USB Mouse to Serial port

[K Wind]

I want to connect my optical USB mouse to the serial port on my notebook. It
can't be done by changing the connector. Is there a circuit that can be
built to convert the USB signals from the mouse to be compatible with the
serial port? If this is possible, can I use a DOS mouse driver?

Ken

 

[Adrian Jansen]

AFAIK no. A USB mouse is a slave device, and requires an active USB host
controller to work at all.

--
Regards,

Adrian Jansen
J & K MicroSystems
Microcomputer solutions for industrial control

 

[K Wind]

The mouse came with an USB to PS/2 adapter. Does that make a difference?

Ken

 

[Syner]

Hi,

you can use a converter named UC-100KM from Aten Technology Inc.

it's a Two PS/2 Devices (Keyboard and Mouse) to USB Interface
Converter that Supports PS/2 Mouse and Microsoft IntelliMouse .

Syner

 

[K Wind]

Hi,

you can use a converter named UC-100KM from Aten Technology Inc.

it's a Two PS/2 Devices (Keyboard and Mouse) to USB Interface
Converter that Supports PS/2 Mouse and Microsoft IntelliMouse .

The computer (Old notebook) I want to plug the mouse, into only has a serial
port. The mouse came with an USB to PS/2 adapter and worked with my desktop
computer. Maybe it would be better to ask for a PS/2 to serial port
converter. I would like to see a schematic that would accomplish this if
possible. Again, I have a mouse with an USB or PS/2 connector and want to
use it on a notebook computer that only has a serial port. The mouse won't
work by converting the connector to DB-1 only. It isn't compatible with
RS232. The mouse is optical and I would really like to use it if possible.

Ken

 

[petrus bitbyter]

I want to connect my optical USB mouse to the serial port on my notebook. It
can't be done by changing the connector. Is there a circuit that can be
built to convert the USB signals from the mouse to be compatible with the
serial port? If this is possible, can I use a DOS mouse driver?

Ken

Ken,

The evolution of mice goes back in the old, pre PC times.

The first mouse was developed in some Xerox lab.

It was picked up by Apple and used in their Lisa and Mac systems.

In the stone ages of PC there were some proprietary mice with proprietary
software.
There may be some of them left in a museum now.

The first general purpose PC mice were serial ones. They are still supported
by most
operating systems.

When the PS/2 mice came, the manufaturers faced a problem. It's a good thing
to sell
several types of products but expensive to produce them. So they developed a
mouse
that could handle the serial as well as the PS/2 protocol. The only extra
hardware was
an adapter to handle both type of connectors. ** So that adapter is only
usefull with a
mouse that has been build to handle both protocols! **

When USB arrived the same problem had to be solved. So they build mice that
can
handle both PS/2 - and USB protocols with a adapter to choose between to
connectors.
** And again, that adapter is only usefull with mice that are build to
handle both
protocols! **

For all I know there are no mice that can handle serial and PS/2 and USB but
may be
you can find one. They are making chips that can do it. Otherwise, if you
want
to use a USB mouse on a serial port you will have to look for a protocol
converter and if
you can't find one, you have to make one yourself. You have to set up a
microcontroller
with a serial port, hook up a chip that handles the USB host protocol and
program it to
do the conversion for you. If you have success, let us know. I'm sure a lot
of people are
interested.

Beware! There are a lot of RS232 to USB converters that converts the other
way around
so to connect a serial mouse to a PCs USB port. You cannot use such a thing
to connect
a USB mouse to a serial port.

Some chips are made to build multi protocol mice:
http://www.codemercs.com/MouseWarriorE.html

USB host controllers:
http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/buses/usb/products/host/isp116x/
http://www.cypress.com/cfuploads/img/products/CY7C67300-100AI.pdf

pieter

 

[K Wind]

notebook.
Ken,

The evolution of mice goes back in the old, pre PC times.

The first mouse was developed in some Xerox lab.

It was picked up by Apple and used in their Lisa and Mac systems.

In the stone ages of PC there were some proprietary mice with proprietary
software.
There may be some of them left in a museum now.

The first general purpose PC mice were serial ones. They are still supported
by most
operating systems.

When the PS/2 mice came, the manufaturers faced a problem. It's a good thing
to sell
several types of products but expensive to produce them. So they developed a
mouse
that could handle the serial as well as the PS/2 protocol. The only extra
hardware was
an adapter to handle both type of connectors. ** So that adapter is only
usefull with a
mouse that has been build to handle both protocols! **

When USB arrived the same problem had to be solved. So they build mice that
can
handle both PS/2 - and USB protocols with a adapter to choose between to
connectors.
** And again, that adapter is only usefull with mice that are build to
handle both
protocols! **

For all I know there are no mice that can handle serial and PS/2 and USB but
may be
you can find one. They are making chips that can do it. Otherwise, if you
want
to use a USB mouse on a serial port you will have to look for a protocol
converter and if
you can't find one, you have to make one yourself. You have to set up a
microcontroller
with a serial port, hook up a chip that handles the USB host protocol and
program it to
do the conversion for you. If you have success, let us know. I'm sure a lot
of people are
interested.

Beware! There are a lot of RS232 to USB converters that converts the other
way around
so to connect a serial mouse to a PCs USB port. You cannot use such a thing
to connect
a USB mouse to a serial port.

Some chips are made to build multi protocol mice:
http://www.codemercs.com/MouseWarriorE.html

USB host controllers:
http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/buses/usb/products/host/isp116x/
http://www.cypress.com/cfuploads/img/products/CY7C67300-100AI.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to provide the information. I wanted to see
what it would take to accomplish the task of connecting an USB or PS/2
optical mouse to a serial port and that's what you gave me.

Ken

 

[Jim Meyer]

I want to connect my optical USB mouse to the serial port on my notebook. It
can't be done by changing the connector. Is there a circuit that can be
built to convert the USB signals from the mouse to be compatible with the
serial port? If this is possible, can I use a DOS mouse driver?

Ken

Take a look at: http://www.zytrax.com/tech/pc/din.htm. Looks
like you are out of luck for a cheap and simple fix.

Jim

 

[Ian Stirling]

The mouse came with an USB to PS/2 adapter. Does that make a difference?

<snip quoted message incorrectly placed at bottom>

Does the notebook have a PS/2 port for an external keyboard/mouse?
It is completely technically possible to make a converter, but I'm pretty
sure nobody makes them.
I've never seen a real PS/2-serial converter, just the plugs for mice
that support both standards but just need the righjt connector.

Your best bet is probably to search on ebay for a suitable mouse.

 

[K Wind]

<snip quoted message incorrectly placed at bottom>

Does the notebook have a PS/2 port for an external keyboard/mouse?
It is completely technically possible to make a converter, but I'm pretty
sure nobody makes them.
I've never seen a real PS/2-serial converter, just the plugs for mice
that support both standards but just need the righjt connector.

Your best bet is probably to search on ebay for a suitable mouse.

I wouldn't be asking for a USB or PS/2 to serial converter if I had a PS/2
port on my notebook computer.
Heinlein.

 

[Ian Stirling]

I wouldn't be asking for a USB or PS/2 to serial converter if I had a PS/2
port on my notebook computer.

I've found somebody in the past that diddn't know that the PS/2
connector could take a mouse, as they'd always plugged a keyboard in,
which was why I asked.

There are optical serial mice out there, it's just that they are no longer
(?) produced.
Ebay may be the easiest way.
Do you happen to be running linux on this?
I noticed in a recent kernel that it was possible to connect a PS/2 keyboard
to the printer port (I have not investigated this, it may be possible
to connect a mouse similarly)

 

[K Wind]

I've found somebody in the past that diddn't know that the PS/2
connector could take a mouse, as they'd always plugged a keyboard in,
which was why I asked.

Sorry. I should not have written that. I know you were trying to help, but
the question just hit me the wrong way.

There are optical serial mice out there, it's just that they are no longer
(?) produced.
Ebay may be the easiest way.
Do you happen to be running linux on this?
No.

I noticed in a recent kernel that it was possible to connect a PS/2
keyboard to the printer port (I have not investigated this, it may be
possible to connect a mouse similarly)

Thanks. I'll go to google and see if I can find it

Ken
Brilliant.

 

[Ian Stirling]

Sorry. I should not have written that. I know you were trying to help, but
the question just hit me the wrong way.

I should probably have been clearre.

Thanks. I'll go to google and see if I can find it

In that case, it probably won't help, it's a software only solution,
though someone could have written a similar one for windows I suppose.
(I suppose it needs a 5V connction too, I've not looked)

--
http://inquisitor.i.am/ | mailto:[email protected] | Ian Stirling.
---------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------
"The device every conquerer, yes, every altruistic liberator should be required
to wear on his shield... is a little girl and her kitten, at ground zero"
- Sir Dominic Flandry in Poul Andersons 'A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows'

 

[petrus bitbyter]

Ken,

It makes an important difference. PS/2<--> serial converters are available
at:
http://www.vetra.com/327text.html
and maybe at other places as well.
A converter of this type can be build relatively easily. Set up a micro with
a UART. You will need hardly extra hardware. The PS/2 protocol can be found
at:
http://panda.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu/~achapwes/PICmicro/PS2/ps2.htm
More info about both serial - and PS/2 protocols at:
http://www.hut.fi/~then/mytexts/mouse.html
A little Google wil provide much more.

pieter

 

[K Wind]

Ken,

It makes an important difference. PS/2<--> serial converters are available
at:
http://www.vetra.com/327text.html
and maybe at other places as well.
A converter of this type can be build relatively easily. Set up a micro with
a UART. You will need hardly extra hardware. The PS/2 protocol can be found
at:
http://panda.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu/~achapwes/PICmicro/PS2/ps2.htm
More info about both serial - and PS/2 protocols at:
http://www.hut.fi/~then/mytexts/mouse.html
A little Google wil provide much more.

pieter

Thanks for the information. It looks like this may be something I could do.
I need more experience with micros anyway.

Ken

 

[K Wind]

I should probably have been clearre.

It was me. How could you know if I didn't know if I had a PS/2 port on my
computer or not. I realize that when someone steps in to help, it's best to
start from scratch. That way you don't end up spinning your wheels.

Ken

In that case, it probably won't help, it's a software only solution,
though someone could have written a similar one for windows I suppose.
(I suppose it needs a 5V connction too, I've not looked)

Shadows'

 

[scada]

The computer (Old notebook) I want to plug the mouse, into only has a serial
port. The mouse came with an USB to PS/2 adapter and worked with my desktop
computer. Maybe it would be better to ask for a PS/2 to serial port
converter. I would like to see a schematic that would accomplish this if
possible. Again, I have a mouse with an USB or PS/2 connector and want to
use it on a notebook computer that only has a serial port. The mouse won't
work by converting the connector to DB-1 only. It isn't compatible with
RS232. The mouse is optical and I would really like to use it if possible.

Some mice come with a PS2 connector, and a serial adapter! I recently
purchased several Logitech's that way!

 

[klmok]

The first general purpose PC mice were serial ones. They are still supported
by most >operating systems.

When the PS/2 mice came, the manufaturers faced a problem. It's a good thing
to sell several types of products but expensive to produce them. So they developed a
mouse that could handle the serial as well as the PS/2 protocol. The only extra
hardware was an adapter to handle both type of connectors. ** So that adapter is only
usefull with a >mouse that has been build to handle both protocols! **

When USB arrived the same problem had to be solved. So they build mice that
can handle both PS/2 - and USB protocols with a adapter to choose between to
connectors. ** And again, that adapter is only usefull with mice that are build to
handle both protocols! **

For all I know there are no mice that can handle serial and PS/2 and USB but
may be you can find one.

Thanks. Best explanation so far. I happen to have a older mouse with
a PS/2 to serial port adapter as well as a newer USB mouse with a USB
to PS/2 adaptor. Sticking the newer mouse with the USB-PS/2 adapter
onto the PS/2 - serial port adapter didn't work.

 

[Gary Tait]

Some mice come with a PS2 connector, and a serial adapter! I recently
purchased several Logitech's that way!

USB/PS2 mice won't be though.