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Additional TASA Model 55 Keyboard Features

D Tough polycarbonate surface, sealed from environment,fully insulated.

D Built-in electronic shift lock and two-key rollover.

D Electronic hysteresis for firm "feel".

D Signal activation time approximately 1 millisecond, no"bounce".

D Parallel output: Active pull-down, direct TTL compatible(one load), open collector type.

D CMOS compatible with pull-up resistor.

D Continuous strobe and latched data signals for easytiming or triggering.

D Standard 0.156 inch center (3.96mm.) 6-position dualreadout male card edge connector.

The CompanySince its formation in 1975, TASA has been dedicated

to a single important goal; to find a better way to commandelectronic devices such as computers, terminals, instru-mentation, etc. The objective was based on our convictionthat mechanical control technology has not kept pacewith the advances in electronic technology, and that manyadvantages brought to sophisticated electronic systemsby solid state developments are needlessly lost at themechanical control interface.

The Engineering task became obvious: to design acompletely solid state control sensing system which couldeffectively translate the analog motion of a human fingerinto an intelligent, coded, digital command. Though the taskwas obvious, the solutions to the problem were not; prob-lems involving the major human engineering determinationswhich must be made when specifying a "universal" bodyas a component to be integrated into an extremely sen-sitive electronic system.

The TASA Model 55 Micro-Proximity keyboard is ourinvitation to you to test this unique and exciting technologyin a very practical way. We think you will come to thesame conclusion as many OEM engineers already have:

that your sophisticated equipment, instrumentation orsystem should reflect its state-of-the-art design all the waythrough the operator control panel today, with the technologyof tomorrow—TASA's micro proximity keyboards.

General DescriptionThe TASA Model 55 and all other TASA keyboards

are truly solid state, touch-activated systems, combiningthe cost advantage of absolute simplicity of constructionwith fully integrated, single-chip circuitry. Not a "dumb"matrix keypad, the built-in sealed electronics of the Model55 ASCII keyboard provides full-function capability in anencoded 8-bit (plus strobe) parallel output that is completelyverified, processed and debounced, ready to connectdirectly to a system's data bus.

The Model 55 and other TASA keyboards are designedfor high volume production, further enhancing OEM costsavings in medium and high volume applications. Lowlabor content and elimination of expensive materials, suchas gold plating, special glass, etc. reflect TASA's long termobjective of continued favorable OEM price trends in spiteof the likelihood of continued inflation.

Operational CharacteristicsIt is inherent in the principle of the TASA micro

proximity technology that touching the designated sensorarea results immediately in a coded, conditioned outputsignal. This signal and its accompanying strobe are con-tinuous while the finger is on the key. The continuous strobeis convenient for timing (as in "Repeat" operation on anykey), and for triggering external audible or visual feedbackmechanisms if desired.

When two or more keys are touched simultaneouslyno output code exists, a form of two-key rollover, whichminimizes error during high-speed data entry. "Control"and "Shift" keys however are valid two-key operations.

Despite the keyboard's high speed operation, a built-in hysteresis circuit enhances the sensation of "flip" actionand diminishes "teasing" of keys, even though the fingeris as close as one-thousandth of an inch. All other opera-tions on the TASA Model 55 keyboard are similar to thoseon a conventional typewriter, e.g. "Shift Lock" locks theboard in the upper case mode, and momentarily touchingeither "Shift" key releases the lock.

ApplicationsThe TASA solid state micro proximity keyboard's

physical characteristics alone are sufficient to make it theoverwhelming choice in a wide variety of applicationswhere environmental considerations are critical and pro-tection of mechanical keyboards or soft, plastic "flex pads"would be required; applications requiring highest reliabilityin the areas of probable heavy abuse and minimal main-tenance, such as security systems, or controls on heavyequipment, automotive, marine or military systems; appli-cations where contamination is a problem and the keyboardmust be constantly sanitized, e.g. medical instrumentation;applications where hazardous materials or conditions exist,and many more, as shown in the application table below.

If one additionally considers the economic justifica-tions, few applications remain which are not better served bythe TASA keyboard than other types. An honest, detailedcomparison of the true costs of hardware and softwareengineering a mechanical or matrix-type keyboard into anOEM system, vs. a plug-in TASA keyboard will stronglyfavor the latter. In most cases the choice can be made byanswering the question "Is our valuable engineering timebest spent designing our equipment or keyboards?"

Application Requirements Matrix

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Tasa keyboard characteristic

2 Spiiiproof, v shab

4 Withstands temperature or

6 Nil RFI scatter (output?)

7 Simple hook-up (TTL or CMOS)

8 Switch size flexibility

9 Total graphics flexibility

10 Explosion proof11 Ultra thin, lightweight

13 E, isy single-panel integrationth other solid state controls

ServiceabilityTASA has reduced the complexity of a keyboard to

the level of a single plug-in component. Since no contactclosures occur and there are no other moving parts, lifeexpectancy cannot be rated by conventional means, butrather on the life expectancy of a silicon chip.

Field servicing a defective keyboard vs. replacing itwith a locally available ptug-in keyboard is a decision ofeconomics, both for the customer (in terms of down-timecosts) and the manufacturer (in terms of field service forcecosts). Considering the present upward spiral of theserespective costs and the downward trend of componentcost the replacement philosophy behind TASA keyboardswill prove the best economic decision for the manufacturerand his customer.

Custom and Semi-Custom DesignsTASA's solid state switch technology was engineered

for the OEM market today and as it will be in the yearsahead. That means flexibility for change. Today's OEMengineers want unique features, design flexibility, reliabilityand ruggedness in their products, particularly in thatportion of their equipment which receives the greatest use,the operator control panel. The OEM's marketing peoplewant the products to have all these things plus uniquenessand class, particularly at the operator control panel wherecustomer pre-sale attention is critically focused. TASAmicro proximity control panels combine the best of bothengineering and marketing requirements to give the OEMa product which spells S-A-L-E-S.

Semi-custom control panel designs provide completeflexibility in the control panel's format, applied to an off-the-shelf key pattern. This includes selection of key sizeand number, nomenclature, product and corporate identity,complete color graphics, executed by one of the topgraphics and industrial design firms in the entire U.S.

Full custom engineered control panel designs extendthe customer's options across every parameter of keyboarddesign, including type, location, function, size, spacingand number of keys, output codes, complete graphics,panel shape, size and orientation, connector type and lo-cation, integral mounting of displays, key locks and othercontrol devices, backlighting and many more.

Normally designed with a smooth, flat surface, TASAkeyboards can be fabricated with formed key areas and"home row" locators. Gloved-hand operation of a keyboardcan also be accommodated.

But perhaps the two most important features of TASAcustom panels, not available from any other manufacturerare these:D Integration of solid state keyboard with TASA's Ferenstat

brand solid state potentiometers.n Incorporation of extra "invisible" sensors in the initial

design, providing simple future key expandability.

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Pin Out1 V-(Ground)2 Bit 0 Out3 Bit 1 Out4 Bit 2 Out5 Bit 3 Out6 Strobe OutA V-HriB Bit 4 OutC Bit 5 OutD Bit 6 OutE Bit 7 OutF Parity Select O/E

Parity is "ODD" whenpin "F" unconnected,"EVEN" when connectedto V-(GND)

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Mechanical Outline

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Mounting SuggestionsTo the optional baseThe keyboard is available with anoptional lightweight base manu-factured with inside ridges oneither side, to which the keyboardcan be permanently affixed withbonding glue.To your own enclosureAs indicated on the mechanicaloutline drawing (left) the keyboardhas been manufactured to leavea 1-inch wide area on either endwhere holes can be drilled with-out damage to the keyboard.In this way, the keyboard canbe permanently affixed to anyenclosure

Interconnect Diagram Timing Diagram

TASA Model 16 Micro Proximity KeyboardsDesigned for the customer who wishes to increase

the flexibility of his system with or without the Model 55ASCII keyboard, the Model 16 4x4 keyboard is available intwo formats, the Model 16A alphanumeric and the Model16C with numerics and cursor controls. These fully encodedsolid state keyboards may be used as user-defineable16-key companions to the Model 55 ASCII keyboard or asstand alone data entry units with any system.

The Model 16's input/output lines are seven standard.025 square pins, 0.100 inch spacing, arranged in a stan-dard 8-pin line to eliminate the possibility of keyboarddamage due to accidental interconnect plug reversal.

Construction: Fully solid state, sealed, washable, toughpolycarbonate surface.

Output: 16 address-encoded locations, 4-bit and continuousstrobe. Active pull-down, direct TTL compatible(one load), open collector type. CMOS compatiblewith pull-up resistors.

Power Requirements: 12V DC, 20mA.Immune to external noise or static discharge.Two-key rollover, built-in electronic hysteresis for firm "feel".Activation time—1 millisecond, no "bounce".

The basic Model 16 solid state keyboard is designedto provide maximum flexibility for all applications requiringcontrol of up to 16 different parameters or functions. TASA'sredesign of front panel graphics can expose any numberand arrangement of keys up to 16, and provide your owncorporate and product identification, key nomenclature,color selection and future key-expansion flexibility. Designturn-around time may be as short as three weeks.

Full custom keyboards are also possible, includingselection of key sizes, location, number and function,output format, connector type, plus special features suchas backlighting, display apertures, hinged or slide-drawermounting and many other customer-definable^features.

Mechanical OutlinePin No. Function1 GRD

Dash lines incbowepanel cutout(if used for behindpanel mtg.)

Panel cutout radius.062 typ. |

700 | Pin 1 035 dia pins @ 100 on centers7 places

Interconnect Diagram Timing Diagram

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Touch Activated Switch Arrays, Inc.

2346 Walsh Avenue • Santa Clara, CA 95051 • (408) 727-8272 • TWX #910 338 7620