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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: EverythingIBM on Wed, 05 March 2014, 22:42:07

Title: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: EverythingIBM on Wed, 05 March 2014, 22:42:07

So I have a model M controller that looks like this:
(http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohlandl/keyboard/Model_M_PCB_1393291.JPG)

The four pin connector breaks out and connects to this LED PCB:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t31/q71/s720x720/901372_10151998801331203_1451634904_o.jpg)

I was going to recreate the LED panel so I could add one to the above controller in question, but I can't find any photos of the LED panel underneath to recreate it. I just need to see the traces.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 05 March 2014, 22:51:36

Maybe this (not mine):

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5188/5658041761_d3df90bdb2_m.jpg)

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: EverythingIBM on Wed, 05 March 2014, 22:56:47

Thanks rowdy, that's exactly the right one.
I did a reverse search where the photos were from, and got this:
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5188/5658041761_d3df90bdb2_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5229/5658613902_3c6e600077_z.jpg)


Totally cool, now I can create that LED panel. Cheers.

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 05 March 2014, 22:58:05

Cool! :)

Possibly someone here has a broken Model M, or perhaps one they used for parts, and might be able to give you a spare PCB.

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: EverythingIBM on Wed, 05 March 2014, 23:04:49

Quote from: rowdy on Wed, 05 March 2014, 22:58:05

Cool! :)

Possibly someone here has a broken Model M, or perhaps one they used for parts, and might be able to give you a spare PCB.

Nah, I have the resources to make my own (I do a lot of projects and things that I don't talk about here). One of them creating and reworking electronics.

One thing that you'll notice is that the main controller board contains the resistor network for the LEDs! Earlier Model M boards, such as in my '86 one have the resistors on the LED board itself.

So really, to solder on LEDs, there are three positive pins (a positive wire going to each led), and then one universal negative one (which the LEDs then terminate to). Real easy.
The polarity could be the other way around, I'll know once I start building the thing.

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 05 March 2014, 23:18:03

Three LEDs and a connector - the olden technology couldn't be much simpler :)

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: EverythingIBM on Wed, 05 March 2014, 23:22:36

So I anaylzed everything, and here's what I got.
You'll notice the ribbon connector has the main positive terminal much larger than the other three discreet negative paths to each LED
[attachimg=1]

Time to heat up the soldering gear.

Title: Re: Model M LED panel traces (assistance required)
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 01 April 2014, 22:47:37

Unicomp may still carry spare LED boards too.