from the user's finger to the board, thereby notifying the computer that the key has been successfully activated. Currently on the market there are many types of mechanical keyboard switches that suit the needs of users such as Black Switch, Blue Switch, Brown Switch, Red Switch, MX Switch/MX Silver, Topre Switch, Silent Switch.

Advantages and disadvantages of optical switches

Below are the advantages and disadvantages of using optical switches that you need to understand before choosing to buy a keyboard using this type of switch:

Advantage

1. High durability : The lifespan of an optical switch will be much higher than a conventional mechanical switch because it does not use 2 metal leaves. From there, there will be no wear, friction, rust or dirt during keyboard use.
2. Extremely fast response speed: Thanks to the use of optical sensors, the signal is transmitted very quickly, only about 0.02 ms. This speed is considered to be 250 times faster than the average speed of a conventional mechanical switch (5 ms).
3. Brings almost absolute accuracy: This is also the most outstanding factor that optical switches bring and is of interest to gamers and technology lovers. Because these target groups have very high user requirements in terms of response time, bounce and accuracy.

Defect

1. Expensive price: The cost of optical switches is quite high. The reason is because this technology is not yet popular, so manufacturers will need to spend a lot more money on research and production. This makes the price of this switch line more expensive than conventional types.
2. Needs a lot of time to get used to: Many users are still not used to the feeling of light and smooth tapping on the optical switch. At the same time, the structure is also very different from the mechanical switch, so it will take you a lot of time to get used to this change.
3. Product scarcity: Because it is a new technology on the market, not too many companies choose to use this type of switch for their keyboard lines.

The difference between optical switches and traditional mechanical switches

To help you have a more accurate view of these two switch technologies being applied, let's take a detailed analysis of some of the following factors:

Response speed

The following is a table comparing the response speed of optical switches and traditional mechanical switches based on some popular product lines today:

From the table above, it can be seen that not all optical switches have faster speeds than mechanical switches. In addition, the two factors activation distance or key response time do not affect each other as many people think.

In addition, in general, the Razer Purple optical switch has a much faster speed than the other switches (from 20-30 seconds). This also proves that the response speed of optical switches is still superior to the other lines.

Selling price and product line diversity

The variety of optical switch lines is not much. At the same time, manufacturers spend a lot of money on research, so most optical switch keyboards will be high-end with quite high prices, many times higher than mechanical switches. On the contrary, mechanical switches have been on the market for a long time, so there will be many product lines for users to choose from, guaranteed to suit all requirements in terms of design or cost.

Reliability

Using the light mechanism, the lifespan of the optical switch will be about 100 million clicks. This number is much larger than conventional mechanical switches that only have 50 million clicks.

Ability to repair when damaged

Because it has been developed for a long time and has many diverse designs, when broken, mechanical switches are easier to repair than optical switches. There are many videos on websites showing how to lubricate or install mechanical switch membranes yourself for your reference. In contrast, current optical switches are quite limited in terms of repair and replacement methods for components. In return, they are quite durable, so you don't need to worry about damage while using the keyboard.

User needs

Optical switches are often chosen by gamers for their smooth hand feeling and quick response speed. Mechanical switches will often be suitable for common needs such as typing, entertainment, web surfing, office work, etc.

Leading brands in optical switches

Currently, there are many manufacturers conducting research and application of this advanced switch. However, below are the two leading brands in providing optical switch keyboard products:

Flaretech

Flaretech optical switches use light and sensors to read the position of the keys. This is technology that the company has drawn from other optical switch lines on the market. At the same time, the switch part eliminates friction, helping Flaretech's switches provide a smoother typing experience.

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Razer

Razer is one of the famous keyboard manufacturers among gamers. Among them, the optical switch line with top technology is an outstanding product chosen by many gamers. At the same time, because this is the leading gaming bear brand, Razer keyboards are also very diverse in design and are always highly appreciated by users for product quality.

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Epilogue

Hopefully TipsMake's recent shares will help you understand what a switch is and gain more knowledge about its structure and operating principles. If you are in need of a keyboard model with fast processing speed and durable use, please refer to the optical mechanical keyboard lines. If you encounter any problems during the keyboard selection process, please contact the TipsMake team for the most detailed and quick advice.

Micah Soto

Update 03 October 2023