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I'm attempting to build a Z80 homebrew computer to teach myself the basis of electronic design. I planned to start from something simple, like a ROM, some SRAM, a video chip and a Z80-PIO. I'd like to build a machine with straightforward I/O, that it, the design requirement: one should be able to use the computer by simply plugging a PS/2 keyboard, rather than hooking it to a RS232, USB-TTL stick or some exotic CRT terminal.

But how to incorporate a PS/2 keyboard input to my computer is unclear to me. According to my research, this problem has been solved by the following approaches.

1. Shift Register. A simple shift register like 74HC595N should be able to translate the serial data from the keyboard to parallel, and it can be clocked by the keyboard, so it has no problem to follow the PS/2 protocol. But PS/2 is 8-bit data, 1-bit parity, not 7-bit data! Both the Z80 and the shift register can only handle 8-bit of data , so the parity bit is ignored (or requires additional parts), not elegant. I don't think parity is only for farmers, especially when bidirectional transmission is also needed for controlling Caps Locks, etc. So a parity bit is needed, also, we need to follow the timing, have some meaningful interrupts control - all of these requires extra parts, which makes it difficult to design and program (especially when routing it on a single-layer board).



2. 
   

   USART. Although PS/2 is not designed as a USART-compatible protocol, there are reports of success by simply running the USART at 12,000 bauds and connecting the DATA line to a USART interface, and handling the keymap decoding in software. It sounds convenient since the USART is general-purpose, may perform buffering, parity check, and interrupt generation. However, PS/2 is clocked by the keyboard and its frequency lies at anywhere between 10.0–16.7 kHz, again, this method is NOT in compliance of the protocol at all, and could only work by chance, so it's more of a clever trick than a proper solution.

   
   
   

   2.1 SPI. Obviously, putting the widely-used SPI interface in slave mode can allow the serial transmission to be clocked by the keyboard. But I think it's just another clever trick to exploit the functionality on a modern microcontroller than a standard solution. Historically, it seems a SPI controller is never used in this way.

   
   



3. PIC, Atmel, or ARM microcontroller. It's the most common, easiest, flexible solution used in various retrocomputing projects. But to me, having a microcontroller with processing power comparable to (or greater than) the Z80 CPU defeats the spirit of a retrocomputing project. I don't have a problem of using one for inherently computational intensive tasks, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi, but for a mere keyboard, seriously?




4. 8042. In the original IBM PC/AT design, the underlying keyboard control sequence is managed by the 8042 connected to the Intel 8255 PIO. A 8042 is just a version of the MCS-48 (8048) microcontroller designed for interfacing peripheral devices, IBM must have written a customized firmware. It's difficult to find a 8048 today, nevertheless, MCS-51 (8051) is also a retro chip so this one can be used, too. But is there a reference implementation of the original 8042 firmware available under a free and open source license?




5. I think there are also controllers specifically made to control inputs like PS/2 keyboards, but they typically integrates more functionalities, and I'm not aware of a chip from the late 80s. If there is one, I think I could just use that, provides it was a common design choice of that time.

Currently, I'm considering to interface the PS/2 keyboard by implementing the 8042 keyboard controller on a 8051 MCU if there's a free reference implementation available, if not, I think it should be okay for me to implement something simpler, too.

But I think programming for two separate chips makes my project more difficult, especially for the initial prototype. I must have missed something... I knew most keyboards from that era were parallel ones, not PS/2, but there must be some additional and possibly simpler methods to interface a PS/2 keyboard, are there? How was it being done historically?

I'm attempting to build a Z80 homebrew computer to teach myself the basis of electronic design. I planned to start from something simple, like a ROM, some SRAM, a video chip and a Z80-PIO.

So there's a Z80-PIO? Isn't that already the solution to be used?

Not to mention, that adding another micro controller for a job the main CPU can do as well is neither simple nor true to the spirit of early systems. I mean, adding another whole computer system, even of greater performance than the main system, just for a keyboard Interface?

A Z80 with a PIO can do everything (*1) a separate system can do. In this case it needs 4 port bits. Two for receiving data/clock from the keyboard/mouse, two to overwrite these to initiate a output sequence and control output data. External two drivers for the input signal, two resistors and two transistors, as shown, may be helpful.

It may be helpful if the clock input pin can be set to interrupt the CPU so a response to a key press can be handled without polling, but it'll work as well by pulling clock low and only releasing it when ready to receive a byte (*2)

Everything after that is simply bitbanging the protocol. The CPU got 5 microseconds per bit to react, which can be done on a tight looped 4 MHz Z80. Of course it will need some fine tuning, but isn't that exactly the goal of your project?

On A side note:

USART. [...] However, PS/2 is clocked by the keyboard and its frequency lies at anywhere between 10.0–16.7 kHz, again, this method is NOT in compliance of the protocol at all, and could only work by chance, so it's more of a clever trick than a proper solution

Of course it is a proper solution - all needed is to clock the USART externally. Important here, the Z80 SIO is well fited to do the required 8E1 data format. Neither a hack nor anything clever is needed - maybe except to detect the acknowledge bit on host to kbd transfers.

And further:

How was it being done historically?

This depends a lot on the machine we're talking about.

Parallel keyboards where somewhat common, when it came to ready made units to be added as component. These where either

• hard encoded (diodes!) or


• via a decoder circuit (think Apple II).

Serial was (in the beginning) even more common, usually when keyboards had to be complete OEM units just to be plugged in (DEC, Apple Lisa)

Home/custom build solutions for embedded keyboards operated by scanning a matrix from the main CPU

• via some latches,


• a PIO like port (PET),


• some combinations of both (Tandy MC-10). Or worse:


• By mapping the matrix as data into an address range (TRS-80 M1)

*1 - Well, next to that is, as separate controllers may be faster in some special cases - except, PS/2 is none of them.

*2 - Yes, very easy and a protocol conform way. Drawback here is that each poll will have to wait at least for 100 (better 200) microseconds after releasing the clock line to check if the keyboard wants to send at all. So not really cool.