Editing Keyboard technology (section)

== Notable switch mechanisms ==
=== Buckling spring ===
[[File:Bucklingspring1-o.svg|thumb|Illustration from the original buckling spring {{US patent|4118611}}, issued to IBM in 1978]]
The [[buckling spring]] mechanism (expired {{US patent |4118611}}) atop the switch is responsible for the clicky response of the keyboard. This mechanism controls a small hammer that strikes a capacitive or membrane switch.<ref>{{Citation |title=Qwerters Clini |url=http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_bucklingspring_e.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214001852/http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_bucklingspring_e.htm |contribution=Tech: buckling spring |publisher=Wakwak |archive-date=14 February 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

[[IBM]]'s [[Model F keyboard]] series was the first to employ buckling spring key-switches, which used capacitive sensing to actuate. The original patent was never employed in an actual production keyboard but it establishes the basic premise of a buckling spring.

The IBM [[Model M]] is a large family of computer keyboards created by IBM that began in late 1983 when IBM patented a membrane buckling spring key-switch design. The main intent of this design was to halve the production cost of the Model F.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4528431 | title=Rocking switch actuator for a low force membrane contact switch }}</ref> The most well known full-size Model M is known officially as the IBM Enhanced Keyboard.

[[File:IBM Model M Spanish Keyboard.jpg|thumb|left|A classic full-size Model M keyboard with Spanish ISO key layout]]
In 1993, two years after spawning [[Lexmark]], [[IBM]] transferred its keyboard operations to the daughter company. New [[Model M keyboard]]s continued to be manufactured for IBM by Lexmark until 1996, when [[Unicomp]] was established and purchased the keyboard patents and tooling equipment to continue their production.

IBM continued to make Model M's in their Scotland factory until 1999.<ref>{{Citation |author=Adi Robertson |date=7 October 2014 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404225912/https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys |title=King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made |work=The Verge|archive-date=4 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>