NetPro Certification Courseware for NetPro Certified Systems Engineer – N.C.S.

KEYBOARDS
Keyboards are the classic input devices. By manipulating a matrix of individual
electrical switches, commands, and instructions can be entered into the computer one
character at a time. If you’ve used computers or typewriters to any extent, you already
have an excellent grasp of keyboard handling. However, keyboards are not without
their share of drawbacks and limitations. Although today’s keyboard switches are not
mechanically complex, there are a number of important moving parts. When you
multiply this number of moving parts times the 80 to 100+ keys on a typical
keyboard, you are faced with a substantial number of moving parts. A jam or failure
in any one of these many mechanical parts results in a keyboard problem. Most
keyboard failures are hardly catastrophic, but they can certainly be inconvenient. This
chapter gives you the information needed to understand and repair computer
keyboards.
 NetPro Certification Courseware for NetPro Certified Systems Engineer – N.C.S.E

Keyboard Construction

To understand a keyboard, you must first understand the kinds of switches that are
used. In general, you should be concerned with two types of switches: mechanical
switches and membrane switches. Both switches are used extensively through out the
computer industry, but any single keyboard will use only one type of switch. A
mechanical key switch is shown in. A plastic actuator bar separates two tempered
bronze contacts. The bar is pushed up by a spring in the switch base. When the key
cap is pressed, the actuator bar slides down. This action compresses the spring and
allows the gold-plated contacts to touch. Because gold is a soft metal and an excellent
conductor, a good, low-resistance electrical contact is developed. When the key cap is
released, the compressed spring expands and drives the plastic actuator bar between
the contacts once again. The entire stroke of travel on a mechanical switch is little
more than 3.56 mm (0.140"), but an electrical contact (a make condition) can be
established in as little as 1.78 mm (0.070"). Mechanical switches are typically quite
rugged—many are rated for 100 million cycles or more.

A diagram of a membrane key switch is illustrated in Fig. 20-3. A plastic actuator

rests on top of a soft rubber boot. The inside of the rubber boot is coated with a
conductive silver-carbon compound. Beneath the rubber boot are two open PC board
contacts. When the key cap is pressed, the plastic actuator collapses the rubber boot.
Collapse forces the conductive material across both PC board contacts to complete the
switch. When the key cap is released, the compressed rubber boot breaks its contact
on the PC board returns to its original shape. The full travel stroke of a membrane key
switch is about 3.56 mm (0.140")—roughly the same as a mechanical switch. An
electrical contact is established in about 2.29 mm (0.090"). Membrane switches are
not quite as durable as mechanical switches. Most switches are rated for 20 million
cycles or less. Mechanical and membrane switches offer a number of unique
advantages and disadvantages. Mechanical switches tend to be highly reliable and
provide a good tactile feedback when typing (that “clicking” noise we usually
associate with offices). On the other hand, mechanical keyboards are more expensive
to manufacture, and can be extremely sensitive to spills and foreign matter.
Membrane switches are not quite as reliable, and tend to offer a softer, “mushier” feel
when typing (some people prefer this feel). Because of the membrane cover used in
the keyboard, membrane switches seem to withstand spills and foreign matter better
than mechanical switches. The next step in understanding a keyboard is to learn about
the key matrix. Keys are not interpreted individually—that is, each switch is not wired
directly to the motherboard. Instead, keys are arranged in a matrix of rows and
columns. When a key is pressed, a unique row (top to bottom) and column (left to
right) signal is generated to represent the corresponding key. The great advantage of a
matrix approach is that a huge array of keys can be identified using only a few row
and column signals. Wiring from the keyboard is vastly simplified. An 84-key
keyboard can be identified using only 12 column signals and 8 row signals.
 NetPro Certification Courseware for NetPro Certified Systems Engineer – N.C.S.E

KEY CODES

When a key is pressed, the row and column signals that are generated are interpreted
by a keyboard-interface IC (typically located on the keyboard assembly itself). The
keyboard interface converts the row and column signals into a single-byte code
(called a key code or scan code). Two unique scan codes are produced during a
keystroke cycle. When the key is pressed, a make code byte is sent along to the
system. When the key is released, a break code byte is generated. Both codes are
transmitted to the host computer in a serial fashion. For example, a make code of 1Eh
is sent when the “A” key is pressed. A 9Eh code is sent when the “A” key is
subsequently released. By using two individual codes, the computer can determine
when a key is held down, or when keys are held in combinations. Just about every key
on a keyboard is typematic—that is, it will repeat automatically if it is held down for
more than 500 ms or so. Typematic settings can usually be adjusted in the CMOS
advanced settings for your system. Most computers today are prepared for
multinational operation. To accommodate the special characters and punctuation used
in various different countries, keyboard controllers can be configured to provide scan
codes for different languages. Table illustrates the make and break codes for
conventional keyboards used in the domestic United States.
 NetPro Certification Courseware for NetPro Certified Systems Engineer – N.C.S.E

KEYBOARD INTERFACES

Once a key is pressed and the keyboard interface converts the key-matrix signals into
a suitable scan code, that code must be transmitted to the Keyboard Controller (KBC)
on the host computer motherboard. Once key data reaches the keyboard controller, it
is converted to parallel data by the KBC, which in turn generates an interrupt that
forces the system to handle the key. The actual transfer of scan codes between the
keyboard and PC is accomplished serially using one of the interfaces shown in Figure.
Notice that three important signals are really in a keyboard interface: the keyboard
clock (KBCLOCK), the keyboard data (KBDATA), and the signal ground. Unlike
most serial communication, which is asynchronous, the transfer of data from
keyboard to controller is accomplished synchronously—data bits are returned in sync
with the clock signals. As you might expect, the signal ground provides a common
reference for the keyboard and system. The keyboard is powered by +5 Vdc, which is
also provided through the keyboard interface. It is also important that you notice that
most XT-style systems are designed with a unidirectional data path (from keyboard to
system). AT-style keyboard interfaces are bi-directional. This feature allows AT
keyboards to be controlled and programmed from the PC.
NetPro Certification Courseware for NetPro Certified Systems Engineer – N.C.S.E

A Partial List Of the Scan Codes

 NetPro Certification Courseware for NetPro Certified Systems Engineer – N.C.S.E

Dvorak Keyboards

Most technicians are familiar with QWERTY-style keyboards—this standard format

for typewriters was adopted in the late 1800s. A popular alternative to the QWERTY
keyboard is the Dvorak keyboard. Mechanically and electronically, the Dvorak
keyboard is identical to conventional keyboards. Only the key order is different—all
of the vowels are located on the left side of your home row (the middle row of letters)
in the pattern: AOEUIDHTNS. Dvorak keyboards claim several advantages over
QWERTY models. Most letters typed (~70%) are on the home row, so finger (and
wrist strain) can be reduced. With less reach to deal with, typing can be accomplished
faster, and with fewer errors. The vast majority of Dvorak words use both hands for
typing, but thousands of words demand one-handed typing for QWERTY
keyboards—this spreads out the strain on your hands more evenly.

CONVERTING TO DVORAK KEYBOARDS

There are two classic methods of implementing Dvorak keyboards: dedicated

keyboards and keyboard conversions. Dedicated keyboards are just as the name
implies—you buy a ready-made Dvorak keyboard and plug it in. Although the keys
are located in different places, the key codes are the same, so your PC doesn’t know
the difference. As a result, you can interchange QWERTY and Dvorak keyboards at
will without any changes to the PC or operating system. You can also convert your
existing QWERTY keyboard to Dvorak under Windows 95:

Open the Control panel and double click on the Keyboard icon.

Select the Language page and double click on the English (United States)
entry (or your own default entry for countries outside of the U.S.).

Select United States (Dvorak) from the list that appears.

Save your changes—you might need to install a diskette with the proper
drivers.

It might be necessary to reboot the system.