Keyboard Projects

Modified Apple II Keyboard Daughter Board

The first project was to modify the daughter board on the Apple II keyboard to be able to use the Repeat Key as a Clear Screen

           Using Apple II Keyboard for Apple 1

Replacement Apple II Keyboard Daughter Board

The next project was to design an Apple II keyboard Daughter board replacement to make the so the Apple II keyboard more useable.  This involved changing the Repeat to Clear Screen, the back arrow key to Underscore which was the backspace used by the Apple 1 and remap the keyboard connector to directly fit the Apple 1. This design used the keyboard encoder chip from the original Apple II Daughter board since it was assumed the original board would be replaced.  A set of keycaps to replace the Apple II keycaps were procured to include the CLR SCRN and RUB OUT keys.

A1 Interface Board Documents

Apple1KBDInt Rev3.zip   Contains Gerbers and Excellon Drill File

Key switch Replacement Keyboard Keyboard 0

The next project was to Design an Apple 1 keyboard with replacement switches using standard Cherry Switches and levelers.  I chose to modify the key switch layout to remove the Repeat key and use the space to relocate and resize the Return Key while maintaining the original Apple II Outline.  Since I had a Replacement daughter board for the Apple 1 I used that as the encoder board and made the keyboard connector compatible with the Replacement Daughter board and also compatible with the original Apple II Daughter board although was a small wiring difference. The intent at this time was an Apple 1 keyboard but it would be a minor change to make the keyboard a suitable replacement for the Apple II Keyboard Switch matrix using the original Apple II Daughter Board.  This could be a very nice retrofit for some Apple II users since the switch matrix is often the weak links of the Keyboard.

Keyboard 0 Documents

Keyboard Rev0 folder.zip  Contains Gerbers and Excellon Drill File

Apple 1/ Apple II full custom Keyboard

The next project was a major step going to a custom Keyboard with a Daughter board using an Intel Max V CPLD for a Keyboard Encoder.  The Max V is designed in Verilog  as a complex logic block.  The Document below describes this design.

Full ASCII Keyboard for Apple 1/Apple II

Main Keyboard Design Notes

KeyboardF Rev 1a.zip  Contains Gerbers and Excellon Drill File

Apple 1/II Daughter Board Design Notes

KBDaughterRev4.zip  Contains Gerbers and Excellon Drill File

keyboard.pof.zip Contains Altera programming file

Apple 1 Daughter Board with Audio

Apple 1 Daughter Board with Audio

A1 Daughter Board Documents

KBDaughterA1Rev2a Folder.zip Contains Gerbers and Excellon Drill File

Enclosure using Apple 1 Daughter Board with Audio

Some Apple 1 owners feel the best place to keep their Apple 1 is in a Bank Safe Deposit Box but removing the Apple 1 board and ACI from it’s enclosure for operation and getting it ready for placement in the Safe Deposit Box involves a lot of handling of a valuable board. The objective of this Enclosure design is to fit the Apple 1 and ACI into an enclosure that will fit in the Safe Deposit Box and also to provide external connection to the Power Supply, Display, Keyboard and Tape or iPhone/iPad player so that the Apple 1 and ACI in it’s enclosure could be removed from the Safe Deposit Box, and be hooked up and running without ever having to touch the Apple 1 or ACI.  The largest Safe Deposit Box at most banks is 10 X 10 and the box has a restrictive top opening so the Enclosure has to be less than 10 inches wide for an Apple 1 board that is 9 inches wide.

The first photo is the Apple 1 system in operation, the second photo is the Enclosure.  The third photo is the base of the enclosure connected to the Power Supply, Display and Keyboard and shows the enclosure wiring harness embedded in the wood frame.  This Enclosure takes advantage of the Keyboard with Audio Support.

The last thing needed is the antistatic foam Pelican case in the last photo to transport your Apple,1 in its enclosure, to and from the Bank.

Apple 1 System in Operation
Connections and Wiring Harness