DIN to USB keyboard

blastyb · Dec 14, 2018

Hi!

I recently found an old keyboard laying around collecting dust in my grandparents basement. The make and model is KeyTronic MPR II - KEY.

Naturally the first thing to do when you find stuff like that is cutting it to pieces. So I removed the DIM connector thinking I could solder the wires onto a USB. The problem is that the connector had plastic molded around the pins and when I cut it off all the wires got removed as well.

TL;DR
I have 5 wires coming out of a keyboard and no clue what they do.

https://flic.kr/p/2csEBso
https://flic.kr/p/2caWmBx
https://flic.kr/p/PNuMHH

Thanks

Nigel Spike · Dec 14, 2018

The DIN connector is usually called a PS/2 connector. You should keep it/reassemble it and use a PS/2 to USB converter. Also, many motherboards/computers still have PS/2 connectors to use with keyboard and mouse.

scout_03 · Dec 14, 2018

http://pinouts.ru/Inputs/KeyboardPC6_pinout.shtml and usb http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml

blastyb · Dec 14, 2018

It's a DIN5 AT/XT connector from the 90's https://bit.ly/2zSMPtB

The main issue is not knowing which lead colour goes to what pin. Putting on a USB works best in my case as i don't have a spare PS/2.

scout_03 · Dec 15, 2018

all you need to check https://www.google.ca/search?q=5+pin+din+to+ps2+connector+wiring+diagram&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_k_iEzaLfAhXIuFkKHa8DBwYQ_AUICSgA&biw=1920&bih=966&dpr=1

blastyb · Dec 15, 2018

I've made some headway since last time.

Seems pretty obvious right now but what i did was Google the pinout of the microcontroller in the keyboard and following the PCB traces for each duty to the connected wires. For future reference, brown is data10, red is clock12, white/see through is ground20 and yellow is power40 (for this particular keyboard). https://flic.kr/p/2ccjoQk
There's also a bare wire that isn't connected to any components other than the outside edges of the PCB and the clip that attatches the flex cable to the PCB. Might be the reset switch, but I just soldered it to the USB jacket.

Where I am at right now is a keyboard that flashes its caps lock light once when it's plugged into my laptop, but then nothing else happens. It's possible that I fried the Intel 83C51KB when i connected the wires to the wrong pin earlier following the colours on this diagram: https://bit.ly/2S5mlMj. Or I might need a driver since I'm trying to use a keyboard from 1996 on Windows 10, or the keyboard might not have worked when I got it.

Guess the original question has been answered now though (thanks for the help btw) but please let me know why it's not working if you know.

Lastly, shorting a USB port can KILL your PC

scout_03 · Dec 15, 2018

if you did check on the link on one of the tread someones said it is a risk to brick the keyboard this for at to usb keyboard https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/1132/how-can-i-connect-a-din-plug-keyboard-to-usb and another https://learn.adafruit.com/convert-your-model-m-keyboard-to-bluetooth-with-bluefruit-ez-key-hid/code so yes controller could be short .

blastyb · Dec 16, 2018

Progress!!

I happened to notice a hole on the back where it said XT and then ENHANCHED XT/AT
https://flic.kr/p/2cdaeaF

And then I remembered having seen a spot for a Switch on the PCB but it was unused
https://flic.kr/p/2dwothU

So I made a jumper between the pads to connect another trace to the chip
https://flic.kr/p/2cdaeXn

And Voila: https://flic.kr/p/2cdamfH I can now toggle Caps, Scroll and Num locks. The PC even told me that there was a USB device trying to connect. My guess is that it needs a protocol to recognize it as a keyboard, which I don't know how to setup yet.

All of this just for a rattling rubber dome keyboard just because it's retro.

scout_03 · Dec 16, 2018

you might find something here https://www.google.ca/search?ei=mI0WXJKnIo_H5gLvhoDYDg&q=extended+at%2Fxt+keyboard+protocol++to+usb&oq=extended+at%2Fxt+keyboard+protocol++to+usb&gs_l=psy-ab.12...54139.85080..90310...0.0..0.110.1966.21j2......0....1..gws-wiz.k0TNgapYrFQ

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DIN to USB keyboard

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