Industrial or factory automation keyboards are used with industrial computers, PLC, or other industrial control units. The operator interface unit of machining or specialized manufacturing equipment, data acquisition system, machine vision workstation, or process instrumentation may also require an industrial keyboard.
Kiosks are information centers located in airports, museums, or other public areas. Kiosks require a rugged or vandal-proof keyboards. Kiosk type keyboards are also utilized by OEMs of vending machines, gaming, arcade, or Automated Teller Machines (ATMs, cash machines).
Keyboards are used for marine applications such as navigational instruments; or control centers on boats, ships, or offshore oil rigs. The keyboard would have to meet more severe NEMA or IEC Ingress protection (IP) rating for marine applications. NEMA 4, 4X or IEC IP x6x.
Keyboards are designed for integration by an OEM into medical equipment such as an ultrasound, NMR, x-ray, or surgical laser units. The keyboards may have more stringent hygienic requirements.
Keyboards are suitable for military, aircraft, or other governmental applications. They must meet additional stringent military, government, or aerospace specifications for the required operating altitude, shock, vibration, EMC/EMI, or temperature ranges.
Point of sale (POS) keyboards are utilized in commercial retail, hospitality, and banking establishments as well as light industrial areas such as stock rooms or warehouses. Order entry, transactions, or inventory-monitoring applications often require keyboards with wireless capability or integrated automatic ID systems such as barcode or magnetic stripe readers.
Keyboards are used in voice, video, or data telecommunications. Examples include equipment for a cellular base station, or the KVM switch of a data network.
Keyboards are used for integration into automobiles, locomotives, material handling vehicles, trucks, or off-road vehicles for computer/internet access, navigational/GPS system access, vehicle or equipment control, or other applications. Shock & vibration resistance are of greater importance in these applications.
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Cable connections are straight or coiled multi-conductor cable with a serial, PS/2, or other computer interface connector. Cables are also available with a "Y" split with separate connectors for keyboards with integrated pointing devices.
Wireless keyboards utilize an RF or IR radio data link to transfer keyboard commands to the computer. The wireless feature can be useful in applications where an operator needs to move the keyboard away from the computer.
Unit supplied without integrated cable. The unit may have PC pins or another connector for internal connection into an OEM's product.
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Enclosed or encased keyboards are configured for desktop, tabletop, or benchtop applications. Desktop keyboards often use an angled enclosure or folding legs to tilt the keyboard's surface toward the operator.
Kits or keyboards are used for OEM product integration or evaluation. For example, one type of OEM keyboard kit consists of a rubber keypad overlay, switch matrix PCB, keyboard controller, and connecting cable. The kits do not have an enclosure, case, or front panel adapter plate. The OEM design engineer supplies the panel or enclosure. The units are also known as OEM modules, uncased units, or back panel mounted keyboards.
Panel mount keyboards have a flat frame for mounting on the top or front surface of an instrumentation or equipment panel. The keyboard may be bezel-mounted or flush with the equipment panel.
Other form factor, configuration or mounting type not listed such as arm mounted units.
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Industrial elastomer, silicone rubber, or black rubber keys or an overlay keypad. The elastomeric keypads replace the keycaps and plunger found in conventional keyboards. These keyboard features can provide excellent environmental ingress protection.
Membrane keyboards do not consist of discrete keys (keycaps and plastic plungers), but a continuous film or membrane on which the keyboard pattern is printed over a matrix of key switches. The overlays are typically made of a flexible and durable plastic, such as MylarTM / thermoplastic polyester or polycarbonate films. Membrane overlays are also known as graphic overlays or graphic membrane keyboards.
Steel, stainless steel or aluminum keys or panels are used to provide a puncture or vandal-proof keyboard. Flat metal panels with a graphic overlay are possible with membrane switch or piezoelectric sensor technology.
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A serial interface type based on IBM's Personnel System 2 (PS/2) computer interface that utilizes a small 6 pin DIN connector. XT/AT is a legacy type interface that is still widely used. The 6-pin Mini-DIN PS/2 connector is smaller than the 5-pin IBM XT/AT connector. Most of today's keyboards utilize a PS/2 interface. Modern keyboards use internal electronics to automatically detect the type of interface and provide backward compatibility for systems with XT or AT interfaces.
Serial ports or interfaces employ serial binary data interchange. Serial interfaces can be used for serial communication, where only 1 bit is transmitted at a time. RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 describe standard types of serial interfaces.
Universal serial bus standards are for low-to-medium speed peripheral device connections to personal computers, including keyboards, mice, modems, printers, joysticks, audio functions, monitor controls, etc. USB is often recommended as a replacement for PS/2 interface in newer systems.
Other interfaces such as DEC, X-terminal, Apple Desktop Bus (ADB, Macintosh), etc.
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With pointing button or joystick devices, the operator rocks the mobile section (joystick or button) to control cursor movement. These units employ variable resistance, potentiometer, magnetic Hall effect, or force/pressure sensing to capture the operator's input (the direction and degree of travel of the mobile section) and translate these signals into cursor movement. Joysticks are often referred to as "industrial mice" because they can withstand spills, washdown, contaminants, and the impacts of an industrial environment.
Touch pads allow for mouse movement simply by dragging a finger tip across a surface. Beneath this surface are grid-like array of sensors, which detect the skin of a person. Touch pads use a technology called field distortion sensing, a form of capacitance-sensing technology. When you touch the surface, your fingertip distorts the electrical field at that spot. Tapping on the pad or buttons provide the same function as a mouse click - icon selection.
A trackball has a large ball embedded in the top surface. The operator’s movement of the ball drives two "encoder wheels" or sensors that generate pulses in response to the movement of the mouse. Encoders or sensors may utilize optical, mechanical, fiber optic or magnetic technologies.
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Backlighting may be utilized throughout the keyboard for application areas with poor external lighting, such as in cockpits or mining end-uses. The illumination may also be used on individual keys or sections to provide a particular response to an operator; for example, number lock, caps locks, scroll lock, or disabled/enabled keys.
Automatic identification devices such as barcode, magnetic stripe or smart card readers, and biometric units for security or inventory control purposes.
An integral buzzer or speaker is included to provide an audible response to operators such as disable functions or keys.
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NEMA Enclosure or IEC IP (Ingress Protection) Ratings
NEMA Standards are outlined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) to provide general safety information on electrical equipment for architects, engineers, installers, inspectors, and other interested parties.
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment. NEMA rated produces may provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed, washdown water; and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. IEC IP56 is usually considered equivalent to the NEMA 4, 4X rating.
Enclosures constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment. Products provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flying chips; and against dripping and light splashing of liquids. IEC IP52 is usually considered equivalent to the NEMA 12 rating.
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment. Products provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flying chips; and against the spraying, splashing, and seepage of water, oil, and non-corrosive coolants. IEC IP54 is usually considered equivalent to the NEMA 13 rating.
Other industrial agency rating such as Underwriters Laboratory UL 1950, CE Mark, ETL, IEC or CSA ratings or other NEMA type ratings not listed.
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The keyboard is suitable for hazardous environments where explosive or combustible materials may be present. Intrinsically safe keyboards are also known as non-incentive keyboards.
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