Post by thread:Re: Keyboard faker

I would like to build a PIC based device to "trick" a laptop into thinking an AT style keyboard is plugged into it's external keyboard port on power up or on wake-up from standby. Does anyone have any code, or pointers to help me with this. I don't need to send any key's, just have it behave as if it's there. A keyboard "ghost". I know a company that makes a device to do this, but I'd like to make one myself. Thanks VERY much in advance for any help. Scott

> > I would like to build a PIC based device to "trick" a laptop into thinking > an AT style keyboard is plugged into it's external keyboard port on power > up or on wake-up from standby. Not difficult at all. In fact my project this weekend is to build an AT style keyboard using a miniature 5x8 keypad. I need it for my new Toshiba pen top. > > Does anyone have any code, or pointers to help me with this. I don't need > to send any key's, just have it behave as if it's there. A keyboard > "ghost". I know a company that makes a device to do this, but I'd like to > make one myself. Go out on the web and check out this URL: http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg/HTML/LINK/PORTS/F_Keyboard_FAQ.html It has everything you want to know about PC keyboards. Bottom line you need a PIC to: 1) send the POST OK byte (AA) on power up. 2) Provide a clock to the host upon request because a PC keyboard is bi-directional and stuff like typematic rate and setting the LEDs. 3) Send proper acknowledge if host request a command. The data format, commands, and response can be found at the web page above. You can even get power from the keyboard port. > > Thanks VERY much in advance for any help. Well I hope this helps, I'll let you folks know how the mini keyboard is going... BAJ

>I would like to build a PIC based device to "trick" a laptop into thinking >an AT style keyboard is plugged into it's external keyboard port on power >up or on wake-up from standby. > >Does anyone have any code, or pointers to help me with this. I don't need >to send any key's, just have it behave as if it's there. A keyboard >"ghost". I know a company that makes a device to do this, but I'd like to >make one myself. > >Thanks VERY much in advance for any help. > >Scott Why don't you just disable the checking for a keyboard in the BIOS ? Turn off keyboard 'installed' and the machine should boot up whether a keyboard is installed or not ! Rgds Mike

=->>Scott =-> =->Why don't you just disable the checking for a keyboard in the BIOS ? =-> =->Turn off keyboard 'installed' and the machine should boot up whether a =->keyboard is installed or not ! First of all, I can't in a Compaq Laptop (or at least I don't know how <g>). Second and mainly, the whole reason for doing this is so I can use a scanner that is a keyboard wedge adn requires the use of a keyboard. The PC won't recognize that anything is attached to the port unless I have a keyboard attached. I don't need an external keyboard for entry, thus the desire to have a keyboard faker. Thanks anyway for the suggestion. Scott

Scott Horton wrote: > > I would like to build a PIC based device to "trick" a laptop into thinking > an AT style keyboard is plugged into it's external keyboard port on power > up or on wake-up from standby. > > Does anyone have any code, or pointers to help me with this. I don't need > to send any key's, just have it behave as if it's there. A keyboard > "ghost". I know a company that makes a device to do this, but I'd like to > make one myself. > > Thanks VERY much in advance for any help. > > Scott Scott- I stumbled upon the following web site: http://www.arne.si/~mauricio/PIC.HTM Check it out. It might be of some help. Chris spam_OUTctmTakeThisOuTsprynet.com