HELP, please?

[Vintage_H._Shack]

I'm working on making a Sam Coupe ATX clone and I need help figuring out a way to use a PS/2 keyboard with it. I did find a device that would do what I want, but it's for sale only on a questionable website. The original Sam Coupe keyboard was a passive 8x8 matrix, if that helps. I can provide some schematics and other related information depending on the questions asked.

 

[Melkhior]

I don't know about your specific machine, but there's a project to use a USB keyboard on a wide variety of systems through an Arduino - it migjt be the basis for a homemade solution if you can't find something of-the-shelf.

 

[Vintage_H._Shack]

I don't know about your specific machine, but there's a project to use a USB keyboard on a wide variety of systems through an Arduino - it migjt be the basis for a homemade solution if you can't find something of-the-shelf.

Well, here are the specifics:

1) The computer in question is a Sam Coupe (koo-PAY) clone.
2) I wanted to use PS/2, but USB may work.
3) I would like to have an Atmega chip act an an interpreter.

My idea is to have the Atmega scan for the standard PS/2 keycodes and inject the corresponding key according to a look-up table, thereby eliminating the need to modify the original Sam Coupe's mainboard in any way. This would be reversible to facilitate the reinstallation of the original style keyboard or a clone of it later on. In my case, I do not have a Sam Coupe. I've gone through and designed an ATX version of the Sam Coupe's mainboard complete with some quality of life improvements, it's just the keyboard portion that needs to be done and then I can release it. I do plan to sell some boards and kits to those who are interested.