Hi,
I'm looking for a key that not only can switch but also detect if a finger is present on the key. Preferrably no touch-screen-like solution, but rather a piezo-electrical single key for PCB mounting. I've been searching the complete internet for the latter, without finding any solution. The nearest I come is a piezo switch that gives out open or close. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or comment why nobody invented a simple piezoelectrical key yet?
Thanks,
Aart
Today's keyboards are crappy enough. Piezo keys would make them worse especially with regard to tactile feedback, it'd be as bad as a membrane keyboard.
The very best keyboards I ever used were Hall-effect switches, probably cost $1000 for an ASCII keyboard in the 1970's when that was real money. What made these so good is that the switch just moves a magnet, it doesn't have to make electrical contact with anything, so they can make mechanics just right to give the perfect feel to the typist.
That said, I think what you want would be called a "touch switch" or "capacitance switch" or "capacitance proximity switch" and consists of a metal sensor pad.
Tim.
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