类型: IC
作者: c137
发布时间: 2014-09-26
18:49:01
更新时间: 2014-10-16 17:19:33
原链接:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=63266.0
Hi there!
This is an
interest check for an optionally backlit
tenkeyless keyboard with Matias switches - we codenamed it
the “ Wraith“.
The idea came up in the
German community around the Computerbase.de forum and
Mecha-Blog.de
from “hey, those switches already are transparent, but there
is no actual keyboard with them with backlight”.
At
first the plan included PBT keycaps, but Alps compatible
ones are really expensive to make. Various layouts and
features have been discussed so far and I have been giving
frequent feedback to Steve McGowan at Matias.
The
proposed features are:
- Optional RGB backlight
- Linked to that: two analog dials, one each for brightness and color
- Dual-layer PCB
- Steel plate (switches can be opened without deattaching/desoldering them)
- Detachable braided cable
- 10KRO over USB
- Alps-inspired Matias switches, either Quiet, Click or Linear
- (Black) coated/lasered ABS keycaps of high quality
- (Black) matte polycarbonate case
- optional (“silvery”) aluminum case
-
Easily detachable controller OR (if enough interest)
version without controller, for the people who like to
have a Teensy etc.
How about price?
The version with polycarbonate case would be ~$180.
The aluminum case would add ~$120-150.
Of course there would be margins of quantity ( MOQs) to beat:
The main issue is the quorum of ca. 200 for the keyboard per se to happen, that is for each layout (ANSI or ISO). Additional ISO languages would probably require ca. 100 orders.
The aluminum case would require about 100 orders to be priced reasonably.
Per switch variant (Quiet, Click or Linear) the MOQ would be about 100.
The design is going to be more rectangular than the most previous keyboards by Matias. The analog dials for brightness and colors (something that hasn’t been done before) would probably be mounted vertically on the left side of the keyboard in order not to interfere with e.g. seperate wrist rests. My idea of designing them would be inspired by old phones’ rotary dials, not protruding too far to avoid accidental activations.
Activated caps lock or scroll lock would be indicated by an additional light in a fashion quite similar to how it is being done on present Matias keyboards.
Any version of the case would feature rubberized feet, the two of them in the back expandable allowing a steeper angle.
The LEDs would be RGB ones, though all the keys would have to be at the same color and brightness at the same time.
As for layout, here are some suggestions that have been quite popular so far (pictues show ISO variant):
Most popular layout so far (I guess): (pictures in ISO, also available in ANSI):
This means we can use the more popular 6.25u spacebar + 1.25u mods. The PCB would be fully Cherry compatible as well. - x87-ANSI__F1-above-Q__6_25spacebar* ![79955-0](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/79956.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter “[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum case)”)
-
x88-ISO__F1-above-Q__6_25spacebar*
![79957-1](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/79958.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight,
aluminum case)”)
Older suggestions:
More
x88-DE__F1-above-2) same as
88b_c137/Jesterfox (Fn bindings can be discussed
separetely):
![78428-2](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78429.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
x88-DE__F1-above-Q) similar, but with gap
between F12 and print screen:
![78430-3](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78431.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
103a) Compact but almost 100%. Basically
unanimously dismissed in the German forums.
![78155-4](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78156.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
91b) F1 is directly above 2.
![78147-5](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78148.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
91c) More even spacing in the F-row
![78149-6](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78150.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
91b_Orson) A modification by a forum user.
Unfortunately, this would double the tooling costs, adding
about $30 per keyboard to the polycarbonate version and
$80-$100 for the aluminum version.
![78151-7](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78152.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
88b_c137/Jesterfox) Keeping the much used
loudness keys and being more ANSI friendly.
![78153-8](https://EnterEnter.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/geekhack/63266/78154.png?x-oss-process=style/EnterEnter
“[IC] “Wraith” - Matias TKL (optional backlight, aluminum
case)”)
These layouts, variants, changes and combinations are
open for discussion.
The whole board would be
developed, tested, certified (FCC, CE etc.), manufactured
and shipped entirely by Matias Corporation. The estimated
time frame from group buy order to delivery is 6 to 24
months, probably 12.
The quality of the keycaps is
going to be noticably higher than on iOne backlit keyboards.
Unfortunately, PBT proved to be to expensive for Alps mount
(>$500 per keyboard).
Matias is going to present
their advancements regularly. Of course, before that on the
IC a majority would have to decide on the design (layout,
analog dials etc.).
OK, I hope I have laid this out
straightforward enough. Naturally, questions and comments
are welcome.
Disclaimer: the prices given are in US
Dollars and estimated for reference by Matias Corp based on
their knowledge and experience and thus subject to
change.
I know that I am not very active on this forum,
but you won’t be giving me any money, the whole group buy
would entirely be processed by Matias Corp (only import
tax/customs would be left to the buyers if and where
applicable).
Update 30/9/2014:
Matias Corp has approved the
88b_Jesterfox layout as most probably without
additional tooling cost. They also have provided an
alternative based on the 91c layout (see above).
In
addition to that, there is the definite possibility of a
non-backlit version (!), which would be
about $20-$30 cheaper (my estimate).
Also, their
message is, that the MOQs aren’t to be taken soooo
seriously. They are basically still valid, but not that
rigid. So, for the whole project the MOQ is still at about
200, but for the backlit version combined with the
non-backlit. Per version still ~100 probably.
More good
news: The controller can be made easily
removable to accommodate fully programmable alternatives
such as a Teensy.
Update 10/16/2014
Matias has confirmed that a larger space bar and
1.25U modifiers are available. (design pictures see
above)
As has been stated before, the design will be
rather rectangular and slim, pretty similar in design
language to the Matias 60%.
Oh, and the linear switch
actually has a leaf.
Fn bindings have also been
disussed. The result can be seen above (in the
F1-above-Q__6_25spacebar variants), play/pause would be on
Fn+space.