What is Keyboard Key Bounce?

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Keyboard debounce is when you experience pressing a key on a mechanical keyboard and seeing it register more than once. That is called key chatter or key bounce. This is produced when the mechanical components within the mechanical switches oscillate several times before coming to a rest, this action produces several contacts within the switch before the mechanical switch registers a keypress.

Keyboard manufacturers use an electronics tool called an oscilloscope, which is a type of electronic test instrument that graphically displays varying voltages of one or more signals as a function of time. By using an oscilloscope, keyboard manufacturers will be able to determine the bounce time of each mechanical switch before the key press is registered.

It is also worth noting the interaction between Key Bounce and Polling Rate: A higher polling rate mechanical keyboard, such as those with a 1000 Hertz polling rate could mitigate any effects of key bounce by capturing updates faster from the keyboard per second than those with a lower polling rate.

You should also know that many mechanical keyboards use debouncing algorithms to filter our key chatter / key bounce effects, ensuring only a single key press is registered. However, a higher polling rate keyboard can complement these debounce algorithms. In summary, a higher polling rate can help reduce the negative impact of key bounce by allowing the keyboard to send updates more frequently to your computer.

Causes of Key Chatter

Causes of key chatter can range from worn-out mechanical switches over a long period of time, debris and dusts accumulating in the mechanical switches, or even bad firmware in the keyboard could result in key chatter.   Key chatter happens during contact bouncing in mechanical switches. This occurs when the contacts of a mechanical switch closes and opens rapidly multiple times before settling into a final state. This extra-fast oscillation can result in multiple signals being sent to your computer.

This open/close rapid action of the contacts is mitigated by a keyboard with a decent debounce algorithm (high polling rates help too), which treats multiple contact activations as one key press. Over time however, the mechanical switches could cause key chatter as the mechanical switch’s lifespan's end nears, or some dust and moisture gets inside the switches, at which point the keyboard's firmware won't be able to compensate any key chatter / key bounce.

• Dust: Dust is everywhere. Even the tiniest particles of dust can get into the mechanical switches and cause them to malfunction, which results in key chatter. We recommend you keep your mechanical keyboard away from dusty environments and keep it covered with a dust cover when not in use.
• Faulty Switches: Faulty switches often result from poorly constructed mechanical keyboards or could be a defect straight from the manufacturer. The lifespan and Brand of a mechanical switch is also important to take into account. Hexgears exclusively works with Kailh®, a reputable mechanical switch manufacturer with rigorous quality assurance testing through-and-through.
• Rough Usage: Well, this could be a factor, but not in many quality gaming keyboards. As most gaming keyboards are built to handle rough usage, they’re designed for intense gaming after all.
• Temperature: Temperature could also be considered to be a factor. If you keep your keyboard in hot and humid conditions, then the mechanical switches may not perform normally and this can eventually lead to key chatter.

Solutions to Key Chatter

There are several solutions to solving key chatter, if you're experiencing key chatter on your mechanical keyboard. The first and obvious solution is to consider switch replacement. Although I would not recommend this as the first solution if your keyboard is fairly new, as most mechanical switches are rated to last from 50 to 100 million clicks.

Get an air canistor, one for cleaning debris out of electornics, and use that to clean your mechanical keyboard's switches, in and around the keys too. Next, see if your keyboard's manufacturer has any firmware updates. 

• Compressed air: Try using compressed air, or a keyboard air duster to clean the mechanical switch in the keyboard. You can do this by simply removing the keycap, pressing the switch, and hold the switch while blowing air from the compressed air cannister or the keyboard air duster into the switch. Repeat this process several times. In hot-swappable keyboards, you can even remove the switch and perform the same cleaning process.
• Tapping it constantly: Not recommended, but you could try this method by tapping the defective key hard, multiple times to see if the problem goes away. We do not recommend this, and are only mentioning this as some users in mechanical keyboard forums have reported that this method has worked for them.
• Using a contact cleaner spray: You can spray contact cleaner sprays such as WD40 Specialist Contact Cleaner on mechanical switches to solve the key chatter issue. The same process applies to using the contact cleaner spray as compressed air. Remove the key cap, press the switch, and spray the contact cleaner into the switch. Allow the switch to dry, and then tap the switch a few times. This method usually works, and lasts for a very long time.
• Replacing your mechanical switches: This is the easiest solution if your mechanical keyboard is hot-swappable. If you’re mechanical keyboard isn’t hot-swappable, then it would require a professional, or someone with the know-how of opening up the mechanical keyboard, de-soldering and re-soldering the switches.

Conclusion

In conclusion, even without any key chatter, it is important to keep your mechanical keyboard in optimal condition. This will help give you a consistent performance over a long period of time. And a reliable performance too, especially in fast-paced gaming or typing. By understanding and mitigating key chatter, you can pro-long your device's premium performance and enhance your overall interaction with your keyboard.

Simple and easy-to-do practices such as cleaning your mechanical keyboard, or checking for any issues, no matter how minor they may be, such as software updates, will significantly prolong the lifespan and responsiveness of your mechanical keyboard.