Quote: Originally Posted by 99bravada
I'm still interested in figuring out how to do this though... you know, for ****s and giggles... any suggestions? I'm checking through the input section now..
When I was looking at this, here's what I found. Maybe it'll save you some searching.
I wanted a really small keyboard, so I played with the idea of using one out of a laptop. The problem there was the controller chip for the keyboard is integrated in the motherboard of the laptop, not in the keyboard itself. So you would have to find which chip it is, and then figure out the wiring.
I tore apart a couple standard PS2 keyboards, hoping to find some consistency, but no luck. It seems that keyboard makers like to use all kinds of different chips for controllers. I was hoping to be able to wire a laptop keyboard to a controller from a normal keyboard. Then I noticed that almost all of the keyboards I had torn apart had different layouts for the keys' wiring. Hence the different chips, I guess.
I tried to contact Mitsumi to ask if they used the same controller in any of their keyboards, but I couldn't get anywhere with them. All they kept asking was what was I going to use it for and how many per month would I be ordering. I guess they were thinking they'd custom design/build it or adapt an existing unit for my needs. When I told them I wasn't interested in quantity, they stopped talking to me.
It seemed to me that you need three matching things to make it work: 1) controller 2) key-layout circuit (membrane) 3) wiring diagram to connect the membrane/controller/PS2 or USB connector. I couldn't get 3 that matched without using all three from one keyboard - which defeated the purpose.
Hope that helps.