PS2 Mouse

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sun Feb 9 13:17:00 2003

> > I'm pretty sure I've seen ISA PS2 cards. I'll have to check next
> > time I go on a Geekware Scavenger Hunt. :)
> >
> > Seems reasonable, since there are 8086, 286, and 386 systems that
> > have PS2 ports.
>
> I have never seen them, the PS-2 ports were controlled by the keyboard
> controller chip, if I remember correctly, so I would think it would be

While this is true on the genuine PS/2 machines (and the mouse protocol
is very similar to a PC/AT or PS/2 keyboard protocol), there's no reason
why it _has_ to be. It would be possible to make an ISA card with a
programmed microcontroller on it (maybe an 8042, like the keyboard
controller) with the host port at some otherwise unused I/O address, and
then use a special driver (similar in concept to the serial and bus mouse
drivers) to access it.

-tony
Received on Sun Feb 09 2003 - 13:17:00 GMT