Membrane blanket
Provided by the ASK Keyboard Dictionary
Aka/also known as: rubber mat, rubber sheet
The membrane blanket (or simply blanket) is a possible sheet of usually rubbery material inside a keyboard assembly that dampens the stress key-switches' actuators (such as the pivot plates on buckling spring keyboards) can exert on the membrane assembly. They can be black, grey or white coloured. At least for Model M keyboards, they can operate without a blanket but a Unicomp employee has stated they cannot reach their rated key-press lifetime without one. Its presence or lack of and its exact material can affect key feel.
- Brandon @ clickykeyboards.com - photo used with attribution [accessed 2024-04-21]. License/note: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Help:Contents#Copyright.