Looking for something different? Hall effect inbound!

DWolvin

DWolvin

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Messages
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So, I stumbled on a thread over at GeekHack on a hall effect mechanical keyboard. Basically put, it's using a small magnet on the bottom of the stem to trigger a hall effect sensor on the plate- no actual contact, reads without touching. Xmit has been working with the company that's making them to suggest some serious improvements, and it's going to be up at Massdrop in a few (not my favorite site, but whatever). The first batch looks like it will be 87 key TKL, and bamboo or black shiny acrylic case, and black or white keys.

I'm not involved at all in this, other than probably buying one.

- Hall effect based magnetic key sensing.
- Linear key feel, in 50g (Cherry MX Red like) and 70g (Cherry MX Black like) spring weights.
- Native USB connection with full N-key rollover.
- Full RGB LED backlighting with a surface mounted LED under each key.
- Cherry MX mount key switches with Cherry style stabilizers for wide key set compatibility and easy key changes.
- PBT/POM key caps available in black, white, and several other color choices.
- Available in 61-key "60%", 87-key "TKL", and 104-key "full size" layouts. - 87 key for the initial drop.
- ISO layouts also available.
- Full surface mount single PCB construction. All the Hall sensors, LEDs, microcontrollers, and other logic are on a single board.
- Fully waterproof design. The PCB is coated with a water resistant epoxy and can safely operate underwater.
- Keyboard body available in bamboo, ABS plastic, clear/black acrylic, and several other colors.
- Laser engraving available for bamboo and acrylic boards.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=84525.0

index.php
 
Too bad its TKL, that looks like a premium board.

edit: just saw that it comes in full-size as well. My goof.
 
Yea, from what I'm gathering the first batch will be the 87 key version, but expect full size down the road. I don't currently have a TKL of any sort, but I only use the tenkey at work. And I agree that the bamboo with white keys looks nice, not my bag normally but pretty sweet. I can't wait to see bamboo with black keys, that would fit my office better.

The sensor operation just makes the engineer geek in me so happy!
 
Oh- I just noticed that the main conversation is at deskthority: Hall Effect Keyboard
Still looking like 87 key in standard or possible ISO (for you weirdos, you know who you are /j). Later expansion of styles and types. He tested a new internal leaf that gives it a clicky response. so this is a switch that you can (fairly easily) swap springs and leaves to change the feel. The first batch is going to be similar in feel to a classic black, @70 grams.
 
If you are on the fence, Xmit has added options for different spring weights, and key cap color.
Oh- There is a 104 key, in bamboo also.
 
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I know it's an older thread, but the Massdrop order is nearly in the mail and I'm excited to have one on my desk soon :D
 
Right? It will be my first TKL, and that's good for my current desk setup. Also my second linear, but the biggest change will be the light springs, but I got he heavy ones just in case I can't take it (I type [H]).
 
DWolvin said:
Right? It will be my first TKL, and that's good for my current desk setup. Also my second linear, but the biggest change will be the light springs, but I got he heavy ones just in case I can't take it (I type [H]).
Click to expand...

I like the TKL form factor (I like 80% even more, but it's near impossible to find one with a preferable setup or without flaws). For data entry I like having the numberpad, but I just pick up a separate 10-pad for that.
 
Yea, I need a 10 key once in a while, but I love the idea of tossing it in a drawer when not needed.
 
Well, the XMIT hall effect TKL came, I'm certainly going to take it apart and try the heavier springs (I type like a Neanderthal). But the sound is pretty quiet for a mech- a little rattle spring noise, softer than the pinging of some other keyboards I have tried. No debounce issue, which should be because of the sensor itself. No binding at all, the plungers are very slick. the lighting is simple (there are a few patterns) but it looks good in low light (or gets pretty bright- it's @ 2/5 in the photo). Love it and really looking forward to the next version- tactile!

20170311_070800.jpg
 
The pic with the bamboo one looks like a cutting board with keys added to it.
 
Yea- the bamboo seems to have been problematic. The last pic looks like acetone got spilled on it- it's not glued together at all. I don't have stem rattle issues, and none of my keys fall off if I flip the board over, but that's why MassDrop was chosen for this first run- they handle the warranty stuff. I'm happy with mine and will keep an eye on the next version- tactile might be my perfect key.
 
After a marathon gaming session all Sunday (sick & playing hooky from adulthood) I think I can say that I get the rattle talked about on Reddit- my home has a bit of wobble to it. For a sub $100 keyboard I like it a lot, and can't wait for the next batch- assuming the manufacturer is willing to improve QA. It's weird how resistant they are to actual QA sometimes, like they can't understand that they will sell more at higher price if they are well built.
 
If you check out the second reddit post I linked, XMIT said he was going to send someone to oversee the batch production, and he was taking responsibility. Which is good of him, I guess.
 
Yea- he really seemed to be trying to get them onboard with a quality product- I stumbled on this on GeekHack and read through the months of back and forth with them. It sounds like they have all the knowledge and testing to make a better keyboard, just lacking in other areas...
 
They are, but the first wave isn't completely programmable, just basic patterns and colors. The next version should be more programmable- that came up late enough that it couldn't be included. Plus, the factory was resistant and didn't seen to understand why we would want to go crazy programming our keyboards.

Oh- the pic I posted - it's a color wave centered on the 'O' key. That's the default but there are about six or seven patterns.
 
Can't order right now- it was a MassDrop thing, but keep on the list here or there, or DeskAuthority. There will be another one...
 
Huh, it's not often that I see Hall effect switching used in a digital fashion; it comes up more often for flight sticks, where their contactless nature means that they don't have the spiking or wear issues that potentiometers do.

Hall sensor mods used to be pretty common 'til the Melexis MLX90333 became standard on sticks like the Thrustmaster T.16000-M and Warthog, Logitech G940 and Saitek (well, now Logitech again) X-55/56, saving end users the hassle of having to do it themselves.

If anything, I'd be more interested if this meant a fully analog keyboard, like the Wooting One on steroids, but I somehow doubt that the keyboard here is designed for that.
 
Nah- it functions normally- I have the acrylic TKL from the first round and like it a lot. XMIT has been very enthused and trying to get the original manufacturer to improve QC and make small changes to improve feel, and I'm hoping it turns into something you can get with some consistency... Love mine, but it could be improved. The switches are soooo silky smooth though...
 
I ran across the review by Chyros (Thomas) on this. Pretty interesting board with a lot of potential in terms of a silky smooth linear switch:
 
Wow- that is a cool video! I agree about the key caps, I tried some thick caps and they defiantly quieter, but I don't have any that allow lights..
 
His videos are awesome. I watch his videos vs tv while eating--sounds even more awesome on a big screen with a nice sound system.
 
Interesting. The advantage of a hall effect sensor is that (if it's setup for this) it's not just on/off like a traditional keyboard, it can be varied. For games, that means WSAD could be used for variable speed (walk, run), much like a gamepad/controller.
 
Spidey329 said:
Interesting. The advantage of a hall effect sensor is that (if it's setup for this) it's not just on/off like a traditional keyboard, it can be varied. For games, that means WSAD could be used for variable speed (walk, run), much like a gamepad/controller.
Click to expand...
Not only that, but like a capacitive switch, they're contactless. That inherently means more reliability - not that I've ever had a typical mechanical keyboard fail on me, not even well-used ones I plucked out of thrift stores, but it's still a point in their favor.

That's the big reason they were so favored as potentiometer replacements by flight sim enthusiasts. They don't spike, they don't need cleaning, they just provide a consistent input across the whole analog axis, more or less. (Well, assuming you don't pull a Saitek and botch the magnet strength/positioning like they did on the X-52 lineup.)

Incidentally, even if you couldn't get analog movement, there would be the possibility to manually adjust your desired actuation/release points for each switch, like bringing it higher if you wanted a more sensitive, hair-trigger switch like certain recent Cherry MX variants pitched toward gamers.
 
NamelessPFG said:
Incidentally, even if you couldn't get analog movement, there would be the possibility to manually adjust your desired actuation/release points for each switch, like bringing it higher if you wanted a more sensitive, hair-trigger switch like certain recent Cherry MX variants pitched toward gamers.
Click to expand...
Ooooo...if this could be done, then the era of 'variable actuation point' (I think I'll call that VCP) will be born and would be a true revolution in keyboarding. The only thing that would be equally impressive is the ability to add tactility at any point as well as adjust the sound/feel of that tactility. Wow, I just realized that would be the endgame switch...no more multiple keyboards or switches...just one for all. :eek:
 
I can't imagine that adjusting the set point of the hall effect sensor would be that difficult, and you can technically already add the leaves to impart the clicks into the existing switches. There was talk of selling them separately for those of us with the first batch (non-tactile, like reds), but I'm hoping for an insert that is tactile but quiet (personal favorite).
 
Yep, on the linear side I can see how they are already set to be programmed, but adding tactility that's fully adjustable on the fly would seem more difficult because of the variable mechanics involved. But would be absolutely fantastic if it could be implemented--completely variable tactility over the entire keyboard. :eek:
 
Heck- if we are going crazy in the dreamswitch, why not electromagnetic buffer at the top and bottom of the stroke, so it's logarithmically harder to bottom out? :D
 
DWolvin said:
Heck- if we are going crazy in the dreamswitch, why not electromagnetic buffer at the top and bottom of the stroke, so it's logarithmically harder to bottom out? :D
Click to expand...
Added to the 'DreamSwitch' product specifications. In fact, why not make this variable as well, making the switch's resistance variable along the entire path of the switch's travel. I will call this variable resistance travel or VRT for short. So VCP and VRT along with variable tactility, aka inifinitely variable tactility or IVT for short. So we have VCP, VRT, AND IVT as specification goals for the DreamSwitch.
 
It's just a plunger spring for resistance, so there is no reason it couldn't be wound as a progressive rate unit...
 
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