SpacePotatoBearLooks like it's this one. I don't think it's related to the cherry switches, unfortunately.
http://www.google.com/patents/US4479111
Made by the Burrough's Corporation
I don't know older Cherry switches though, did they ever have a photo-optical switch?
Thats a cherry M7/8 or L, I think its one of the older pre MX switches if I'm not mistaken.
I don't know older Cherry switches though, did they ever have a photo-optical switch?
Here is a Cherry patent of a keyboard pulse switch though: https://www.google.ca/patents/US3739127