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    What interface do laptop keyboards use?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by niffcreature, Sep 19, 2010.

  1. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    Simple question.

    Many other seemingly mysterious laptop parts use more standardized interfaces, such as touchpads which use PS/2
    This is more apparent however because they are all 4-6 pin ribbon cables, whereas laptop keyboards are all have a different number of pins, it seems random and around 20. One thing I noticed is that a keyboard i have with more keys actually has more pins than another with less keys, which is very strange.

    Any simple answers? ;)
    thanks.
     
    niffcreature, Sep 19, 2010
    #1
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    internal keyboard & mouse on a laptop is usually a ps/2 although the ribbon cables vary widely.

    why does it matter?
     
    newsposter, Sep 19, 2010
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  3. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    How is it ps/2 with 10+ pins? are the FN and other special keys on a different interface?

    It matters because I want to do whatever I want with my surplus laptop keyboards, not just use them with 1 laptop.
     
    niffcreature, Sep 19, 2010
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  4. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    it is PS/2 except that the keyboard AND ps2 controller are on the motherboards. so all these random pinouts are just the raw lines from the keyboard traces and completly unmapped ( leaves all the key mappings to the board and not the keyboard ) and there are atleast 50 different mappings I am aware of and pinouts ranging from 14 to 43.

    it is like dismnatling a desktop keyboard and having the trace mats but chopping off the keyboard controller chip which maps and allocates all your key codes for the PS/2 controller

    to make it short ... it is standardized but only between 2 chips on the motherboard and NOT between the keyboards and connector on the board
     
    crazycanuk, Sep 19, 2010
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  5. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Don't apple laptops use USB trackpad and keyboard? I remember them removing PS2 support altogether after the leopard OS. Which is why i always have to install PS2 kexts to get my keyboard and trackpad working.
     
    Raidriar, Sep 20, 2010
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  6. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    yep, they dedicated one USB hub to trackpad and keyboard, and no they DONT use a standard pinout anymore than anyone else. look at iFixit to see the cables
     
    crazycanuk, Sep 20, 2010
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