General Instrument
Contents
Keyboard encoder ICs
Families AY-5-2376 and AY-5-3600 were either second-sourced to, or cloned by, SMC.
| Model | Keys | Modes | Bits/key | Rollover | Output | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AY-5-2376 | 88 | 3 | 9 | 2KRO/N-key lockout | Parallel | ASCII, custom |
| AY-3-4592 | 112 | 4 | 10 | 2KRO/NKRO | Parallel | |
| AY-5-3600 | 90 | 4 | 9 | NKRO/N-key lockout | Parallel | ASCII |
| AY-5-3600-PRO | Binary sequential |
AY-5-2376
AY-5-2376 was advertised as far back as September 1971 in the Electronic Engineer magazine. It was also mentioned in US patent 3974575 “Teaching machine”, filed in June 1974.
AY-5-2376 uses an 11×8 matrix. 88 keys × 3 modes/key × 9 bits/mode/key = 2376 bits of ROM, whence the model number. By default, the 9th bit is used for parity
AY-3-4592
AY-3-4592 supports “capacitive, magnetic, inductive, Hall effect [and] mechanical” switches using pulse detection. The encoder provides a 128-key matrix with 112 encoded keys and 16 discrete function keys. It addresses a 16×8 matrix using an external multiplexer. 2KRO/NKRO is dynamically selectable. The ROM size is 4592 bits.
AY-5-3600 and AY-5-3600-PRO
Model AY-5-3600 is a 90-key quad-mode encoder. Each key generates a 9-bit code per mode, for a total of 3600 bits of ROM providing the key definitions. The standard model generates ASCII output. The matrix size is 9 × 10.
Where the manufacturer needs to provide a different set of output codes, model AY-5-3600-PRO is used. This outputs only the scancodes, with the intention being that the output codes be used as the indexes into a PROM or EPROM containing the character definitions.
A chip marked “AY-5-3600-PRO” and “PRO-050” can be seen in an Omnidata Omni 1 keyboard. The US-made Omni 1 keyboard is almost identical to the German-made Cherry G80-0115 which uses instead an SMC KR3600-PRO. The same “PRO-050” designation can be seen on an AY-5-3600-PRO used in an Apple ][ clone keyboard.
KB3600
KB3600 is a microprocessor-based encoder. KB3600 features N-key rollover, 9-bit output codes and a 5.4 ms debounce time. Separate ASCII and binary sequential “PRO” models were offered, and custom output table configuration was available. KB3600 was advertised in Computer Design magazine in September 1983. In quantities of 25,000 these encoders sold for $2.30 each, or $6.10 in April 2021 prices.
Documentation
The following documents cover General Instrument keyboard encoder ICs:
- AY-5-2376 catalogue entry
- AY-3-4592 catalogue entry (scanned by Bitsavers)
- AY-5-3600 and AY-5-3600-PRO catalogue entries (found at AppleLogic)
The following advertisements were scanned by Bitsavers unless otherwise noted:
- AY-5-2376 advertisement, The Electronic Engineer, Vol. 30 No. 9, September 1971
- Programmable keyboard encoders advertisement, Computer Design, vol. 22 no. 10, September 1983, page 226 (scanned by Bitsavers)