Posted by Ron on 6, 2000 at 8:39 AM:
In Reply to: Hmm, sounds similar to key problems I've seen posted by Rockin' G on 5, 2000 at 10:49 PM:
: Maybe Andy Warne or other keyboard encoder :expert can answer this... does the I-PAC (or any :other keyboard encoders that anybody knows about) :"negotiate" into "Mode 3", where each key on the :keyboard is assigned a SINGLE BYTE to identify :it?
Mode3 sends 1 byte for each key press and
send two bytes on release.
My encoders, MK40 & MK64, can send MODE3 codes,
but the keyboard chip in the computer must be
expecting mode 3 codes and any keyboard attached
must also be send mode3 codes. I haven't written
any (computer side) software to support this, yet.
Mode 2 sends extra codes only on the extended
keys, 'print screen', 'pause key'. It is easier
to avoid using the extended keys for time critical
buttons with the exception of the arrow keys that
are needed for most front ends.
:Mode 3 :makes each key just a single byte. I :don't know :much about PC keyboards, but I've :been curious if :a keyboard encoder can say "I'm :a Mode 3 device" :to reduce the number of bytes :sent over the :keyboard channel? Just curious.
The hard part would be getting the computer and
any optional keyboard to go mode3 also. To save
number of bytes sent, mode1 is the best. It sends
one byte on press and one byte on release.