Industrial Keyboard Offers Office-like Ergonomics

NEMA 4 Sealed, Spill, Splash and Dust Proof, Chemical Resistant

Fremont, CA, October 16, 1995-Today, Dolch Computer Systems' OEM Group
introduced its Magnum 84 series of sealed industrial keyboards. Aimed at
the industrial user frustrated with heavy, hard-to-use keyboards that have
an indistinct feel, Dolch created a lightweight and ergonomically pleasing
device, bringing office-like touch and feel to the factory floor. Magnum
84 combines a full ASCII keyboard layout with an integral pointing device
that guarantees Windows compatibility. Full sealing is standard in the
Magnum 84 series making them dust, liquid and contaminate resistant. 

Magnum 84 Brings Precise Stroke and Feel

A common user complaint with industrial keyboards is their lack of precise
"feel". Without discrete physical feedback, key actuation is often
imprecise, leading to errors in data entry, not an issue with office
keyboards. To capture a model of the physical touch and feel present in
high quality office-standard keyboards, data was collected on the key
shape, stroke, force and feedback. Using these models, individual key
pressure, displacement, and recoil characteristics were simulated to
generate engineering design data. This data was used to create the Magnum
84 design-a new approach to industrial keyboard architecture. At the heart
the Magnum 84 design is the trapezoidal key wall and ergonomic strike
angle-formed from a proprietary industrial-grade silicon compound. This
engineering material provides the proper travel and rebound in the keys,
central to the "feedback" sensation. Each key is accurately molded with
the precise deck angle, stroke and "snap-back" feel of an office keyboard
while being completely sealed to the environment. The full ASCII keyset is
created in a continuous keyboard mold that replicates the proprietary key
geometry. This mold also establishes the spacing of the
ergonomically-shaped convex keytops-broad 0.5 inch square key surfaces
with industry standard 0.75 inch center-to-center keyspacing. 

Gold Contact Arrays Improve Reliability

Dolch's keyboard design responds to industry's demands for continuous,
maintenance-free operation in factory process environments with a simple,
yet elegant implementation. Creating a ultra reliable electrical design, a
pattern of gold-plated switch contacts are laid-down on a unique keyswitch
contact plate. This structurally-rigid substrate mates with the one-piece
contoured silicon-compound keypad to form a water-tight impenetrable seal,
the cornerstone to reliability. Thus sealed, each key contact has a life
of 10 million cycles the equivalent of 10 years of normal usage. 

NEMA Class 4, Plus Acid Protection

Magnum 84 keyboard arrays are molded of an extremely tough industrial
silicon elastomer. This compound is thermally stable from -50 to 170
degrees C and is operable from 0 to 70 degrees C. It will not stiffen,
crack, craze or fade with time. This silicon mantle creates a protective
envelope that shrugs-off splashing water, blowing dust, airborne
particulates and dripping liquids. To ensure continuing readability with
heavy use over time, every key's nomenclature is physically embedded in
the keytop using silicon ink, indelible, and virtually wear-proof.
Inherent in the design of Dolch's Magnum 84 keyboards is compliance with
NEMA class 4 specifications. To add acid resistance, specify the optional
Parylene coating. 

VersaPoint Sealed Integrated Pointer

A sealed, pressure and direction sensitive pointing device, VersaPoint, is
standard on all Magnum 84 keyboards- thus assuring compatibility with all
operator interfaces and object oriented software. Operating system
compatibility has been certified with DOS 3.X to 6.X, Windows 3.X, Windows
95 and Windows NT. Mounted in the ergonomically correct lower center of
the keyboard, the VersaPoint provides precise cursor control and hardware
compatibility of either serial or PS/2 interfaces. 

About Dolch Computer Systems

Dolch Computer Systems manufactures and distributes high performance
portable computers for power-users and industrial OEM products and system
components for end-use applications and system integrators. Founded by
Volker Dolch, a pioneer in the development of microprocessor
instrumentation, the company is privately held and headquartered in
Fremont, California, with subsidiaries in Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Dolch markets its products to a broad range of industrial, medical,
corporate, military and aerospace users in North America, Europe, and the
Pacific Rim. 

Price and Availability

Magnum 84 keyboards are available from stock to 4 weeks. Pricing starts at
$400 for single quantity. 

DOLCH COMPUTER SYSTEMS
3178 LAURELVIEW CT.
FREMONT, CA 94538
TELEPHONE: 510.661.2220,  FAX: 510.490.8345
 
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