[Coco] Mechanical keyboard upgrades for the CoCo

[Joel Ewy]

On 08/21/2015 10:21 AM, Mark J. Blair wrote:
> Are multiple mylars needed just to cover the different physical key arrangements, or are the scan matrices actually different? Replacement mylars naturally need to match the layouts of original keyboards in which they're installed, while a new mechanical keyboard would entirely replace the original keyboard, and would need its own custom PCB.
>
> If the keyboards all have identical scan matrices (aside from added keys in later models) as presented to the motherboard connector, then there would be no need for anything like a CPLD. And if everyone would be satisfied with a common key layout, such as the CoCo 3 layout, then maybe one keyboard could fit all? I have not yet studied the internals of all three machines side by side to see if the keyboard mounting arrangements and cabling are compatible between the 1, 2 and 3.
>
>
The CoCo 2 and 3 keyboards can be adapted to work in a CoCo 1 with a 
cable modification.  It could be an option for a kit or people could 
roll their own.  Here's how I did it: 
https://8littlebits.wordpress.com/2015/08/08/coco-3-coco-1-keyboard-transplant/

JCE