PSION Organiser II Forum

Has anyone managed to get a backlight on a original display ?

I see Christoph Pulster posted rare Blackroc modified version of the Psion 2 on Facebook (see attached image).

Are there any photos of the inside of that unit? It looks like they may have added a sheet of electroluminescent material into the display, or under it.
Are there any instructions with it? I see that there's a datapack for it, I wonder if they have a bit somewhere that turns the backlight on and off?

The question of how to illuminate the keyboard remains, as it doesn't look like they have done anything about that.

Maybe a idea for backlit keys could be getting clear keys moulded? I know that some other retro computer communities have had keys re-manufactured in custom versions like clear, glow in the dark and various colours. Probably someone like PCBWay could make them as they now do injection moulding, would look nice with grey keys shot through with clear letters, then when the light comes on they illuminate.

Daren wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 2:45 pm Maybe a idea for backlit keys could be getting clear keys moulded? I know that some other retro computer communities have had keys re-manufactured in custom versions like clear, glow in the dark and various colours. Probably someone like PCBWay could make them as they now do injection moulding, would look nice with grey keys shot through with clear letters, then when the light comes on they illuminate.

The problem with clear keys is that the membrane underneath is not transparent at all. So no light can shine from the PCB through the keys.

I think maybe it would be possible to put LEDs on the top and bottom of the bezel around the keyboard, and illuminate over the top of the keys, but that would be a fiddly job indeed.

I wonder if anyone could manufacture a membrane in transparent material. That, combined with clear keys could work.

PaulK wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 10:30 pm I wonder if anyone could manufacture a membrane in transparent material. That, combined with clear keys could work.

Without a doubt someone could, probably many people. The issue is the cost.

A low tech approach might be glow in the dark paint on the letters? Or a gooseneck light which plugs into top slot.

Daren wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:07 am A low tech approach might be glow in the dark paint on the letters? Or a gooseneck light which plugs into top slot.

Yes, some sort of light shining on the key from above might work.
I think it might be possible to drill small holes around the keypad and insert leds into them. That might give enough light maybe to read the keytops.

Daren wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:07 am A low tech approach might be glow in the dark paint on the letters? Or a gooseneck light which plugs into top slot.

Agreed - I have had this thought in my mind for a long time! I was thinking of modifying a DC power supply module to have a switched light on an arm or wire.