diff --git a/src/RowScannerInterface.h b/src/RowScannerInterface.h
index 5a623b3..3d37117 100644
--- a/src/RowScannerInterface.h
+++ b/src/RowScannerInterface.h
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 class RowScannerInterface
 {
     public:
-        virtual read_pins_t scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)=0;
+       // virtual read_pins_t scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)=0;
+       // todo, remove RowScannerInterface because
+       // some RowScanners will return ColPort e.g. RowScanner_PinsBitwise
 };
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp
index 7a44890..39c07ae 100644
--- a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp
+++ b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Strobes the row and reads the columns.
 Sets rowEnd and returns rowState.
 */
-read_pins_t RowScanner_PinsBitwise::scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
+ColPort* const RowScanner_PinsBitwise::scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
 {
     //strobe row on
     if (activeHigh)
@@ -29,46 +29,6 @@ read_pins_t RowScanner_PinsBitwise::scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
         refRowPort.setActivePinHigh(strobePin);
     }
    
-    return getRowState(rowEnd);
-}
-
-/*
-Copies column pins to rowState.  Unused column pins are not copied.
-Sets rowEnd and returns rowState.
-rowEnd is a bitwise row mask, one col per bit, where active col bit is 1.
-At end of function, 1 bit marks place immediatly after last key of row.
-rowEnd is a larger type than portMask so that it can not overflow.
-*/
-uint8_t RowScanner_PinsBitwise::getRowState(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
-{
-    uint8_t rowState = 0;           //bitwise, one key per bit, 1 means key is pressed
-    uint8_t portMask;               //bitwise, 1 bit is a colPortState position
-
-    rowEnd = 1;
-
-    //bitwise colPins, 1 means pin is connected to column
-    uint8_t colPins = refColPort.getColPins();
-
-    //bitwise colPortState, pin values where set in ColPort::read(), get them now
-    uint8_t colPortState = refColPort.getPortState();
-
-    if (activeHigh)
-    {
-        colPortState = ~colPortState;
-    }
-
-    for ( portMask = 1; portMask > 0; portMask <<= 1 ) //shift portMask until overflow
-    {                                       //for each pin of col port
-        if (portMask & colPins)             //if pin is connected to column
-        {
-            if (portMask & ~colPortState)   //if pin detected a key press
-            {
-                rowState |= rowEnd;         //set rowState bit for that key
-            }
-
-            rowEnd <<= 1;                   //shift rowEnd to next key
-        }
-    }
-
-    return rowState;
+//    return getRowState(refColPort, rowEnd);
+    return &refColPort;
 }
diff --git a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h
index 6752f73..3a21035 100644
--- a/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h
+++ b/src/RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class RowScanner_PinsBitwise : public RowScannerInterface
             : refRowPort(refRowPort), strobePin(strobePin),
               refColPort(refColPort) {}
         static const bool activeHigh;       //logic level of strobe pin: 0=activeLow, 1=activeHigh
-        virtual read_pins_t scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd);
-        uint8_t getRowState(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd);
+        virtual ColPort* const scan(read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd);
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Row_IOE.cpp b/src/Row_IOE.cpp
index f5a2005..c6a32d1 100644
--- a/src/Row_IOE.cpp
+++ b/src/Row_IOE.cpp
@@ -3,11 +3,54 @@
 void Row_IOE::process()
 {
     //these variables are all bitwise, one bit per key
-    read_pins_t rowState;                       //1 means pressed, 0 means released
+    uint8_t rowState;                       //1 means pressed, 0 means released
     read_pins_mask_t rowEnd;                    //1 bit marks positioned after last key of row
-    read_pins_t debouncedChanged;               //1 means debounced changed
+    uint8_t debouncedChanged;               //1 means debounced changed
+    ColPort* ptrColPort; //new
 
-    rowState = scanner.scan(rowEnd);
+    ptrColPort = scanner.scan(rowEnd);
+    rowState = getRowState(ptrColPort, rowEnd); //new
     debouncedChanged = debouncer.debounce(rowState, debounced);
     pressRelease(rowEnd, debouncedChanged);
 }
+
+/*
+Copies column pins to rowState.  Unused column pins are not copied.
+Sets rowEnd and returns rowState.
+rowEnd is a bitwise row mask, one col per bit, where active col bit is 1.
+At end of function, 1 bit marks place immediatly after last key of row.
+rowEnd is a larger type than portMask so that it can not overflow.
+*/
+uint8_t Row_IOE::getRowState(ColPort* ptrColPort, read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd)
+{
+    uint8_t rowState = 0;           //bitwise, one key per bit, 1 means key is pressed
+    uint8_t portMask;               //bitwise, 1 bit is a colPortState position
+
+    rowEnd = 1;
+
+    //bitwise colPins, 1 means pin is connected to column
+    uint8_t colPins = ptrColPort->getColPins();
+
+    //bitwise colPortState, pin values where set in ColPort::read(), get them now
+    uint8_t colPortState = ptrColPort->getPortState();
+
+    /*if (activeHigh) //'activeHigh' was not declared in this scope
+    {
+        colPortState = ~colPortState; //todo configure IOE polarity to take care of this
+    }*/
+
+    for ( portMask = 1; portMask > 0; portMask <<= 1 ) //shift portMask until overflow
+    {                                       //for each pin of col port
+        if (portMask & colPins)             //if pin is connected to column
+        {
+            if (portMask & ~colPortState)   //if pin detected a key press
+            {
+                rowState |= rowEnd;         //set rowState bit for that key
+            }
+
+            rowEnd <<= 1;                   //shift rowEnd to next key
+        }
+    }
+
+    return rowState;
+}
diff --git a/src/Row_IOE.h b/src/Row_IOE.h
index d2e7c85..4981bf8 100644
--- a/src/Row_IOE.h
+++ b/src/Row_IOE.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <RowBase.h>
 #include <RowScanner_PinsBitwise.h>
 #include <Debouncer_4Samples.h>
+#include <ColPort.h>
 
 /* Row_DH_IOE is a row connected to an Input/Output Expander.
 
@@ -41,5 +42,6 @@ class Row_IOE : public RowBase
              ColPort& refColPort, Key *const ptrsKeys[])
             : RowBase(ptrsKeys), scanner(refRowPort, strobePin, refColPort) { }
         void process();
+        uint8_t getRowState(ColPort* refColPort, read_pins_mask_t& rowEnd);
 };
 #endif