[vcf-midatlantic] Keyboard encoder chips?

[Richard Cini]

Thanks Bill. Right now, I'm just mapping it out to see if I could use it with my IMSAI or other S100 machine. I have a PS/2=>parallel adapter that I can use if needed, or as you point out, a microcontroller to be the bridge. It looks like the pinout is close to the AY-5-2376 based on the passives that are connected to it and the matrix lines (although I have to map them out to be sure).

Rich
 
--
Rich Cini
http://www.classiccmp.org/cini
http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32
 

On 8/14/20, 8:37 PM, "vcf-midatlantic on behalf of William Dudley via vcf-midatlantic" <vcf-midatlantic-bounces at lists.vcfed.org on behalf of vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

    If the matrix wiring is incompatible with one of the available GI keyboard
    scanner chips, consider using an Arduino Leonardo to do the encoding.
    That's the popular chip that all the "cool kids" are using to scan their
    custom keyboards.  The native output is USB, but if you want serial output,
    to work with a vintage computer, you could change the keyboard scanner
    code (assuming you can program in C) and then you could scan your
    found keyboard.
    
    Bill Dudley
    
    This email is free of malware because I run Linux.
    
    On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 7:35 PM Richard Cini via vcf-midatlantic
    <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
    >
    > All –
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    >                 I was recovering an ASCII keyboard from a video titling machine (no documents) and in it is a Clare/Pendar keyboard that’s in nice condition (#700223-K1-1). The gold-pinned ceramic encoder chip on it looks like a General Instruments “S0778”. The only other numbers/markings are “GI 3-24-70”. I have seen references to a “S077D” used in the Apple keyboard, but I have no data sheet on that. The other reference I thought might be “AY-3-2470” but no luck there either. Of course, either could be a date code, too.
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    >                 I have several GI data books (1977, 1980 and 1982, which would be the right timeframe for this keyboard) and the GI keyboard encoders were AY-5-2376 and AY-5-3600.
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    >                 Any clues would be appreciated. Thanks!
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    > Rich
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    > --
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    > Rich Cini
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    > http://www.classiccmp.org/cini
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    > http://www.classiccmp.org/altair32
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