Trackball emulation question

[Ladro]

I wish to emulate a Happ/Imperial Arcade trackball. I want to take the trackball out of the Arcade game, then replace it with this device which will emulate the trackball signals via keyboard imputs. Example: (My understanding is that there are 2 encoder wheels with 3 LEDs per  wheel in such trackballs, I could be wrong but that does not change the goal or question). The simulator would generate an electronic signal (in place of the trackball's signal) based upon a keyboard imput such as "+, 583, -, 129" (a completely hypothetical series of numbers) said keyboard imput would be a simulation of a typical trackball movement, but much more pericise. Where would I buy such a device, or where would I buy the componets to build such a device?

[u_rebelscum]

I'm not clear on what you want to do.  Is it:

a) an "adapter" that takes numbers typed from a keyboard and translates them to a trackball value to be passed to the computer as a normal trackball (aka mouse).

b) an adapter that takes key presses from a keyboard and translate different keys to different mouse values.  Examples: "a" is very fast left, "s" is as little slower left, ... "h" is zero left or right, "j" is slow right, "k" is a little faster right, .... "'" is very fast right.

c) an adapter that takes arrow key presses and translates them to a mouse signal.

d) other?


FWIW, c) can be done in mame or a software driver.  

Another FWIW, a) would be hard to type "+126, -25" then press the enter key in the middle of a game.  But this is the only one that I can see as more precise than a normal trackball/mouse input.

[Ladro]

Thank you for the reply. the question specifically  relates to the arcade version of Golden Tee Golf. Hence player response speed is not a significant concern.  You are probably aware that the GT computer software is proprietary so that changing the software drivers is not an option. I suspect that some reverse engineering of the encoder codes would probably be neccessary. The (a) option you gave most accuratelly describes the goal.

[u_rebelscum]

Thank you for the reply. the question specifically  relates to the arcade version of Golden Tee Golf. Hence player response speed is not a significant concern.  You are probably aware that the GT computer software is proprietary so that changing the software drivers is not an option. I suspect that some reverse engineering of the encoder codes would probably be neccessary. The (a) option you gave most accuratelly describes the goal.

Intriguing.  Should be doable, but I'm pretty green at circuitry.

[_Iz-]

Why do you want to do this?

[Ladro]

So that I could reproduce, package and sell the device to GT machine owners.

[_Iz-]

I think you'll find most GT players quite fond of their current method of input and largely unwilling to change.

That is, unless your idea is able to replicate and possibly enhance the nuances of the current input scheme. From what I can gather from your description it's only possible advantage maybe reliability. Correct me if I'm wrong, your description could be lacking critical details to protect your idea.