Thread: Laptop keyboard to the PS2 port....

An adapter should be easy enough to build. Who knows though, you might just get lucky and not even need one. For only $3 I would buy it and see where you end up.
I think I would go with a hardware adapter rather than a software solution. What if you need to use the keyboard in dos, or to make a change in the bios? A hardware solution would always be active.
Another thought..... Is the laptop keybaord being sold as an internal replacement keyboard for a laptop, or as an external? If it is a replacement then you will have to do what you are planning, if it is an external keybaord, then it already has the electronics inside it to just plug it into a computer. (laptop or desktop)

The keyboard is pulled from an old laptop, so it does not have any electronics built in.

As to the idea of no modifications needed, I, in my infinite optimism, do not feel that is at all possible. I know there are 80+ keys on the keyboard. And I know that there are far less connectors coming out of the panel. (This is how i understand prior posts on this topic...) Therefore, the connections inside the panel for each key have their own unique combination of shorting the wires on the outside.

For example...

There are 80+ keys. Each key has a pad underneath, which when pressed connects 2 wires. Those two wires allow the incoming current to pass through to the output pin. Now, it is not a good idea to have 80, or even 160 wires, going in and out of the panel. So, instead each key has 2 wires that it sends current through. When looking from the outside, we see a 15 pin connector, and each key will 'light up' 2 of the 15 connectors. Which 2 keys is the question. The electronics of a keyborad controller, residing on the laptop motherboard, takes the different combinations of 2 live wires, and translates them into which key you pressed. This is why laptop keyboards are not easy to install to a ps2 port.

A hardware option is possible, but i think i would have to rewire the entire keyboard. Then again, maybe not. Who knows.

Any one else have ideas???

Actually what I was saying about getting lucky and not having to make any modifications.....
I was talking about taking a desktop keyboard apart and comparing the "matrix" of the desktop keyboard to the laptop keyboard.
With an external keyboard there is a small circuit board inside it, and you might get lucky in that the 15 pin connection might be the same for both keyboards. If that is the case then just plug the laptop keyboard matrix into the external keyboard electronic circuit board.
Ya know what I mean?
I doubt you will be lucky, but it sure would be nice.

Does anyone made this mod??

Has anyone converted a laptop keyboard to ps2 or usb?

Wowwwwwwww, for your search skill.
I don't think any of those guys are still around to answer your question.

Hi,
laptop keyboards are JUST switching matrixes. There are rows and columns, you can find the matching pairs (with a resistance of some - eg. 50 - Ohms)
There are very OLD (386,486) notebooks, where the keyboard has controller. In that case you win.

A normal PC keyboard is the same inside. It also works with columns and rows. The plus is an in-build controller, that produces the RAW code that sent to the computer (at press and release) and the computer decides about the interpretation.

Good news: it is not impossible
Bad news: it needs a lot of boring measurement and particularly those flatribbon cables are hardly solderable. Strongly recommended to de-solder the connector from the mainboard of the laptop. I think not all the keys will work.

Hello,

I am also very interested in connecting laptop keyboard to desktop PC or to any computer either via PS2 connection or USB.

It is true that different keyboards have totally different matrix layout. Usually new laptop keyboards have 24 pin connector and it's size is almost the same on all of the keyboards. With 24 pin connection there can be 300 different ways of connecting pins with each other, like 1-2, 1-3 , 1-4... 1-24, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, ...2-24, and till 23-24.

It is possible to connect laptop contact layers to PS-2 keyboard controller, but keys will not match probably. If just signal would be generated when key pressed, that it is possible to remap key location with free program keytweak http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

I didn't try it yet cause I am interested in this project just first day. Is someone can connect laptop keyboard connection to desctop keyboard controller and will get results please reply to this forum.

Regards,
Ed

http://www.grynx.com/projects/conver...ptop-keyboard/

check out that site, it gives directions on how to do what you want using the keytweak program also. Basically you need to get a controller card from an old keyboard (usb/ps/2 and map the keys from the laptop keybaord to it.