CONCEPT KEYBOARDS.
The concept keyboard was originally designed for the BBC Micro, having a touch sensitive membrane panel typically with 128 squares labeled 00 - 128. The keyboard connects to the BBC Micro user port and can also be connected to the RM Nimbus and Acorn Archimedes with optional user ports.
The original keyboard was available in 2 sizes A4 or A3. The example that I have is the A4-128. The original models are identified by their blue metal surround. Later models, the Concept Universal and Universal Plus include a serial port as well as user port connection to provide broader compatibility.
INTENDED USE
------------
Primarily
used in education for very young children
or children with
special
needs. There is a wide range of educational software particularly
for the BBC Micro that makes use of the concept keyboard. The concept
keyboard could also be found in use for special scientific applications,
industrial applications and display terminals where the computers
keyboard was not a desirable input method.
A paper or plastic overlay is typically used to provide a user friendly interface.
INTERFACE PIN OUT
-----------------
A 25 pin D type connector is used on the concept keyboard with the following
connections.
- USER PAD
- USER PAD
- DATA BIT 7 (MOST SIGNIFICANT BIT)
- NOT USED
- SYSTEM GROUND 0v
- DATA BIT 6
- DATA BIT 5
- DATA BIT 4
- DATA BIT 3
- DATA BIT 2
- DATA BIT 1
- DATA BIT 0 (LEAST SIGNIFICANT BIT)
- NEGATIVE STROBE
- POSITIVE STROBE
- RS422 OUT A
- RS422 OUT B
- RS232C/V24
- CURRENT LOOP POSITIVE
- CURRENT LOOP NEGATIVE
- RS 423
- NOT USED
- NOT USED
- NOT USED
- UNREGULATED INPUT 8 TO 12V
- +5v SUPPLY +/- 0.25v
INSIDE
------
The electronics inside are fairly basic.
Some standard TTL logic
1x 74HC154 4-to-16 line decoder/demultiplexer
2x 74HC04 74HC04 Hex inverter
Unfortunatly there
is what
apears to be a custom ULA labled NEC D8048HC644 making it dificult
to repair or make a clone of this board in the event of a fault.
ABOUT THE MANUFACTURER
----------------------
The
concept keyboard hardware was originally manufactured by STAR Microterminals
Ltd, Winchester,
Hampshire in the UK, established 1981. distribution was done by
AB Electronic Components Ltd, Cardiff, Wales.
In the 90's STAR Microterminals became "THE CONCEPT KEYBOARD COMPANY LIMITED" and switched distributors to Hugh Symonds. It would seem that "THE CONCEPT KEYBOARD COMPANY LIMITED" was acquired by BOWTHORPE PLC in 1999.
The
Concept Keyboard Company Limited
Unit D1
Grafton Way
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG22 6HZ
Hardware manufacturing
of concept keyboards was switched to Penny & Giles computer products.
October 2003 Penny & Giles changed their name to TRAXSYS
and no longer seem to have any concept keyboard products.