Mike's Hobby Blog

In the PDF at the end of this post, I have captured some notes associated with an abandoned project to use an ATMEL AVR – ATMEGA16 in place of a National MM5740 keyboard decoder. Both parts come in 40 pin DIP packages, which makes the AVR substitution idea work pretty well.

The initial idea was to check to see if the AVR could be used as a plug in replacement, with some socket stacking and rewiring. I was also considering building a Datantetics Apple 1 and Apple 2 compatible keyboard using Cherry key switches and an AVR as the encoder. The reason why I stopped this project is that costs would probably have forced a selling price of close to $200. These notes are associated only with mapping the pinouts. I had assumed that if I could make a reasonable mapping that the software would be pretty straight forward.

It turns out that there are just enough pins to do the job without any loss in functionality. The strobe control, Output enable (OE) and shift lock functions are not used on Apple II/IIplus or earlier Datantetics keyboards. The Bounce Mask function can be accomplished in the AVR’s software. The clock of the AVR can be generated by either the internal RC oscillator or an external crystal input.

The PDF follows:
MM5740-to-AVR-mapping

I’ve done several online searches for a complete MM5740 data sheet over the last several years. There is a version that can be found on many of the data sheet archive search engines, but it is missing at least one page, containing crucial information. I knew it was part of National’s MOS/LSI data book from the mid ’70s, but I couldn’t locate an online version of that book, and I really didn’t want to buy a physical copy. One of the key questions that couldn’t be answered with the existing online data sheet, is what exactly is the difference between the AAC/AAD/AAE/AAF versions.

Finally while exploring the possibility of using an AVR as a replacement decoder for the MM5740, I did another search and the data book turned up as a PDF at bitsavers.org. The last page of the data sheet show that the AAE version has N-key rollover and the AAF version has 2-key rollover. Otherwise they are the same. This means that the AAF version should be usable in the Apple/Datanetics keyboards, only with the loss of the n-key rollover feature. Also, in this data book are some app notes, that provide information on the AAC and AAD versions. Those versions decode the matrix differently, in order to make using an external PROM decoder simpler. They will not be compatible with Apple/Datanetics keyboards.

Once I figure out the best way to cut it out of the complete data book, I’ll put a copy of the complete MM5740 data sheet and associated app notes up on one of my web pages. For now, you can try to download the complete National MOS/LSI data book from bitsavers.org. Recently, I’ve have trouble accessing that site, but if you are persistant, you should be able to get through.

While I’m waiting for Brain Board beta feedback, I finished assembling the Datanetics Keyboard Enclosure I built to match my Mimeo 1 Enclosure. Here is the final result. Not my finest work, but it will have to do.

Check out my latest video podcast (#23) for a video demo.

If you requested a board, I am shipping now. If you did not request one, you can be added to the wait list, send me an email, as I have a couple of extras that haven’t been spoken for.