vintage keyboard interface

[1984]

Hello everyone,

has anyone seen this kind of QL keyboard interface before?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154371862956


It may have been used not only to connect a serial (six pin DIN) keyboard, but also to destroy Rick Dickinson's balanced industrial machine design – but looking at the pictures [1] I have to admit that the interface was cleverly designed: Re-using the Philips 8049H IPC that "scans" the eight data lines of a 27C64 (with the eight output port lines converted to three EPROM address lines by a 74LS148) that are showing a pattern selected by eight to ten more address lines driven by a NEC D8749 (and "debounced" by two 74HC14s). The D8749 may be only communicating with the attached keyboard and changing the address lines depending on the keycodes it receives.

Is this a "Schön PC Keyboard" (in contrast to the "Schön Keyboard" [2])? – It has a sticker "AS0906-2", and the Schön keyboard was part no. "AS0720-1" [3].

I am not the seller (and won't be the buyer), but I'd like to know if that keyboard interface is more widely known.

Thank you

George



[1] The first picture itself should be sold as a piece of art and two others really are "hands on" photographies, but all the pictures together are very informative.
[2] https://qlwiki.theqlforum.com/doku.php?i ... :keyboards
[3] https://www.theqlforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 20-1#p4202

[vanpeebles]

I have the exact same QL kit with the metal bracket. I think there is a schon keyboard floating about in the cupboard too.

[RalfR]

This is the keyboard cover from the Schön PC Keyboard Interface. But you need the original keyboard as it was designed for it. As far as I know, this is no standard Keyboard.

[XorA]

I have one of those I used to use with SuperHermes!

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

I also have of these interfaces, it came with an XT Keyboard, but I did not use it much, as there was too much debounce on the keyboard.

I replaced it with a Superhermes, much better and can use AT &PS/2 keyboards.

[1984]

Thank you very much.

I agree that a SuperHermes may be a far better replacement for a Schön PC keyboard interface, I did not understand how to use a Schön interface with a SuperHermes, and I still wonder why a product called "Schön" looks so "unschön".

George

[RalfR]

"Schön" was the birth name of Christopher Smith's grandma, hence the name of his company.

[Silvester]

Hello everyone,

has anyone seen this kind of QL keyboard interface before?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154371862956


It may have been used not only to connect a serial (six pin DIN) keyboard, but also to destroy Rick Dickinson's balanced industrial machine design – but looking at the pictures [1] I have to admit that the interface was cleverly designed: Re-using the Philips 8049H IPC that "scans" the eight data lines of a 27C64 (with the eight output port lines converted to three EPROM address lines by a 74LS148) that are showing a pattern selected by eight to ten more address lines driven by a NEC D8749 (and "debounced" by two 74HC14s). The D8749 may be only communicating with the attached keyboard and changing the address lines depending on the keycodes it receives.

Is this a "Schön PC Keyboard" (in contrast to the "Schön Keyboard" [2])? – It has a sticker "AS0906-2", and the Schön keyboard was part no. "AS0720-1" [3].

I am not the seller (and won't be the buyer), but I'd like to know if that keyboard interface is more widely known.

Thank you

George



[1] The first picture itself should be sold as a piece of art and two others really are "hands on" photographies, but all the pictures together are very informative.
[2] https://qlwiki.theqlforum.com/doku.php?i ... :keyboards
[3] https://www.theqlforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 20-1#p4202

I have one of these, a few years ago I thought it was expired so I did a hand drawn copy of circuit and read EPROM (have yet to read 8049). But I was able to revive keyboard by sticking foil pads on keys. If anyone is interested I'll scan what I did (might be a few Mb though).

[Dave]

That would be interesting. A little added debounce would have taken it across the finish line - a lovely product.

[Maskenlos]

Hi Silvester,

I am interested in your documentation, do you mind to share by Email?

Thanks,

Stephan