Touchpad Hack?

[Scumgriever]

Hi,
I’m just planning out my keyboard drawer and am looking to install a touch pad as a mouse. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this sort of thing.

I’m trying to keep everything nice and neat to avoid tearing into the cab too much so I’m sit it on the shelf that the existing control panel sits on with the CP on top. To fit it all in it has to be a max of 24mm high but 15mm is ideal.

 I’ve attached my plans for the drawer, (sorry if they’re hard to understand I have no technical drawing experience.) each of the bits it pulled a little away from the parts it will be attached to so it can all be seen better.

The keyboard will sit in the recessed tray part and to the right of that I want to have a touchpad.

I have a keyboard that is 13mm high and 90% of the bits I need to put it all together… except the touch pad.

Unfortunately I have no experience with these other than the one in my good laptop which I’m not about to pull apart.

What is my best option? Can I hack up a dead laptop and interface it with my desktop?

Or should I go for something like this.
http://www.ergonomictouchpad.com/ergonomic_touchpad.php

Does anyone know anything about these things? Or others like it?

Keep in mind space is a factor, I figure I can have the one in the link recessed into the plate on the right of my drawer.

[Bobbler]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/External-touchpad-NEW-Mac-compatible-cheap-apple_W0QQitemZ230063785868QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4601QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-Latitude-C400-laptop-notebook-touchpad-Synaptics_W0QQitemZ330059265728QQihZ014QQcategoryZ31534QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Either of those should do the job I think mate. The top one is already built. The other one is just a laptop spare part which should be an easy hack IMO. Even the newer laptops just use a PS2 connection standard internally (just checked my 6 month old Dell M1210 and its connected via PS2 according to the windows drivers) so should be a few bits of soldering I would recon.

[Scumgriever]

Even the newer laptops just use a PS2 connection standard internally (just checked my 6 month old Dell M1210 and its connected via PS2 according to the windows drivers) so should be a few bits of soldering I would recon.

Are you saying that it is as easy as pulling an old pad out of a dead laptop and wiring it to a PS2 cable!!!

WOWEE.

This is the same deal as your second ebay link isn't it?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Laptop-Mouse-Touchpad-Module_W0QQitemZ200057944192QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3666QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Could it really be as easy as wiring that flat ribbon to a PS2 connector?

[Bobbler]

I believe so mate yes, the pinout shouldnt be more than a ground, +5V, Left and Right buttons, DATA and CLK.
Some good information here at the mp3car forum - http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=32899
And also take a look at page 27 and 28 from the top PDF download here - http://www.synaptics.com/support/dev_support.cfm

That link of yours to ebay looks like it should do the job and its got to be worth a go IMO for the cost saving (and of course the feeling of accomplishment when it works). I would stick with Synaptics based parts as they appear to have some good resources available freely.

The other good thing with that route is you can mount it how you like really.

[Scumgriever]

I believe so mate yes, the pinout shouldnt be more than a ground, +5V, Left and Right buttons, DATA and CLK.

Some good information here at the mp3car forum - http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=32899
And also take a look at page 27 and 28 from the top PDF download here - http://www.synaptics.com/support/dev_support.cfm

Thanks, yeah, I'd just found that and was reading through it...
It looks doable.... Happy days.

I'd rather screw up 10 times doing it myself than just accept I can't do it a fork out cash.
Even it if sometimes costs more that way.

This one looks pretty friendly though. maybe touchpads and I can become friends.

[Bobbler]

Will be interested to see how you get on with this, seems a far better solution than having a mouse for the occasional usage in a cab - less space needed for one.
Dont forget the obligatory photos and step by step how to

[missioncontrol]

they make a touchpad that you can plug into a your PS2 slot

Here's one

ebay

another ebay

I have one at home, but I never used it, I'm planning on using it in my cocktail cabinet for navigation since it won't have a mouse....


EDIT

also found this none e-bay source

http://www.extremecomputing.com/touchpad.html

[Bobbler]

Ah but then you miss out on the fun of doing it yourself

[missioncontrol]

oh yeah there is that, but I fried a PC trying a keyboard hack so now I'm a bit more cautious....

[Jess--]

I have hacked a few of the laptop pads to use on ps2 leads and never run into any problems,

[tranq]

I just recently thought of this and bought a Cirque Smart Cat (USB) for about $30.   Nice piece of equipment, but because you have to use your finger, the tracking isn't as precise as a mouse.  (Fortunately, I can return it.)  Of course, the travel is better than a trackball, but again not as accurate.  I've been thinking for some time on a friction-less trackball - perhaps magnetically suspended.

[Scumgriever]

Dont forget the obligatory photos and step by step how to 

But of course. 

I get kind of engrossed in working so keep forgetting to take pregress pics. I mostly end up with before and after shots, but i'm getting better.

I'm logging my project here at

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=60850.0

I've made the tray part for the keyboard, I actually have very minimal metalworking skills and found the nice little tray sitting in the scrap metal bin at mascot steel for $1/Kg.



I bought a L-shape piece of metal from bunnings, used my friends grinder to cut it to size and srilled holes in both.

The holes didn't 100% match up despite my best efforts and were only just big enough for the rivets so I had to hold the L-shape in place and open up the holes with the drill to make them even.

After that it was a couple of pops with the rivet gun and we're on our way.


I've also bought, cut and started spraying the wood for the externally visible parts.

I did 3 coats of both undercoat and 'Satin Black' spray from a can. which look likr they're coming up nicely. although i sprayed the last layer on a little thick so am probably going to do it again. no pics for that yet. coming soon though.