Input_Devices
PS/2 Keyboards
It is not possible to use USB keyboards with BlackIce but PS/2 keyboards work as long as they are OK with 3.3v logic. Microsoft wireless keyboards work (as shown above), as do most HP ones.
Here is an example based on code on code by David Banks (@hoglet67).
Gamepads
Gamepads can be useful for playing some games. Here is a BlackSoC example of getting input from the buttons on a gamepad connected to a 15-pin PC gameport which is then connected to a Pmod.
DIP switches
Dip switches can be useful for configuration. Sometimes the 4 built-in ones are insufficient or can’t be used as the SD card is in use. Here is an example of using the DIP switches or a homemade Pmod to set LEDs on a Digilent 8 LED strip. The example has the dip switches Pmod in PMOD 7 / 8 and the Digilent 8 LED Pmod in PMOD 11/!”.
Keypads
Digilent make a keypad Pmod, but it is easy to make your own.
There is an output pin for each column of the keypad, and an input with a pull-up resistor for each row. 3 columns and 4 rows in this case. You need to apply a voltage to the columns in turn and then read the input pins. This needs to be done repeatedly to read the input key in a timely way.
Here is an example that reads the keys and displays the latest key pressed on the leds. The value is represented in 4 bits with 0-9 taking their naturals values and & being 10, and #, 11.
Numeric keypads are useful for some applications where a full keyboard is overkill.
Mice
PS/2 mice can be connected to the BlackIce II using the same Digilent PS/2 Pmos that is used for keyboards.
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