Pericom keyboard
Posted: 28 Jun 2020, 05:32
This keyboard is from a Pericom graphics terminal.
Not much info has survived about these. It has the same distinctive grillwork as the one shown on a Pericom (UK) anniversary page, but even in that not very good photo one can make out a seventh row for the right sections, so it's not the same.
https://chambermk.co.uk/news/milton-key ... nniversary
It was made at the beginning of 1990, but I am going to say it's still from the '80s. The layout is basically the VT-220, that is, LK201. And many others, such as Wyse, copied this layout around then. But the LED placement and layout is more like the VT100, with an L5 added. It swaps which of the function keys have P in front, perhaps because more of them really were programmable. Some of the dye-sub key caps have second function legends in red. I imagine the simplified shape of the RETURN key was a restriction of what was available.
The switches are ITW low-profile. The seller didn't bother to take a photo with a key cap off. I suppose in fairness you need a tool for that. But they did show the PCB itself and four contacts per switch and an LM319N voltage comparator over in the decoding section is kind of a magnetic valve give away.
The keyboard has a DIN 41524 connector. There are a few protection diodes in there, but I still bet powering like an XT would be a really bad idea. I admit that was probably a lot less likely when it was designed.
After figuring out which of the four signals was which, the output is clearly idle-low 1200 baud serial. It sends a unique 7-bit code for each key with the 8th bit break versus make, which is nice. Only special case is CAPS LOCK, which maintains the LED locally and sends make and break on alternate key presses and nothing on key releases, so that it acts like another shifting key. This can be quickly turned into a QMK converter. Which leaves input to the keyboard for changing the LED row and ringing the bell. The circuit is about as simple as could be: state comes from DB0-7 on the controller through a 7406 inverter. Which means that all the LEDs come on and it squeals loudly for a long time when powering on until that bus can be set high. There are actually only 7 LED signals: On Line and Local are complementary. I just imagined the simplest thing the 8748 could do, namely when T0 -- where the input goes -- sees a start bit, read eight more of them and set that as output. And that was exactly right. There is no more protocol. Low 7 bits for the LEDs in order (1 = on) and high bit turns on the transducer until you clear it.
It's possible that its model number was 2506. Or maybe that's just the part number for the plastic top of the case.
The bottom of the case is sheet steel, so the keyboard weighs almost 2.5kg. Plus it has a huge thick coiled beige cable, as one did.Not much info has survived about these. It has the same distinctive grillwork as the one shown on a Pericom (UK) anniversary page, but even in that not very good photo one can make out a seventh row for the right sections, so it's not the same.
https://chambermk.co.uk/news/milton-key ... nniversary
It was made at the beginning of 1990, but I am going to say it's still from the '80s. The layout is basically the VT-220, that is, LK201. And many others, such as Wyse, copied this layout around then. But the LED placement and layout is more like the VT100, with an L5 added. It swaps which of the function keys have P in front, perhaps because more of them really were programmable. Some of the dye-sub key caps have second function legends in red. I imagine the simplified shape of the RETURN key was a restriction of what was available.
The switches are ITW low-profile. The seller didn't bother to take a photo with a key cap off. I suppose in fairness you need a tool for that. But they did show the PCB itself and four contacts per switch and an LM319N voltage comparator over in the decoding section is kind of a magnetic valve give away.
The keyboard has a DIN 41524 connector. There are a few protection diodes in there, but I still bet powering like an XT would be a really bad idea. I admit that was probably a lot less likely when it was designed.
After figuring out which of the four signals was which, the output is clearly idle-low 1200 baud serial. It sends a unique 7-bit code for each key with the 8th bit break versus make, which is nice. Only special case is CAPS LOCK, which maintains the LED locally and sends make and break on alternate key presses and nothing on key releases, so that it acts like another shifting key. This can be quickly turned into a QMK converter. Which leaves input to the keyboard for changing the LED row and ringing the bell. The circuit is about as simple as could be: state comes from DB0-7 on the controller through a 7406 inverter. Which means that all the LEDs come on and it squeals loudly for a long time when powering on until that bus can be set high. There are actually only 7 LED signals: On Line and Local are complementary. I just imagined the simplest thing the 8748 could do, namely when T0 -- where the input goes -- sees a start bit, read eight more of them and set that as output. And that was exactly right. There is no more protocol. Low 7 bits for the LEDs in order (1 = on) and high bit turns on the transducer until you clear it.