Zenith Supersport SX
 | |
| Branding | Zenith Data Systems |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Alps Electric? |
| Features | Pad lock |
| Keyswitches | Alps integrated dome |
| Switch mount | PCB mount |
| Interface | Direct matrix |
| Rollover | NKRO |
| Introduced | 1989[1] |
| Price | $6000[1] (for the whole notebook) |
Zenith Supersport SX (branded approximately as "supersPORT SX", also transcribed "SuperSport") was a 386 notebook computer in the Supersport range from Zenith Data Systems.
Contents
Description
The Supersport SX was introduced in 1989 and featured a keyboard with tactile Alps integrated dome switches with double-shot Alps mount keycaps. Keycaps with two legend colours use locally coated pad printing for the additional colours.
The keyboard features n-key rollover using diodes. The keyboard PCB contains only the switches, diodes and lock LEDs, with the controller itself on the motherboard. This makes the keyboard ideal for controller replacement. The rear of the PCB bears Alps branding, suggesting that they manufactured the entire keyboard assembly.
The variant of the Alps integrated dome switch found in the Supersport SX has a gentle metallic sound and a positive tactile feel, around 65 cN. The tactility is crisp and precise.
The keyboard features an embedded numeric keypad with a pad lock key, giving it four LEDs instead of the usual three. The function keys stop at F10; F11 and F12 are only available on the Zenith ZA-180-89 external numeric keypad.
Other variants
The earlier Zenith SupersPORT 286 was identical in almost every way, but featured a slower 80286 CPU. This model was also sold by AEG Olympia as "Olyport 40".
Keyboard matrix & controller replacement
The keyboard uses a 10 columns by 8 rows matrix, with diodes mounted so rows are positive and columns negative. This is important if you are using hasu's firmware for the Teensy, since hasu's TMK code assumes negative rows and positive columns; in this case you'll need to enter the columns as rows and rows as columns for the firmware to work with the keyboard.
A 24-lead flat flex cable (1.25mm pitch) connects the keyboard PCB to a controller on the motherboard, with the following pins:
- Pin 0: unused
- Pin 1: VCC, used for the LEDs
- Pin 2-5: LEDs (-)
- Pin 6-15: columns (-)
- Pin 16-23: rows (+)
| Col | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row | Pin# | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| A | 16 | ESC | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | F6 | F7 | F8 | F9 |
| B | 17 | BSLS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | F10 |
| C | 18 | TAB | Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | 9 | NLCK |
| D | 19 | LCTL | A | D | F | G | H | J | I | 0 | PAUS |
| E | 20 | LSFT | S | V | B | N | M | K | O | MINS | INS |
| F | 21 | Z | X | SPC | UP | RALT | COMM | L | P | EQL | DEL |
| G | 22 | CAPS | C | no | LEFT | RCTL | DOT | SCLN | LBRC | PSCR | BKSP |
| H | 23 | FN0 | LALT | DOWN | RGHT | RSFT | SLSH | QUOT | RBRC | ENT | NONUS_BSLASH |
Gallery
Supersport SX closed
Lid open
Embedded numeric keypad
Double-shot keycaps
Pad-printed secondary colours
Matias keycaps fitted to demonstrate that the switches are Alps mount
Disassembled to show keyboard assembly
Keyboard assembly; the keyboard is attached to the computer using metal plates screwed onto the PCB
Foam layer between the keycaps and PCB
Alps integrated dome switches
Diodes for n-key rollover
Shield plate on the rear
Shield plate bond
Insulating layer between the shield plate and PCB
The Enter key stabiliser arrangement is very difficult to reassemble
Alps branded PCB
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Computing History — Zenith SupersPORT SX Retrieved 2015-07-09.
