Ghielmetti Compactmatrix

[Maker]

What on earth is it for? Can I do anything with it? Is it worth anything?

There's 10 pins on each side and a 10x10 grid of holes on the front for the pins to go in. I seem to remember ages ago I multi metered it and putting a pin in connected the pin on that line to the pin on that column (that made no sense did it?).



No workshop mug but it's a little under 1 1/4" square

 

[rtbcomp]

It looks like a patchboard, a very crude method of programming semi-literate electronic devices.

 

[Dee J]

Its a matrix grid for setting up some sort of 'hardware programming'. Like jumpers or dip switches... Only more so. Shorting plugs and diode plugs available. Plugs link rows to columns.

 

[Maker]

It was given to me in a box of IC's from an X-ray technician where my dad works who's workshop was being downsized to little more than a cupboard. From what you've said, it seems kinda useless to me.

 

[Kayos]

Ebay it, someone will want one

 

[Woody.v8]

You sunk my battle ship...........Oh wrong game

 

[julianf]

I would probably buy them from you, if you have a few?

The pins are not simple shorting pins. They have a resistance to them, so their placement can be more involved than a shorting matrix would be.

I know about them as they were used on old musical instruments (synthesisers) and that's what i would use them for, if i had them...

 

[julianf]

Here is an example, although this one is a simple shorting matrix -

(i have one of those, although the one in the photo is not mine)


It allows you to set up the routing between the internal circuits.

 

[Maker]

I would probably buy them from you, if you have a few?

Just that one, it's yours if you want it, PM me.

 

[clinicalengineering]

Here's a link to the company product datasheet.
http://www.ghielmetti.ch/docs/PDF/gkv_n_x_m_321-621_la_e.pdf

They are useful in electronics for programming. The diodes in the pins allow more than one row/column connection without shorting all rows/ columns.

For simple "state machines" these could be matrices to recognise certain combinations of inputs
or as a matrix of 10 bit wide words, to provide 10 steps of code for a controller.
OR a seires of coded actions for the controller to perform.

Imagination is the only limitation here.

 

[awemawson]

Usually programming matrix's like that have diodes in the pins. This allows the data to be read in, parallel fashion, one line at a time by selecting the required row by pulling it down to 0v, the individual lines being pulled up by a resistor to whatever your logic level you are working with. The 'bits' with an inserted pin would also be pulled down to 0v . We used to input data like that from thousands of plant contacts ubing real time compter control machines (Ferranti Argus in my case)