Post by thread:[EE]: What's this connector?

I need to interface some switches to a motherboard, and the keyboard interface seems easy and cheap ($9), so my plan is to rip up this kbd, steal the electronics and wire it up to my switches, but I need to solder onto these connectors/pads... http://www.narwani.org/neil/stuff/kbd-interface.jpg Anyone know what this solid black (carbon-like) material is? It contacts the metal traces on the transparency when assembled, but I'm not sure I can solder to it, and wanted to ask before destroy it. (Other plan would be run the switches to a PIC which would emulate the std AT keyboard signals, but I'd like to avoid the extra coding for this one-off). Cheers, -Neil. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> Anyone know what this solid black (carbon-like) material is? It contacts > the metal traces on the transparency when assembled, but I'm not sure I > can solder to it, and wanted to ask before destroy it. Best bet on that black dot is it's a packageless chip, and the black goo is the package substitute. Saves on space and cost, which is why kbd's can be had for 9 bucks. the function of the chip, especially if you ran across no other's, is probably the communication with the computer via the serial connection, ie it translates the keys to serial port transactions, and also accepts some serial port transactions to turn on things like led's and such. dave gomez -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email .....listservKILLspam@spam@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Well, I know about the packageless chip, but I was referring to the 27 black connectors at the bottom edge of the PCB (pointed to by the arrow). I've mapped out the keys to the connectors and can bridge the connectors to get the appropriate keycodes to the MB, but just need to know if they're solderable, or how else I can securely connect to them. Cheers, -Neil. Dave Gomez wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Anyone know what this solid black (carbon-like) material is? It contacts > > the metal traces on the transparency when assembled, but I'm not sure I > > can solder to it, and wanted to ask before destroy it. > > Best bet on that black dot is it's a packageless chip, and the > black goo is > the package substitute. Saves on space and cost, which is why > kbd's can be > had for 9 bucks. the function of the chip, especially if you ran > across no > other's, is probably the communication with the computer via the serial > connection, ie it translates the keys to serial port > transactions, and also > accepts some serial port transactions to turn on things like > led's and such. > > dave gomez > > -- > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > email listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > > --- > [This E-mail scanned for viruses] > > -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email .....listservKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

I haven't tried to solder on the "carbon" stuff, but this is what I would do in your case: Clean of the mask above the connector and solder the wires directly to the tracks. It also looks like a single sided board so you can also drill small holes next to each track and run the wires trough the other side so to take the strain off the tracks. This way you won't destroy the connector. OTOH, it looks like a standard pitch connector. I think you might just find an edge connector socket that will fit. You might have to either cut slots into the board for the sides or cut back the sides on the socket. -- Quentin EraseMEqscspam_OUTTakeThisOuTiptech.co.za http://www.iptech.co.za -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Socket, huh? This is why I ask, cause it's an elegant and simple solution. Thanks, -Neil. Quentin wrote: > ... > OTOH, it looks like a standard pitch connector. I think you might just > find an edge connector socket that will fit. You might have to either > cut slots into the board for the sides or cut back the sides on > the socket. > ... -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email @spam@listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Hey Neil, I don't know how to connect to that, but I'm sure the socket suggestion is likely the easiest. Just for future reference, if you only need a few buttons (up to 16 I think), there is PIC code out there to emulate a PC keyboard. I don't remember if it's on the PICList website, or what it's licencing scheme is, but it seemed good last time I looked at it. Hope that helps out someday. Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams PicDude wrote: > I need to interface some switches to a motherboard, and the keyboard > interface seems easy and cheap ($9), so my plan is to rip up this kbd, > steal the electronics and wire it up to my switches, but I need to > solder onto these connectors/pads... > http://www.narwani.org/neil/stuff/kbd-interface.jpg -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email KILLspamlistservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

On Mon, 11 Nov 2002, PicDude wrote: *>Well, I know about the packageless chip, but I was referring to *>the 27 black connectors at the bottom edge of the PCB (pointed *>to by the arrow). I've mapped out the keys to the connectors *>and can bridge the connectors to get the appropriate keycodes *>to the MB, but just need to know if they're solderable, or how *>else I can securely connect to them. Use conductive paint/epoxy. No soldering. Peter -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email RemoveMElistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body