The core of the dome keyboard lies in its dome structure. This structure is usually composed of metal domes. When the key is pressed, the dome will deform and trigger the circuit to achieve input. Due to the elastic characteristics of the dome, the pressing force of the key is moderate, neither too light to make people feel no feedback, nor too heavy to cause finger fatigue.
What is a dome keyboard?
A dome keyboard is a keyboard that uses domes as the main tactile feedback mechanism. The dome keyboard triggers the key through the deformation of the dome. When the key is under pressure, the dome will deform, so that the circuit is turned on and the key operation is completed.
The working principle of the dome keyboard is based on the physical deformation of the dome. When the key is not pressed, the dome is in a natural state and does not contact the contacts on the circuit board. When the key is pressed, the dome deforms, so that it contacts the contacts on the circuit board, thereby forming a circuit path and completing the signal transmission.
The main advantages of dome keyboards include:
High durability: Since the dome is made of highly elastic material, it can withstand multiple presses without being easily damaged.
Cost-effective: Compared with other types of keyboards, such as mechanical keyboards, dome keyboards are cheaper to manufacture.
Wide application: Dome keyboards are widely used in various electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, etc.
The main disadvantages of dome keyboards include:
Single touch: Compared with mechanical keyboards, dome keyboards have a single touch and lack the paragraph sense and changes of different shafts of mechanical keyboards.
Less noise: Due to the lack of the clicking sound of mechanical keyboards, dome keyboards perform better in terms of silence, but may not be suitable for occasions that require clear feedback.
Are membrane keyboards good?
Membrane keyboards are lightweight, economical and low-noise keyboards suitable for use in occasions where silence is required. Membrane keyboards use membrane contact design, which makes less noise when pressing keys, suitable for use in libraries, offices or home environments at night.
The main advantages of membrane keyboards include:
Lightweight and portable: Membrane keyboards are usually designed with a thin and light weight, which is very suitable for users who need to carry the keyboard frequently.
Affordable: Compared with mechanical keyboards, membrane keyboards are more affordable and suitable for users with limited budgets.
Low noise: The noise generated by membrane keyboards when pressing keys is relatively small and will not disturb others.
Moisture-proof and dust-proof: Membrane keyboards are moisture-proof, dust-proof, oil-proof, acid-resistant, alkali-resistant, shock-resistant and have a long service life.
However, membrane keyboards also have some disadvantages:
Poor feel: Due to the short pressing stroke of membrane keyboards, the feel is poor when using them, and there is almost no feedback in the hands.
General durability: The durability of membrane keyboards is not as good as that of mechanical keyboards, and long-term use may affect performance.
In summary, membrane keyboards are suitable for use in places where quietness needs to be maintained, such as offices, libraries, etc., and are also suitable for users with limited budgets. If you need a lightweight and economical keyboard, membrane keyboards are a good choice.
Are rubber dome keyboards better?
The advantages of rubber dome keyboards include good resilience, quiet effect and comfortable touch, suitable for use in harsh environments, and easy to carry.
The characteristics of rubber dome keyboards include:
Good resilience: The rubber material provides a soft and elastic tapping feeling, making typing more comfortable.
Quiet effect: Rubber keyboards usually have a good quiet effect and are suitable for occasions that require a quiet environment.
Portability: The rubber material allows the keyboard to be curled at will, saving space and easy to carry.
Durability: Rubber keyboards usually have good durability, can be used in harsh environments, and are waterproof, dustproof and oilproof.
However, rubber dome keyboards also have some disadvantages:
Consistency problem: Due to the reliance on shell pressure fixation, the feel consistency may be poor.
Applicable scene restrictions: It is more suitable for high-intensity clerical work and linear axis users, but may not be ideal in e-sports scenarios.
Surface is easy to leave fingerprints: The rubber surface is easy to leave fingerprints or sweat stains on the hands.
In summary, rubber dome keyboards have obvious advantages in specific environments, such as those that require silence, portability or use in harsh environments. But if you focus on the stability and consistency of the feel, traditional structure keyboards may be more suitable.
What is the difference between rubber dome and mechanical keyboards?
There are differences between rubber dome keyboards and mechanical keyboards in many aspects:
Working principle:
Rubber dome keyboard: Its key structure usually has a rubber cap under the keycap, and the rubber cap cooperates with the metal point on the conductive film. When the keycap is pressed, the rubber cap squeezes the conductive film, so that the conductive glue material or metal dome contacts the metal point, thereby realizing the conduction of the circuit and completing the signal transmission.
Mechanical keyboard: Each key has a separate mechanical axis, and the mechanical axis has domes, sliders, metal contacts and other components inside. When the key is pressed, the key axis will drive the slider to move downward, compress the dome, and the metal contacts contact each other, thereby triggering the signal. After releasing the key, the dome will push the slider and key axis back to the initial position.
Feel experience:
Rubber dome keyboard: The feel is usually softer, the key stroke is shorter, the pressing force is relatively small, and the rebound force is also relatively soft.
Mechanical keyboard: The feel is rich and varied, with obvious paragraph feel or linear feel. The paragraph-feel mechanical keyboard will have obvious “click” sound and stuttering feeling during the pressing process, and the pressing force and rebound force of the mechanical keyboard will also vary depending on the axis.
Service life:
Rubber dome keyboard: Because the rubber cap and conductive film are prone to wear and aging after long-term use, the sensitivity of the key is reduced, and even the key fails.
Mechanical keyboard: The structure of the mechanical axis is relatively strong and durable, and the contact of the metal contact is more stable, so the service life is longer.
Sound characteristics:
Rubber dome keyboard: The key sound is usually relatively small, and it will not produce loud noise when used in a quiet environment. It is more suitable for use in places with high noise requirements such as offices.
Mechanical keyboard: Some mechanical keyboards, especially those with strong paragraph sense such as blue axis, will produce a loud “click” sound when pressing the key, which is crisp and loud, and will produce obvious noise during use.
Price cost:
Rubber dome keyboard: It has a simple structure, relatively easy production process, and low cost. It is an economical keyboard choice.
Mechanical keyboard: Due to its complex mechanical structure, high-quality materials and fine manufacturing process, it has a high cost, so the price is relatively expensive.
How is the dome keyboard made?
The production process of the dome keyboard mainly includes the following steps:
Prepare materials and tools: To make a dome keyboard, you need to prepare a substrate, a soft panel, a lower touch sheet and an upper touch sheet.
Assemble the substrate and touch sheet: First, set a circular notch on the substrate, and then fix the lower touch sheet on the substrate at the bottom of the notch. Next, fix the outer edge of the upper touch sheet to the inner wall of the notch to ensure that the upper touch sheet is above the lower touch sheet and below the panel.
Install protective components: To increase the durability and safety of the keyboard, you can install protective components between the keycaps and the shaft.
Test and adjust: After assembly, perform functional tests to ensure that each key works properly. Adjust any parts that do not meet the requirements to ensure the overall performance of the keyboard.
How to choose the best dome keyboard?
First of all, the shaft type is the core of the keyboard. Different shafts provide different key force feedback and lifespan. The tea shaft is suitable for comprehensive use and has a moderate feel; the red shaft key has a small sound and a light touch, which is suitable for gamers; the blue shaft has a clear sense of paragraph and sound feedback, which is suitable for typing and office use. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right shaft according to your usage scenario.
The connection method is also an important consideration. Wired keyboards have the fastest response speed and no delay problems, which are suitable for e-sports and professional use; wireless and Bluetooth keyboards provide mobility and convenience, which are suitable for users who need to change devices at any time. Keyboards that support multi-device connection are more flexible, but the relative price will be higher.
Is the dome keyboard compatible with a wide range?
Dome keyboards can usually be connected to computers, laptops, tablets and other devices through USB interfaces. In addition, some dome keyboards also support Bluetooth connections and can be paired with mobile phones, smart TVs and other devices. This wide compatibility allows dome keyboards to play a role in different scenarios and meet the various needs of users.
However, compatibility is not absolute. In actual use, some compatibility issues may occur. For example, some dome keyboards may be incompatible with specific operating systems or software, resulting in inability to use them normally. In addition, there may also be compatibility differences between devices of different brands and models.
In short, as a small and powerful input tool, the dome keyboard has many unique features and advantages. With its unique structure, efficient working principle, and significant features and advantages, the dome keyboard has shown strong adaptability in many fields such as mobile office, game entertainment, industrial control, education and training.
