The Hagstrom Electronics new KE72 unit has the following features: 1.) The KE72 scans 72 individual inputs, which are activated by shorting to a common ground. Note that since these are individual inputs, there is no opportunity for "ghosting" which is inherent in a matrix application. Any input on the KE72 may be programmed to output up to 32 keystrokes when pressed, and up to 16 keystrokes when the input is released. The response of each input may be individually directed to either the PC keyboard input, or to an RS-232 port featured on the unit. Inputs may be individually selected to repeat. The inputs are present on two 2 x 20 headers. These headers have grounds at either end, and 36 inputs in the remaining pins. You may use an IDE cable to plug directly on these headers, or a variety of other connectors. 2.) The KE72 may be mounted in a PCI slot. Although the unit does not use any PCI signals, it will fit in a PCI slot for physical mounting. The KE72 may also be mounted by way of it's corner mounting holes. 3.) The user creates his own configuration file for loading into the KE72. This file is a text only file. Once the configuration file is created, the user runs a supplied program to load the configuration into the KE72. The KE72 may be loaded through the keyboard port (DOS mode) or through it's serial port (DOS or Windows). 4.) The KE72 serial port will also receive ASCII characters on it's serial port and convert them into keystrokes on the PC. 5.) The KE72 has an option for a Mouse/Trackball interface. The KE72-T model emulates a PS2 mouse as well. This allows you to connect a Track Ball or similar device to the KE72 and have it emulate a mouse. Three additional inputs are supplied to emulate the Left, Right, and Middle mouse buttons. The Mouse/Trackball option may be added at a later time to a KE72 with an upgrade kit. -------------------------------------------------- What you need: The KE72 has "PS2 style" mini-DIN connectors for connection to the PC keyboard input and to the keyboard itself. A male to male 6 pin miniDIN cable is required to connect to the PC (our #KE-MM6-mini). With the Mouse/Track ball option, you will also need a KE-MM6-mini to connect from the connector on the KE72 to the mouse input on the PC. If needed, standard adapters may be used to convert the miniDIN to the larger 5 pin DIN connector found on many PCs (Our KE-PS2C and KE-PS2I). We also offer a cable, our KE-TBH3, which connects from the KE72 to a Happ Controls Track ball. KE72 72 input keyboard encoder $119.95 KE72-T KE72 with Mouse/Trackball interface $139.95 KE-MM6-mini 6 pin miniDIN Male/Male Cable, 6 ft. $ 5.95 KE-TBH3 Happ Controls Trackball to KE72 Cable $ 9.95 --------------------------------------------------------------------- KE72 Keyboard Encoder Thank you for purchasing the Hagstrom Electronics KE72! You will find that this unit is simple to program and easy to interface. To get your KE72 up and running quickly, the following is a list of procedures for using your KE72. 1.) Connect the KE72 to your PC keyboard input. The KE72 plugs in-line with your system's keyboard. Use a male to male 6 pin miniDIN cable (our #KE-MM6-mini) to connect between the KE72 connector marked "PC", and the Computer's keyboard input. (Make this connection with power off). If you require adapters to the larger 5 pin "AT" style connector, you may use our KE-PS2I (6 pin female to 5 pin MALE), and the KE-PS2C (5 pin female to 6 pin male). These adapters are a standard configuration, and may be found at your local computer or office supply store as well. Connect your keyboard into the KE72 miniDIN connector marked "KBD". The keyboard is not required for operation of the KE72. The KE72 generates all keyboard communication required by the PC during power up and during usage. If you have the KE72-T model, (trackball/mouse interface) connect that cable at this time. You will need another 6 pin miniDIN male to male cable for this connection. (Our KE-MM6-mini). Plug one end of the cable into the KE72 miniDIN connector marked "AUX". Plug the other end of the cable to the PC mouse port. **NOTE: The "AUX", "PC", and "KBD" are marked with text on the KE72 board near each connector on the top side of the board. 2.) Connect your switches to the KE72 headers. Each pin on the KE72 I/O headers is labeled with it's input number. To activate an input, simply connect your switch to one of the inputs, and the common of your switch to one of the ground signals at the ends of the KE72 headers. You may "daisy-chain" your ground connections between your switches, since all inputs use the common logic ground on the KE72 as their "active" reference. If you have the KE72-T, connect to your trackball or other device to the white trackball interface connector on the KE72 at this time. 3.) Power up your PC. 4.) The KE72 will be running a default configuration when you first use it. You may create your own configuration file and load it into the KE72 at this time (See below for programming and loading). The KE72 stores your configuration in non-volatile memory, so it is maintained during power off. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading a configuration file to the KE72 Your KE72 is supplied with a program, "KE72LOAD.EXE". This program reads a configuration file, and loads it into the KE72. Refer to the next section on creating your configuration file, and use the SAMPLE.CFG file included on the enclosed diskette as a guide for creating your own configuration files. The syntax for running the KE72LOAD.EXE program: KE72LOAD Where is the name of your KE72 configuration file, and is the port to use for programming the KE72. example: KE72LOAD sample.cfg k The above line will load the configuration contained in sample.cfg to the KE72 through the computer's keyboard port. NOTE: Options for as follows: k = Keyboard port (must be in True DOS mode to use this port, NOT a DOS window. For WIN95,98 you will need to boot in DOS mode to program this way. Once loaded, the configuration is held on the board and will run in any compatible operating system. 1 = Use COM1 serial port to load the KE72. This may be done in DOS or through a DOS window in windows. You must have a Male/Female straight through cable (our KE-DB9MF) plugged on the KE72 serial port and to the PC serial port connector. 2 = Use COM2 serial port to load the KE72. This may be done in DOS or through a DOS window in windows. You must have a Male/Female straight through cable (our KE-DB9MF) plugged on the KE72 serial port and to the PC serial port connector. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creating a configuration for the KE72 The KE72 unit features 72 individual inputs. Each input may be programmed to generate user selected keystrokes when activated. The response to each input may be a single character, or a combination of up to 32 characters for a single input activation. To create a configuration for the KE72, start with a text file consisting of a number of lines configured as shown below. Note that although the KE72 has 72 inputs, only the inputs being used need be defined in a configuration. Inputs that are not defined will be disabled and will not generate keystrokes if they are activated. The text file created for the configuration is loaded into the KE72 by the included KE72LOAD.EXE program. Each input definition line begins with INxx:, where xx is a two digit decimal number between 01 and 72. This number indicates which input the following keystroke information is to be assigned. Sample Configuration lines: IN01:[A] The line above, when in a configuration file, will produce the "A" key when input #1 is activated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- IN01:[(~)A] This line uses the ~ character to indicate that the "A" key is case sensitive, and should always output an upper case "A". (Input #1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- IN01:[(~)a] This line uses the ~ character to indicate that the "a" key is case sensitive, and should always output a lower case "a". (Input #1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Any input may have a repeat function enabled by using the prefix preceding the keystroke information. When repeat is enabled, the keystroke sequence will be repeated according to the typematic function of your PC. The must appear as the first element of the sequence following the : character. IN02:[A] This line enables the repeat function for this input. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Multiple keystrokes for a single input may be defined as in the following example. IN43:[D] [I] [R] [ENTER] The above line will program input #43 to send a sequence of "DIR", then Enter each time the input is activated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is a list of the associated keys names that are legal for use in the KE72 configuration file. All other keys are represented by their direct equivalent (ex: A = A key, B = B key, etc.) [Shift] - Left Shift [LShift] - Left Shift [RShift] - Right Shift [Ctrl] - Left Control [LCtrl] - Left Control [RCtrl] - Right Control [Alt] - Left Alt [LAlt] - Left Alt [RAlt] - Right Alt [Esc] - Escape key [F1] - Function key F1 [F2] - Function key F2 [F3] - Function key F3 [F4] - Function key F4 [F5] - Function key F5 [F6] - Function key F6 [F7] - Function key F7 [F8] - Function key F8 [F9] - Function key F9 [F10] - Function key F10 [F11] - Function key F11 [F12] - Function key F12 [Print] - Print screen [Scroll] - Scroll Lock [Pause] - Pause key [Num] - Num Lock [Insert] - Insert [Home] - Home Key [PageUp] - Page up [PageDn] - Page Down [Delete] - Delete [End] - End [Up] - Up Arrow [Down] - Down Arrow [Left] - Left Arrow [Right] - Right Arrow [LWin] - Left Windows Key [RWin] - Right Windows Key [Win] - Windows Application Key [Enter] - Enter [BS] - Backspace [CAPS] - Caps Lock [Tab] - Tab [(N)1] - 1/End key on numeric keypad [(N)2] - 2/Down Arrow key on numeric keypad [(N)3] - 3/PgDn key on numeric keypad [(N)4] - 4/Left Arrow key on numeric keypad [(N)5] - 5 key on numeric keypad [(N)6] - 6/Right Arrow key on numeric keypad [(N)7] - 7/Home key on numeric keypad [(N)8] - 8/Up Arrow key on numeric keypad [(N)9] - 9/PgUp key on numeric keypad [(N)0] - 0/Ins key on numeric keypad [(N).] - ./Del key on numeric keypad [(N)Enter] - Enter key on numeric keypad [(N)+] - + key on numeric keypad [(N)-] - - key on numeric keypad [(N)*] - * key on numeric keypad [(N)/] - / key on numeric keypad ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There are several delimiters that may be used with a keystroke definition that will determine how that particular key is emulated. (+) This indicates that a "make" or press of a key only is to be done. Use this function to give the appearance of a key being held down. ex: [(+)Ctrl] will give the appearance that the left control key is being held down. Note: Always be sure to send a later release of any key that has been executed as a "make" only (see (-) below). (-) This indicates that a "break" or release of a key is to be done. Use this function to give the appearance of a key being released. ex: [(-)Ctrl] will send the computer a information showing that the left control key is being released. (N) Use this identifier to signify the difference between a key on the numeric keypad section of the keyboard from other keys. ex: [(N)1] is used to emulate the "1/End" key on the numeric keypad instead of [1], which would emulate the 1! key from the top of the keyboard. (~) This delimiter serves to indentify case sensitivity on an alpha character. ex: [(~)A] will always give a capital A response regardless of the current shift and caps lock states. (D) Use this within your key sequence to initiate a pause within the sequence. This function is always followed by a number in the range of 0 to 250, which specifies a delay equal to the number x .01 sec. ex: [(D)200] will execute a 2 second delay (200 x .01) This function is used when the keystroke for the sequence is to be repeated if the input is held active. It must always follow the : character in the definition sequence. ex: IN70:[A] will allow the A key to repeat when input number 70 is held active. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to sending a sequence of keystrokes when an input is activated, the KE72 inputs may also be programmed to execute up to 16 keystrokes when an input is released. To define the sequence for an input, use all the same functions as described above, except the : character is replaced by | following the input number. The | character tells the KE72 that the following sequence is to be generated when the specified input it has been activated, and then released. Example: IN72:[A] This line generates the "A" key when input 72 is activated IN72|[J] This line generates the "J" key when input 72 is released IN22:[p][r][e][s][s][e][d] Types "pressed" when input 22 is activated IN22|[r][e][l][e][a][s][e][d] Types "pressed" when input 22 is released Note: Inputs that are programmed with definitions for when the input is activated only, will produce no action when the input is released. The user is not required to program the release response of the input if it is not needed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Using the KE72 serial port Although you may program inputs on the KE72 I/O headers to output to the KE72 serial port, there are other serial functions available as well. (NOTE: All KE72 serial transmission/reception is done at 9600 BAUD with 8 bit characters, no parity, and one stop bit) Any printable ASCII characters received on the KE72 serial port will be output to the PC as a keystroke. If you send an ASCII "A" to the serial port, the KE72 will produce keystroke(s) on the PC which will generate an upper case "A". When using the serial port in this manner, each character that you send to the KE72 is acknowledged by the unit with a "!" character. Before sending any additional codes to the KE72, you must wait for this acknowledgement character. Sending a 7FH (127 decimal) character to the KE72 will cause the KE72 to echo back an ASCII character in the range of "0"-"7", which corresponds to the current status light information. The echoed character reflects the current state of the Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock status LEDs. "0" = No LEDs on "1" = Scroll Lock LED on only "2" = Num Lock LED on only "3" = Scroll Lock and Num Lock LED on "4" = Caps Lock LED on "5" = Caps Lock and Scroll Lock LED on "6" = Caps Lock and Num Lock LED on "7" = All LEDs on The KE72 serial port may also be used to load a configuration file as described in the "Loading a configuration file to the KE72" section earlier in this document ------------------------------------------------------------------------- KE72 Connector Pinout The KE72 DB9 serial connector: Pin 1 - Not Used Pin 2 - Transmit Data (RS-232 Data out of KE72) Pin 3 - Receive Data (RS-232 Data into the KE72) Pin 4 - Not Used Pin 5 - Logic Ground Pin 6 - Not Used Pin 7 - Reserved for future use (signal present) Pin 8 - Reserved for future use (signal present) Pin 9 - Not Used The KE72-T Trackball Connector: Use this input to connect "raw" data from optical encoders on a trackball or other pointer type device. All input signals must be compatible with 5V logic levels. Connector on KE72-T FOR MODEL KE72-T ONLY! __________ | |---- A1 = Y axis signal | |---- 5V = Power for Y axis | |---- GND = Ground for Y axis | |---- B1 = Y axis signal | |---- A2 = X axis signal | |---- 5V = Power for X axis | |---- GND = Ground for X axis | |---- B2 = X axis signal __________| NOTE: We have interface cables for use with the KE72 and popular trackball units. The KE72 Mouse Button Inputs: Use this port to connect switches for simulating mouse button information. These inputs are activated by shorting them to the common Ground signal provided. All input signals must be compatible with 5V logic levels. Connector on KE72-T FOR MODEL KE72-T ONLY! __________ | |---- Right Mouse Button Input | |---- Middle Mouse Button Input | |---- Left Mouse Button Input | |---- Logic Ground __________|