[ukvac] Re: Mame Keyboard Interface
> Is the extra functionality for a bespoke aracde solution really worth
> the effort?
>
> Peter
The way the parallel port interface works is the same as the SNES
joypads, etc. There is a data line, a clock line, a reset line (and one
other I think, can't remember!). So with the aid of several serial
shift registers your inputs are read serially. You can just stack
several serial shift components to get more inputs. I have this circuit
made up at home (but I'm in USA just now!), and it may well be easier to
build than to interface to the keyboard socket. Obviously there are no
key clashes or anything and you only require a few pins.
If you have data lines to spare, you could do one for each player -
remember you only need 1 data line on the parallel port for each
controller, you could use 4 data lines to drive 4 of these circuits at
once. (And if using a MCU, you just use 4 data lines).
Bryan
(Ps, use a parallel port interface and I'll buy it - or maybe several
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Is the extra functionality for a bespoke aracde solution really worth
> the effort?
>
> Peter
The way the parallel port interface works is the same as the SNES
joypads, etc. There is a data line, a clock line, a reset line (and one
other I think, can't remember!). So with the aid of several serial
shift registers your inputs are read serially. You can just stack
several serial shift components to get more inputs. I have this circuit
made up at home (but I'm in USA just now!), and it may well be easier to
build than to interface to the keyboard socket. Obviously there are no
key clashes or anything and you only require a few pins.
If you have data lines to spare, you could do one for each player -
remember you only need 1 data line on the parallel port for each
controller, you could use 4 data lines to drive 4 of these circuits at
once. (And if using a MCU, you just use 4 data lines).
Bryan
(Ps, use a parallel port interface and I'll buy it - or maybe several
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate impartial advice on everything from laptops to tablesaws.
http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/1701
-- Easily schedule meetings and events using the group calendar!
-- http://www.egroups.com/cal?listname=ukvac&m=1