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Astronautical Corporation of America / Help Identify
Posted: 22 Oct 2017, 22:47
by Hypnotoad
Hey Guys,
I found a few days ago this keycaps on the flee market. There is a small tag indicating to return it to the Astronautical Corporation of America (see pics). There caps have two different "switch-docking-part" (I'm new here
) and I would like to know if you have an idea what kind of "docking" these key have, and if its possible to use there with actual switches. I think they would look very nice on an actual board.
Posted: 22 Oct 2017, 22:59
by Daniel Beardsmore
What make of keyboard is that? It looks like one of those light beam types (very similar to [wiki]Collimation Optical Encoder[/wiki]), but those should not work with standard keycaps. The reason for the three side-by-side slots is to allow the keycaps to be offset horizontally from the bar that they attach to. How does yours handle that arrangement?
The keycap mounts could be anything; you'll need to measure them. Some possibilities are given under [wiki]Cross mount clearinghouse[/wiki].
The keycaps themselves appear to be Comptec.
Posted: 23 Oct 2017, 06:58
by seebart
Welcome to DT Hypnotoad! That is quite an interesting keyboard you have there! When you write "switch-docking-part" I'm pretty sure you mean:
wiki/Switch_mount
More pictures would help. Can we see the swtich ?
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 11:08
by Hypnotoad
Hello again, with "switch-docking-part" I mean the bottom side of the Keycap, where the shape to be monted on the shwitch is located.
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 11:12
by Hypnotoad
Here are some pics with the information located on the back side of the board. I will open the board this week and load other pics for clarification. Thx for the answers!
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 15:22
by seebart
Hypnotoad wrote: Here are some pics with the information located on the back side of the board. I will open the board this week and load other pics for clarification. Thx for the answers!
Thanks, looking foreward to more.
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 20:24
by Slom
want to own one yourself?
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Alte-NASA-Tasta ... 2866897261
Daniel Beardsmore wrote: What make of keyboard is that? It looks like one of those light beam types (very similar to [wiki]Collimation Optical Encoder[/wiki]).
Seem's to be the same based on the patent number.
http://www.google.com.pg/patents/US3818485
Disclosed is optical switching keyboard apparatus employing identically constructed aligned matrix panels forming the apparatus housing as well as defining collimated light beams focused upon a photodetector matrix disposed in an area on a circuit board which extends transverse to and through slotted apertures in the aligned panels. Coded electrical signals are provided by the translation of coded shutters into selected light interrupting relationship with the beams, the coded shutters effective to block selected apertures of the matrix panels, which apertures are tapered in the direction of the beam travel.
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 20:44
by seebart
Slom wrote: want to own one yourself?
Y E S !! That's why I'm bidding on it and hereby ask everyone kindly to let me have it please thanks.
Count on Slom to post anything that I am bidding on...which is no problem at all.
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 20:52
by Slom
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 21:04
by seebart
It's OK Slom, even if I don't get the NASA keyboard...
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 21:26
by Slom
If you loose, then there's this as a backup ... not one but two NASA keyboards, and also some extras included
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NASA-ARTIFACT- ... 1090432601
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 21:28
by Daniel Beardsmore
So the patent for the Collimation keyboard isn't owned by Collimation …
But then you have this patent, that attempts to detect multiple keys using an unfathomable level of insanity:
http://www.google.com.pg/patents/US4379968
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 21:32
by seebart
No problem, I'll just have to win the lottery beforehand.
Daniel Beardsmore wrote: So the patent for the Collimation keyboard isn't owned by Collimation …
But then you have this patent, that attempts to detect multiple keys using an unfathomable level of insanity:
http://www.google.com.pg/patents/US4379968
Seems that is exactly the type of keyboard NASA would use.
Looking at that patent...
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 21:44
by gkubed
Dang, even scanning the URL for dQw4 didn't save me this time.
seebart wrote: It's OK Slom, even if I don't get the NASA keyboard...
That's suspiciously like my avatar!
Posted: 08 Nov 2017, 22:02
by seebart
gkubed wrote: That's suspiciously like my avatar!
Almost, but not quite. Apparently there are several astronautical cats.
Yours is wearing a white space suit so it must be higher in rank.
Posted: 09 Nov 2017, 01:10
by snuci
There is only one certified
NASA keyboard here 
Edit: I do find this fascinating in all honesty. It has the same patent as the
Collimation Optical Encoder keyboard so that's it.
Re: Astronautical Corporation of America / Help Identify
Posted: 09 Nov 2017, 01:58
by hansichen
Nobody mentioned the switches in the alpha part. The shift cap looks identical to a SP SA cap so there should be some Mx compatible switches in the alpha area. This would be quite a weird decision to mix two completely different switch systems in a board.
Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 08:09
by Slom
Link restored, here's the picture with the patent no.:
Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 08:10
by seebart
Slom wrote: Link restored, here's the picture with the patent no.:
Thanks, I wonder if we'll see the other one I didn't buy again?
Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 10:58
by snuci
seebart wrote: Slom wrote: Link restored, here's the picture with the patent no.:
Thanks, I wonder if we'll see the other one I didn't buy again?
You didn't buy that keyboard?
Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 11:05
by seebart
No. Even I have my priorities.
Posted: 23 Nov 2017, 12:45
by Hypnotoad
So, finally found some time to open the board to see the innards. I made some pictures so you can see whats left and how it works. To reassemble this one was a real pain in the ass... the spring just kept jumping away. I guess you need some special tool to make the springs fit without going crazy.
Posted: 23 Nov 2017, 12:57
by snuci
That is pretty cool. So from the side view, the four bigger channels are where the keys go (can;t really call them key switches) and the two or three smaller channels is where the light travels to be captured by the sensor board on the end. Correct? Looks like the keys lower metal plates along the whole width of the board with only one spring? What's it like to type on?
This looks very much like the same way my Viatron keyboard works by blocking light channels but with a different mechanism shown here:
workshop-f7/restoring-a-viatron-system- ... 17312.html
Posted: 23 Nov 2017, 13:20
by snuci
I added a pic that I took with the keyboard "lit up" on my thread above to illustrate how that works. Lights on one side, light channels being blocked when a key is pressed, light sensors on opposite end encoding the pattern of light channels sensed to transform it to a key code.
