The Tesoro Optical Switches
Under each keycap you’ll find a Tesoro optical switch. These switches have been made in partnership with Gateron. For those wondering these switches support Cherry MX keycaps, so if you wanted to get some cool aftermarket keycaps they will work on this keyboard. We received the Blue version of the switches, which are made to give you the same type of features as Cherry MX blue switches.
These key switches can be removed for closer inspection and if you even needed to swap on out. Tesoro has added a clear top to the switches which allows for better diffusion of the light coming out of the switch. While these switches are optical, they are very much like mechanical switches as there is a spring, plastic stem, and even a metal contact inside. Unlike a mechanical switch were you need two of the metal contacts there is only one here. Its sole purpose is to generate the clicky noise of blue switches.
So instead of two metal contacts touching the PCB on each side, which completes a circuit, these key switches use an infrared sensor which will optically senses the position of the blue stem and sends an signal once the stem passes through it. According to Tesoro for these switches the actuation point is 2.2 mm, with the switches having a total travel of 4 mm. So why use switches like this? Well with mechanical key switches the metal contact can get oxidation and wear over time, which can make for a defective switch. Tesoro has made a video detailing these new switches.
