Matrix keyboard

[Guest]

With my embedded hardware I've got no normal keyboard ( no PS/2 device and
only for debugging/service purposes an USB keyboard).
I have to connect my own matrix keyboard ( via a special parallel port).

I have seen that WIN CE has some build in support for matrix keyboards, is
there something simular in WIN XPe?

Has anyone got the same problem and solved ist?
What would be the best way to insert my 'scancodes' into the system?
In Win98 i have done it with VKD_Force_Keys(...), is there any corresponding
function for WIN XPe?
Regards,
Burkhard Pauli

 

[David D]

Same situation as you but we made a special chip that scans the keypad and
then interacts on the PS2 keypad bus so the keystrokes come in as a keyboard
press. This chip we make required us to spend some time doing the firmware
and is proprietary to my application (so I can't sell it to you).
There are commercial devices that do this. I have also seen some that
convert RS232 AScii to keyboards.

I think you will either have to write a special driver or buy a pre-canned
solution.

 

[Richard]

The are numerous small Pic Micros and kits to do exactly what your wanting
pretty cheap.
They scan the inputs from a matrix type key pad, then send any code you wish
to the PS2 Port.
Generally they are from $20 to $30 each, and you can actually build one for
less than that.

Search Google and it should turn up lots of results.
Richard

 

[Guest]

I solved my problem by writing a polled HID driver which WinXPe accepts as a
HID keyboard. It is based on Walter Oneys hidfake sample and works (now) fine.

(Richard sollution was not possible, because we have some expensive hardware
with a controller chip inside and also a cheap version without such a chip,
therefor it must be a driver.)

bcpauli