At 03:10 PM 1/28/98 GMT, Martin wrote:
>First, the original question simulating key presses on an existing
>keyboard (on a VCR), and whether to use opto's or CMOS analog
>switches.  A keyboard encoder chip would not solve the original
>problem.

   Martin (and Morgan), sorry about that. I missed the original thread.
I've noticed several good solutions to the original problem.

>Also, on the topic of the 74C922, this chip has always had limited
>availability in a lot of local markets, and as you note, it is a bit
>expensive.  Since a small PIC device can duplicate the functionality
>of a '922, at a lower cost, if you want to use a separate keyboard
>encoder with a PIC, it makes more sense these days to use another PIC.

   Good point about using a PIC as a dedicated controller. I have'nt
looked into this for a couple of years and I still have some 922's in
stock. I did'nt have a problem with availability but I checked Digi-Key
and noticed that they have gone up in price... You could use a 16x84
and an R/C oscillator to do the same at about half the price...

   - Tom