Texas Instruments 2230528-0001

Texas Instruments Low Profile Keyboard (part number 2230528-0001) appears to be a keyboard produced for their Professional Computer; see Bitsavers’ material on the Texas Instruments Professional Computer. Caps Lock is documented as “latching (push-push)” although in this instance it’s an illuminated momentary key. An article in PC Magazine from 6th March 1984 (Sizing Up the Professional, on pages 240–245) describes the Texas Instrument Professional Computer; on page 242, the keyboard of this computer is described as a Hall effect type, with a “resilient plastic membrane to support its keys”. The technical reference material offers no indication of there being more than one keyboard type.

This keyboard is Alps Electric model KCMAA001, making it possibly the first ever KCM Series keyboard. (Another variation such as KCMBA001 could potentially have preceded it.) The switches are KCM Brown, giving us a low water mark for when these switches became available. Caps Lock is KCL Green with a red LED.

The photographs below were provided by EnthusiastDude are and in the public domain. This keyboard was used as a brown Alps donor board due to its condition (including missing keycaps).