Topre Switch

Topre switch is a keyboard switch made by Topre Corporation, of Japan.

Switch Mechanism

Topre key switch.

Topre switch mechanism.

Topre switch's electronic switch mechanism is by capacitance. This means, there is no contact between electric conductors for the switch to turn on. The key does not need to hit bottom to activate.

Topre switch's feel came from its rubber dome, not the spring.

keyboard Topre switch rubber dome

I don't like topre switch. It has a hit-bottom finger-shock problem. Topre switch, got this rubber dome, you have to hit with certain force, and because it is rubber dome, the dome collapses at some point and sucks you down, thus hit bottom and creates a finger impact shock feel. I don't have this problem with any Cherry MX switches, nor with IBM buckling spring switch, nor romer-g.

Activation Force

Some RealForce keyboards feature topre switches with varying activation force. RealForce keyboard

The Name Topre

The name Topre, came from Tokyo Press, because the company was named Tokyo Press Kogyo Co Ltd, and got renamed in 1985 Oct to Topre Corporation.

Expired Patent

Topre switch patent expired in 2004

US patent 4584444, year 1984. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4584444

Topre Clone