Filco Minila Mystery

[berserkfan]

I just took apart my Filco Minila to mod it.

I notice that some of the bottom row switches are upside down although there are also right side up pads.

Now these are part of the bottom row. The keys are quite standard. So I see little reason why the switches should be upside down which would be the case if you wanted to have keys in the same position sending different scancodes for different country layouts.

For some switches I can understand. They may be positioned differently with 1.25u or 1.5u spacing. But some switches have pads above and below, in the same spot.

Does anyone have any idea why there are extra pads on the bottom row and why some switches are soldered that way?

[Seriously]

They're for different size bottom row keys. The Majestouch PCBs have the same thing. The space can move a quarter unit to the left or right, I think, and you can move the entire bottom row on the Majestouch. The plate won't allow for it, of course, but I'd wager the PCB is almost the same for every Majestouch to save money (one PCB for ANSI-like and one PCB for ISO/JIS?)

Edit: Failed to read the whole thing!

Maybe they send different scancodes when the firmware is different?

[Oobly]

They are connected to different rows and columns, the clue is right there in the silkscreen print, the C and R numbers.

Makes it easy, for one board layout you insert them one way, for another you insert them upside down. Takes care of both the positions and the connections.