Atex KDO158-01

HaaTa · 09 Nov 2016, 19:39

When I picked up Atex keyboard, I wasn't really hoping for much.
Turns out I was in for a surprise

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The inside of the keyboard was made by a company called Digitran (seems they still exist too, http://www.digitran-switches.com/).

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Looking at the switch, assembly, my guess would be linear. But according to the force curve, it's a bit more interesting than that.

Then looking at the bottom of the pcb...

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It took me a little while to realize that this is a capacitive switch, where one of the electrodes physically moves. This is in contrast to nearly every single capacitive sensing keyboard switch (except for this one photos-videos-f64/teletype-40k-104-dab-t6594.html).

Conveniently, there are even patents listed on the pcb.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US3750113A (NKRO scanning)
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4408252A (Switch)
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4412754A (Low-profile spacebar assembly)

For 1983-1984, Digitran did really achieve a low-profile keyboard, compared to a lot of other keyboards of the time.
The keycaps are mostly (crap and thin) doubleshot ABS. Though there are a few engraved/infilled keycaps as well.

But enough talk, more pictures.

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And yes, that's a Radio Shack key.

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Flickr Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHskGLThEK

E3E · 09 Nov 2016, 19:42

Stunningly elegant keyboard!

Mr. J · 09 Nov 2016, 20:19

Wow, what a beauty!

Mr. J · 09 Nov 2016, 20:27

I found a nice story about this keyboard, maybe it's interesting...
http://techmediatainment.blogspot.de/20 ... apers.html

nourathar · 10 Nov 2016, 18:38

Mr. J wrote: ↑I found a nice story about this keyboard, maybe it's interesting...
http://techmediatainment.blogspot.de/20 ... apers.html

that is a beautiful keyboard !
I have a keyboard like the one in the top picture in that article; looks nice but rather crappy foam and foil switches.
Seems there is an identical looking version with a Microswitch interior (which is what I was hoping for when I got it)..

t8c · 10 Nov 2016, 20:31

Insert lock is very interesting. I think we should get insert lock and alt lock back on regular keyboards!