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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : usb to ps2

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stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 09:52pm 21 Dec 2023
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I found these old usb  to ps2 adaptors for old pc but could the ps2 work with picomite?
I don't have any ps2 connectors to check wiring but I could use a tapometer to see what's inside the adaptor.

 
Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 10:01pm 21 Dec 2023
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AFAIK they are just pin-pin connectors. A lot of USB keyboards (especially the older ones) will also work with PS2 inputs using one of those.

Those are the adapters you keep in a drawer for ten years, throw away then need one urgently.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
phil99

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Joined: 11/02/2018
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Posted: 10:10pm 21 Dec 2023
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Usually those adapters just connect PS/2 pins straight through to the USB pins.
They only work for keyboards and mice that can automatically switch between PS/2  and USB modes. They test the port at power up and select the mode depending on what data they see.

Edit. Too slow!
Edited 2023-12-22 08:12 by phil99
 
Turbo46

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Joined: 24/12/2017
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Posts: 1611
Posted: 10:57pm 21 Dec 2023
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Yes there is no protocol conversion going on in that little connector. It relies on the keyboard having the smarts to know which protocol to send.

In the latest Silicon Chip magazine there is a design for a USB to PS/2 converter that uses a Pico and not much else. Two designs, one for just a keyboard and one for a keyboard and mouse.

Bill
Keep safe. Live long and prosper.
 
Amnesie
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Joined: 30/06/2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 396
Posted: 11:07pm 21 Dec 2023
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Yepp I use them all the time with my Cherry Keyboars, since I have no PS/2 ONLY keyboard. The keyboard you use MUST support PS/2.
 
Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9307
Posted: 12:08am 22 Dec 2023
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  Mixtel90 said  Those are the adapters you keep in a drawer for ten years, throw away then need one urgently.


LOL!
Well, quite.  
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
 
aFox
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Joined: 28/02/2023
Location: Germany
Posts: 76
Posted: 02:25pm 22 Dec 2023
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Quazee137

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Joined: 07/08/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 571
Posted: 02:59pm 22 Dec 2023
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Here is one project using pico
ps2pico

could be a good use of the WS RP2040 Zero mini board.

or the RP2040 Stamp might be the smallest way.




updated version using level shifter and doing both keyboard and mouse
ps2x2pico  


and one using STM32
usb2ps2conv

I have box of Blue pills not sure if the can be used here.


Quazee137
Edited 2023-12-23 02:56 by Quazee137
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
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Posted: 10:37pm 22 Dec 2023
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That is really nice Quazzee,

I wonder if a small pcb should be made for it, although how would you connect the PS2 cables without soldering as the prototype showed, as it also supports wireless keyboard/mouse and usb Hubs this is a great design.

If you had to solder the PS2 cables you may as well build the unit as shown on GitHub.

I don’t know much about GitHub, in fact I usually find it very confusing but what does the file. “.gitignore” do or mean?

Regards,

Mick (the Big one)




.
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Mixtel90

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Posted: 10:45pm 22 Dec 2023
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I've looked at the Stamp before, but it's quite expensive for what you get. If you want "proper" USB then you still have to put a connector somewhere so you lose some of the size advantage. Handy if you have a severe size or weight restriction.
Edited 2023-12-23 08:51 by Mixtel90
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
Turbo46

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Joined: 24/12/2017
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Posts: 1611
Posted: 12:08am 23 Dec 2023
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@bigmik,

The Silicon Chip one is based on that Github one. They made two versions, one for just the keyboard that will fit inside the simple VGA picomite design of Geoff's that they published and another that will do a keyboard and mouse. You may want to check that out.

Bill
Keep safe. Live long and prosper.
 
robert.rozee
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Joined: 31/12/2012
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Posted: 08:00am 23 Dec 2023
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  Quazee137 said  updated version using level shifter and doing both keyboard and mouse
ps2x2pico



i wonder if it would be possible to take this project and integrate peter's port of mmbasic into it?  


cheers,
rob   :-)
 
Mixtel90

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Posted: 09:31am 23 Dec 2023
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Oh, probably. Just not if you want to plug a USB keyboard and mouse into it. :)
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
robert.rozee
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Posted: 10:41am 23 Dec 2023
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  Mixtel90 said  Oh, probably. Just not if you want to plug a USB keyboard and mouse into it. :)


well, as a proof-of-concept it does prove that with the latest tinyUSB it is theoretically possible to have the pico act as a host, with a usb hub then branching out to keyboard and mouse devices  


cheers,
rob   :-)
 
Mixtel90

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Posted: 11:02am 23 Dec 2023
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Like video, sound and networking, USB isn't really an ideal match to general purpose microcontrollers. They all need specialist hardware to do them properly.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
robert.rozee
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Posted: 01:09pm 23 Dec 2023
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  Mixtel90 said  Like video, sound and networking, USB isn't really an ideal match to general purpose microcontrollers. They all need specialist hardware to do them properly.


??? the RP2040 has said "specialist hardware" onboard, as do a great many other microcontrollers.

one could also 'kludge' it with one of these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/375113623210
along with a second pico to independently provide the USB to PS/2 translation. so you would end up with a dual-pico setup, mmbasic, usb keyboard and mouse, and then with another module (discussed elsewhere) HDMI video output.


cheers,
rob   :-)
Edited 2023-12-23 23:17 by robert.rozee
 
Mixtel90

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Posted: 01:35pm 23 Dec 2023
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The *hardware* can do it, but it needs software support, which uses up resources. USB (especially host mode) is not lightweight.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
robert.rozee
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Posted: 01:41pm 23 Dec 2023
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a further idea occurred...

what if the ps2x2pico were extended to ps2x2pico+CDC?

ie, add CDC device support to the ps2x2pico so that it could talk to:
1. a USB keyboard device,
2. a USB mouse device,
3. a USB CDC serial device.

the USB CDC serial device would be a (more-or-less) stock-standard "picomite VGA".

the ps2x2pico would, instead of providing 2x PS/2 output ports, translate keyboard and mouse data into VT escape sequences and send them straight back out to the attached CDC device (aka "picomite VGA").

the "picomite VGA" would then just need to:
A. take input from it's USB port as if a terminal emulator were talking to it,
B. send all output to it's the VGA port.
correct me if i am wrong, but can a picomite VGA not already do this?


cheers,
rob   :-)


addendum:

Edited 2023-12-24 00:19 by robert.rozee
 
robert.rozee
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Posted: 02:37pm 23 Dec 2023
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issue raised with ps2x2pico author here:

https://github.com/No0ne/ps2x2pico/issues/20


cheers,
rob   :-)
 
Mixtel90

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Posts: 6792
Posted: 03:28pm 23 Dec 2023
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Just bear in mind that the PicoMite VGA uses a memory mapped display that is sent out to the video by the second CPU. There is virtually no load on the primary CPU. As such the speed of the display is very fast. Even USB is a serial interface and, as such, has to introduce delays. You won't be able to get the same display speed, just as you wouldn't if it was a serial terminal.

TBH this looks far too complicated. I'd just use a RPi instead - it's far easier and you get so much more for your money.  :)
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
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