NCR H0150-STD1-01-17 (Decision Mate V Keyboard)

[sethstorm]

In light of details from another thread requesting some pics and background information:

The machine it came from(for which I no longer have):

NCR Decision Mate V
Type 3273

A CP/M 2.2 & NCR-DOS Z80/8088 system introduced in 1983. Searching on Google will yield a lot of information about this machine.  For what I know, it was not perfectly IBM compatible (interrupt controller issues, nonstandard 5.25" floppy disks, proprietary graphics).  Secondly, the keyboard will not work in an XT.

Due to the lack of a machine, I cannot determine the PC side support chips.
Nor do I have any firmware that may have existed on any controllers.

Connector:
AT DIN, with disconnected top-center pin.  1/2/3/4 are flat top, center-top(Not Connected) is beveled.

DB9-like port:
May be related to Motorola chip nearby, is a game port of some kind.  Pinout not available.

Presumed Controller:
U7: NEC variant of Intel 8047
Datasheet:http://www.datasheetarchive.com/dl/Databooks-2/Book261-1726.pdf
(as seen, anything that might be erased from exposing that is probably gone)

Support Chips:
U3/U5:(National Semiconductor?) I8330/CD4050BCN/NM5650BN(
U1:(Texas Instruments) NS7407N
U7:(Motorola) 006-00595/14 [logo] 83 33

Misc:
X1:6.000 MHz/7-272553/83 28

Top Label:
H0150-STD1-01-17 017-0031610
CHG.LEVEL 1-5
F022

Top Board Labels:
(C)NCR 1982 / ASSY 017-0032535 B
SCHM 017-0031563 D

Back Side Label:

Code: [Select]

   Language Code:

                     123
US English:          100
UK/Int. English      100
Danish               010
German               110
Swedish/Finnish      001
Norwegian            101
Spanish              011
Italian              111

0 = off  1 = on

KBD H0150-STD1-01-17
Made in W. Germany

Images:

The keyboard:
20 Function keys(F1-19 and Ctrl+F20 reset), QWERTY, directionals, 0/00, etc.



Bottom side of circuitboard:
Part of the backside of the circuitboard.  Keyswitches are soldered on.



Bottom of Keyboard:
Three-way DIP switch exists to indicate language.



Closeup of Keyswitches:
Yes, I know ` and Z are missing.  It is some sort of compact spring-loaded switch, with reinforcement bars on larger sized keys (both NEW LINE keys, Space) and toggle on CAPS LOCK key.



Connector Pinout: (numbers refer to board-side markings)


More photos to follow.

[sethstorm]

More images:

Where the connector is wired up to the board(see prev post for diagram of barrel connector side):
Is there any similarity in how XT keyboards may be pinned?  Note additional components on 2/4 at TB1:



Profile view of keys:



Keyboard Connector(pinout in prev post):



Keyboard, without top cover:



The electronics on the top part of the top side of the keyboard:



Add'l notes/questions
I'd highly doubt that this is a Cherry due to its 1982/83 manufacture.  If you can identify anything in it, feel free to reply.

If you have one and want one working in a more modern machine, figure out the main NEC chip.

[lowpoly]

The pcb says NCR so not a Cherry 'board.

Nice find.

[sethstorm]

The pcb says NCR so not a Cherry 'board.

Nice find.

Agreed, and it's a shame that the most use would be to put in another keyboard assembly that has a similar footprint.  Unless I get more documentation on it, I may just preserve the internal board as much as possible; the keyboard cable going to a 122 key IBM terminal keyboard, and the case being used for another keyboard.

It's not so much a find, but something that's been in the attic for a very long time.

[sethstorm]

Have we given consideration to the idea that this may be XT compatible to some extent? It's certainly from the right time period, has the right connector, doesn't have LEDs...

IDK how many of the "weird" computer builders implemented the PC/XT keyboard interface but I imagine it wasn't restricted only to clones.

From my own experiences with NCR hardware (when they did engineer their own) is that it's standard + reworking towards their own additions.  Take a look at their PC/PC-like hardware designs up to about the early 90's for example.

What may make it difficult is that it handles not only a keyboard, but also had a serial-like gameport on the side.  If one can read what's on that NEC chip, it'd make things a good deal easier.

I just don't have all the hardware(not just the machine it came with) around to take a look at how it's supposed to operate.

(Yes, if you've picked up on it, I owned the actual hardware behind it, and knew it was quite rare even in the late 80's.)