IBM 6094-020 Lighted Program Function Keys

[Dave McGuire]

On Jul 24, 2007, at 3:53 AM, Glen Slick wrote:
>> > I'm getting a little closer ..
>> >
>> > I have the power adapter now and the correct cabling.  This device
>> > communicates over the serial port, but I have no idea how to talk
>> > to it, and I haven't even been able to get it to transmit noise on
>> > the serial port to the host PC.  (I've tried a variety of bps  
>> rates.)
>> >
>> >
>> > It's a neat looking piece of hardware - 32 buttons, each having a
>> > controllable indicator light.  But I'm getting grumpy because I
>> > have no idea how to feed it. :-(
>>
>>   I have a few of those.  Really, really neat little boxes.  I've
>> been similarly unable to find out anything about them. :-(
>
> I have an HP A4363A button box and a A4362A dial box.  I wonder if
> they are similar at all to the IBM versions.  The button box has 32
> buttons with indicators arranged as 6 rows of 4,6,6,6,6,4 buttons.
> The A4363A button box needs +5V and +/- 12V and talks 9600,N,8,1.  On
> reset all keys should be set to autosend.  The reset command from host
> to device is 0x20 and the device should respond with 0x20 for success
> or 0x21 for failure.  Data values 0xC0 to 0xDF from the device are key
> down, 0xE0 to 0xFF are key up.  Maybe that is useful, or maybe
> completely useless info for the IBM device.

   Hmmmm that sounds useful.  I will see about digging up one of my  
IBM units to see if it's compatible.  Thanks!

             -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire
Port Charlotte, FL