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Re: IIe and IIc USB interface in the works. Need input.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 12:07:21 PM UTC-7, option8 wrote:
> Hey all.
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> I'm currently working on a couple of boards/kits to connect later Apple II hardware (//e and //c specifically) to USB devices. And vice versa.
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> The first boards, which are complete and functional, allow you to use the Apple //e and //c keyboards as USB keyboards on a modern system. I see people using these to interface vintage hardware with emulators, or to test keyboard function without having to power on the vintage system.
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> The second, more complicated board, which is still in progress but already in functional prototype stage, allows one to connect a USB keyboard to an Apple II (currently building the //e version). The obvious advantage to this is using a modern keyboard to work with an Apple II, in cases where the vintage keyboard is broken or missing keys, or the switches are sticking or slow.
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> A third board is also in the works, a simple gizmo to connect a modern VGA output to a vintage RCA-style composite video input. Again, useful to get vintage hardware working with an emulator, or to test old displays without needing to fire up an Apple II.
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> While doing these, I'm trying to add in features that I know I will use, but I thought I'd see what this forum had to add. What kinds of things would you envision using adapters like these for, and what additional functions would you like to see me add in?
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> For instance, on the USB -> //e board, I have a pair of hardware switches that ground the proper pins on the keyboard cable to trigger CTL+RESET and CTL+OPEN APPLE+RESET. There is also the necessary resistors and connections that the //e passes POST with just that board in place, instead of the original keyboard.
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> The USB interfaces use Arduino libraries to translate keystrokes, and the boards can be reprogrammed with any number of keyboard layouts (e.g. mapping closed apple to ALT/Option key) or macros. This is done with the open source Arduino IDE.
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> Speaking of which, all the code and hardware are open source.
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> Suggestions are welcome.
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> --Charles.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?p_id=4724