One for the electronics experts...

[mpl330]

Hi Guys,

I'm in the process of replacing all my Symulatory (FSBus) cards with something else as and the hope was to leave any existing connections to switches,leds as is and connect in the alternatives...

1st "simple" job I have started on  is the FMC. I have removed the card and discovered the keys are connected via a very thin ribbon cable with only 22 connectors on it but there are obviously 69 keys on the FMC so any ideas how I can work out how to conenct it to an Opencockpits keys card as I was hoping I would find a wire per key...?

Cheers
Mike
ps - Ian you know I will probably have to pester you about matrix cards again!!! 

[Boeing Skunk Works]

The keyboard on the FMC is probably wired in a matrix configuration. I don't know if you will be able to use any other input card.

[fordgt40]

Mike

Both the OC and FSBus cards will work on a key matrix. For example the OC card uses a matrix of 11 lines by 8 rows giving a maximum number of 88 keys. The FSBus will be similar, though you need to find a circuit diagram to see how the 22 connectors are arranged as a matrix. Alternatively you possibly could use a meter though this will be tedious in the extreme! Once you know the FSBus matrix then you can transpose and map the rows and columns into the OC card connector.

Regards

David

[mpl330]

Thanks All - was starting to think that way and its good to hear I wasn't probably way off...
On the off chance I got a new multi meter today to have a play with!

Cheers
Mike

[mpl330]

You know when you shouldn't take something apart but you just can't help yourself... 
Can now see the printed circuit board with the etched connections to the keys, now to work out what connects to what 

Cheers
Mike

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

sorry to be conspicuous by my absence, but the wife's airbus is taking up a lot of my time 
first thing i would do is mail Jakub for a circuit diagram.    you probably won't get a reply, but it's worth a shot.    or what about contacting the guy who came over to see you.
the guy's are right about the matrix, the input keys most definately will be connected like that.
if all else fails, give me a shout and i'll see if i can help you map out the key inputs.
good luck, your brain is going to hurt................
regards ... ian

[Boeing Skunk Works]

At the end of my statement I should have added, "...without a lot of frustration"

Nothing is impossible in this hobby, some things are just more difficult than others.

[mpl330]

When it works. DO NOT TOUCH IT....(lol)

I know, I know - but sometimes you can't help yourself 

Did fire off a couple of emails to Poland but so far not had any replies. I think looking at the part with the keys on, it is wired in a matrix as you all suggested. It is a strange thing as it is like a plastic piece of paper with very thin keys embedded in the surface - the actual keys we see push onto these small mounded contacts.
Tonights job will be to try work out the matrix - probes at the ready!

Thanks for all your input so far
Cheers
Mike

[mpl330]

Think I've worked the matrix out   

[fordgt40]

Mike

Well done and good luck

David

[Trevor Hale]

Sounds like a success story   Glad to hear you made out ok.  Good stuff.

[mpl330]

Thanks guys, not quite there yet as I still need to work out if the Symulatory matrix will map to the OC matrix successfully... 

Cheers
Mike

[mpl330]

  - dont think I can do it now!
The Symulatory card has 16 x 8 inputs + 1 x 5 inputs + 5 x 1 inputs going down the 22 wires - can't see how this could be mapped onto the OC 11 x 8 inputs.

Think I am going have to remove the Symulatory matrix/keys and replace with new tactile keys that I can wire to map to the OC card - ever wished you hadn't started something  but then again it wasn't working reliably before...
Cheers
Mike

[Trevor Hale]

Mike, honestly you wouldn't have started it if you were 100% happy with the way it was behaving.  What you are doing "needs" to be done.  The question is what to do now.  The FMC is the easiest, as the matrix of the keyboard is very straight forward.  Have you looked at using this for the fmc?  it is how I run mine..

http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_usb24.html

Just use it as the keyboard for your computer as well.  Then you can start to redo some of the wiring from your other equipment module by module.  No matter what, I think you will find rewiring for the OC Cards will be your best solution.

Trev

[mpl330]

Cheers for the tip Trev but I already had the OC USB keys card not doing anything - it was going to be a 'simple' remove the Sym/FSBus card and replace with the OC unit and keep the "membrane" and keys that were already in use... I dont think I will find another card that would accept the 16 x 8 inputs the "membrane" is wired for unless I used 2 cards but I have ordered enough tactile switches for only £3 and another card is going to be about 10 x that cost...

Oh well - onto the OH until the tactiles arrive from HK... let me see how I can re-invent that

Cheers
Mike

[Trevor Hale]

No worries Bud,  just hate seeing a fellow Frustrated Builder.  I have an overhead sitting downstairs that needs to be connected to the interface, and I am just tryign to get the motivation to do it. 

Trev

[Boeing Skunk Works]

Don't sweat it too much. Some solution will come about. They always do. I waited around 15 months for a solution for one AP function.