EIFFEL, a free PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse adapter
for Atari.
License: This product is free, GPL-like applied to hardware project. You are free to build and use it.
Last update Octover 10, 2002
(Hit counter since December 4, 2001:
Laurent Favard et Didier Mequignon
Eiffel firmware v1.0.4
Eiffel version 1.0.4 has been possible with precious help of Didier Mequignon, which did a very good work from the Eiffel 1.0.3. This last one add now the following:
- Two Atari standard joysticks support DB-9
- Motor command for ventilator and temperature sensor
- Near all IKBD supported
- Updating eiffel capabilities from GEM application Eifflcf.app
Eiffel firmware v1.0.3
This one have the following features:
- Mouse wheel up to 5 buttons and Mouse double wheels support.
- Middle mouse button return now a scan code.
- Flash Data PIC programming to change scan code returned for Wheels and new buttons 3, 4 and 5.
- Support of second Flash Data programming to change some extra scan code returned for keyboard.
Bugs fixed and addition in Eiffel firmware v1.0.2
Synchronization trouble fixed between Mouse and Keyboard. This one occurred when, for example, you hold pressed a key while you move your mouse. RESET command support to switch off the CAPS LOCk indicator, when your Atari reboot.
Bugs fixed and addition in Eiffel firmware v1.0.1
I just found a small problem into Eiffel firmware,
a bad scan code $60 instead of the free Atari code $5A was returned for
the wheel for Down direction..I mapped the PS/2 key <²> just beside
the <1> key, to allow Russian "ë" character.
I discover that the PS/2 key <µ><*>
in my French keyboard isn't the same that <µ><*> on my Compaq
keyboard. This is not the same scan code at all ! So for some keyboard,
may be you can have a "dead" key just beside the RETURN key. Fixed, for
PS/2 $5C and $53 i return Atari code $2B.
Features:
These interface handle all PS/2 Keyboard and mouse:
- Keyboard with 102 or 105 keys and more
- Mouse up to 5 buttons
- Mouse single and double wheel (InteliMouse)
- Compatible with ALL Atari computers range (ST, STF, STE, MegaST, MegaSTE, TT and Falcon).
- Can work as internal or external version
- Can be connected to the Atari mother board or to a TT-like connector.
- Two Atari standard joysticks support DB-9
- Motor command for ventilator and temperature sensor
- Near all IKBD supported
- Updating eiffel capabilities from GEM application Eifflcf.app
This is my last project, and now available, started at July 18, 2001. The main goal of this interface is to connect PS/2 keyboard and mouse, used on PC computers to any Atari, in order to get a good keyboard and mouse.
This adapter isn't guaranteed, you'll use it at your own risk !
First release of Eiffel, evaluation board:
This picture show my first release of Eiffel, a development board, able to be connected to any computer through RS 232 port.
Eiffel adapter use a powerful Microchip microcomputer,
PIC 16F876. Check the microchip
web site for a complete description.
A special program handle the both keyboard and
mouse DIN PS/2 port, convert the synchronous PS/2 communication to
the asynchronous protocol for Atari, translate the PS/2 scan codes
to Atari scan codes, and convert the mouse's frames to a Atari frame.
Keyboard:
All keys are mapped to Atari scan codes. The new
keys as Win Left, Right, Application, return news scan codes, not previously
used by Atari.
For Atari keys which doesn't exist on PS/2
keyboard, i solve this problem as follow:
- the Atari HELP key is mapped to F11 PS/2 keyboard as default
- the Atari UNDO key is mapped to F12 PS/2 keyboard as default
The adapter is responsible to switch on and
off, the keyboard LED when you press the CAPS LOCK key. The VERR
NUM key has no effect and the VERR NUM LED is now a simple power indicator.
You need for the keyboard a driver to map correctly the keys returned by the adapter. This driver should use a table to map the scan codes to the ASCII code for normal, shift and alternate mode. Eiffel does just a translation PS/2 to Atari scan code. You can the Oxo driver from Adaptakey.
Sorry, but why a driver ?
Because on Atari to get the "{" character you did press SHIFT+ALT+"{" but on PS/2 keyboard this one is on the "4" key...So without driver you cannot use your PS/2 keyboard as a real PS/2keyboard, it will work as real Atari keyboard....And your "{" will be on the "^" key !
But without driver the keyboard can work for all commons A,B, C, D, Enter, Space, Tab, Shift, 0,1,2, etc...keys.So at the startup your Boot Manager is always usable.
Mouse:
The Eiffel interface can handle any mouse; Standard PS/2 with 2 or 3 buttons, enhanced wheel mouse, ie IntelliMouse extensions For wheels and extra buttons, news scan code for UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT and buttons 3, 4, 5 are returned. But to get a basic mouse working, no driver is required. Theses scan code can be changed with a small GEM utility.
Table of new scan codes:
This is the scan codes list for keyboard and mouse.
If you want to use them in your applications or to write your own driver....
| PS/2 keys | Atari scan code firmware 1.0.0 up to 1.0.2 | Atari scan code firmware v1.0.3 and + |
| ALT GR | ALT key | ALT as default, can be programmed |
| F11 | HELP key | HELP as default, can be programmed |
| F12 | UNDO key | UNDO as default, can be programmed |
| SCROLL LOCK | $4C | $4C as default, can be programmed |
| PAGE UP | $45 | $45 as default, can be programmed |
| PAGE DOWN | $46 | $46 as default, can be programmed |
| END | $55 | $55 as default, can be programmed |
| PRINT SCREEN | $49 | $49 as default, can be programmed |
| PAUSE | $4F | $4F as default, can be programmed |
| VERR NUM | $54 | $54 as default, can be programmed |
| LEFT WIN | $56 | $56 as default, can be programmed |
| RIGHT WIN | $57 | $57 as default, can be programmed |
| WIN POPUP | $58 | $58 as default, can be programmed |
| Key <²> beside <1> key (Russian "ë") | $5B | $5B as default, can be programmed |
| Mouse elements | Atari scan code firmware 1.0.0 up to 1.0.2 | Atari scan code firmware v1.0.3 and + |
| Vertical wheel UP | $59 | $59 as default, can be programmed |
| Vertical wheel DOWN | $5A | $5A as default, can be programmed |
| Horizontal wheel LEFT | - | $5C as default, can be programmed |
| Horizontal wheel RIGHT | - | $5D as default, can be programmed |
| Button 3 (Middle) | As both left and right buttons pressed. | $37 as default, can be programmed |
| Button 4 | - | $5E as default, can be programmed |
| Button 5 | - | $5F as default, can be programmed |
Table of Eiffel command:
| Command | Format | Action on Eiffel | Version |
| GETTEMP | <$03> | Get temperature from sensor | 1.0.4 |
| PROGTEMP | <$04><Index><Data> | Program temperature | 1.0.4 |
| PROGKB | <$05><Index><Data> | Program a keyboard's scan-code | 1.0.3 |
| PROGMS | <$06><Index><Data> | Program a Mouse's scan-code | 1.0.3 |
| PROGFLASH | Update Eiffel firmware | 1.0.4 |
