Hagstrom KE-USB36FS User Manual

KE-USB36FS
USB Keyboard Encoder
User Manual

HAGSTROM ELECTRONICS, INC. warrants this
product against defects in material or workmanship for a
period of ONE YEAR from the original purchase date. We will
repair or replace (at our option) the returned defective unit
at no charge during this warranty period.

No responsibility is assumed for any special, incidental,
or consequential damage resulting from the use of or
inability to use this product. In no case is
ELECTRONICS, INC. to be liable for any amount which
exceeds the purchase price of the unit, regardless of the
claim.

No other warranty, written or verbal, is authorized. This
warranty is applicable only to units sold in the United States.
Units sold outside the United States are covered by a similar
warranty.

Depending on the state in which you live, you may have additional rights.

Great care has been taken during the assembly, testing, and burn-in of
your KE-USB36FS to ensure its performance. If you have any questions,
please send us an email or give us a call. Support is available Monday
through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST).

customer service email: [e-mail]

Call Toll Free 888-690-9080, or [phone]

NOTICE The KE-USB36FS product is designed to be used by

technically oriented computer users. When the KE-USB36FS is in
use, your computer’s signals and voltages are present on the unit.
Prudent handling and packaging is necessary to prevent damage to
your computer.

Thank you for purchasing the

HAGSTROM ELECTRONICS, INC.

KE-USB36FS. This product is configurable

in a variety of ways in order to meet your

specific requirements. Please take a few

minutes to read this manual before using

your KE-USB36FS.

NOTICE: The KE-USB36FS product is designed for use by
technically oriented computer users. When the KE-USB36FS is
in use, your Computer’s signals and voltages are present on the
unit. Prudent handling and packaging is necessary to prevent
damage to your computer.

Great care has been taken during the assembly, testing, and
burn-in of your KE-USB36FS to ensure its performance. If
you have any questions, help is available Monday through
Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST).

Toll Free 888-690-9080, or [phone].

CONTENTS

Introduction to the KE-USB36FS

Connection to the Computer

Interfacing to the KE-USB36FS Input Header

Keyboard Status Light Signals

Interfacing to the KE-USB36FS Auxiliary Port

Configuring the KE-USB36FS

Multiple KE-USB36FS Units

Appendix A - Specifications

Appendix B - Operating Tips

Appendix C - KE-USB36FS Read/Write from Command Line

Accessories

Custom KE-USB36FS Options

4

5

6

7

8

11

16

17

18

19

20

22

Introduction to the KE-USB36FS

The KE-USB36FS Keyboard Encoder is a product designed to
interface switches or other switching devices to a computer’s USB
port. The KE-USB36FS appears as both a keyboard and a mouse
to your computer system. The 36 inputs on the KE-USB36FS
header may be programmed to emulate any key from a standard
keyboard. In addition, any of the inputs may be programmed to
emulate the Left, Middle, and Right mouse buttons.

The KE-USB36FS features an auxiliary interface port which allows
direct connection of the signals from a trackball to the unit. The
signals received on this port from the trackball are converted into
mouse cursor
movement on
the computer.

The Auxiliary
port may
a l t er n a tiv e l y
be used as a
communication
port to connect
to our Relay-8
output board
and/or our
Rotary-5 rotary
switch input
product.

Using the Rotary-5 unit with the KE-USB36FS provides interface for
five quadrature type rotary switches. Keystrokes can be assigned
for movement detected on the Rotary-5 inputs for each direction.

Attaching our Relay-8 to the Auxiliary port provides control of the
relay outputs through the USB connection. Samples of software are
provided for integrating relay control into the user’s program.

USB Port

Auxiliary Interface Port

Status

LED

Interface

36 Input Header

Accessories

MTA100-5-36-FF

5 position MTA connector to 5 position MTA connector. Use to daisy
chain a Relay-8 and Rotary-5 board together when using both with
the KE-USB35FS and an MTA100-8/5-36FF. Provides the power and
communication from the KE-USB36FS when both a Relay-8 and Ro-

tary-5 are used. 3 ft Standard Length.

MTA100-8/5-36FF

8 position MTA connector to 5 position MTA style connector. Use to
connect either a Rotary-5 or a Relay-8 unit to the KE-USB36FS Auxil-

iary connector. 3 ft Standard Length.

The KE-USB36FS uses standard system drivers for its functions.
When using the unit for the first time on your computer, USB
drivers will be loaded for the device.

Connection to the Computer

The KE-USB36FS attaches to the computer’s
USB port. Use a standard A-B Male/Male
type USB connecting cable from the KE­USB36FS to the USB port on the computer.
The KE-USB36FS may be connected
directly to the USB port on the computer or
through a compliant USB Hub.

Connect the type “B” end of the USB cable
into the KE-USB36FS and the type “A” end

into the computer or hub USB connector.

The KE-USB36FS may be
connected to the computer
with power on or off. If
“hot plugged,” the unit
will generally take several
seconds to become fully
active on your system.

Note: The first time you
use the KE-USB36FS with
a particular computer, the
system will load the appropriate drivers for the device. Follow
the default selections to load the standard drivers for the KE­USB36FS.

The KE-USB36FS is powered directly from the USB port, so no
external power is required.

The KE-USB36FS is compatible with all operating systems which
offer full support for standard USB keyboard and mouse devices.

Figure 2 - Connection of

the USB cable to computer

Figure 3

- Connection of the USB cable to the USB
port of the KE-USB36FS.

520

Interfacing to the KE-USB36FS Input Header

The KE-USB36FS features a 2x20 header for interface to your input
devices. The input header is arranged with grounds on the end
pins of the header, and the 36 inputs between them. The board
is labeled near each header pin, designating the input number
that the pin represents. Each of the pins may be programmed
to emulate any key on a standard keyboard as well as the Left,
Middle, and Right mouse buttons.

Inputs on the KE-USB36FS header are activated by shorting them
to one of the
provided logic
grounds on the
header. When
activated, the
input will report the keystroke that it has been programmed to
emulate. If held active, the keystroke will repeat (if programmed
to repeat), based on the repeat rates and delays set within the
computer’s operating system.

The inputs are intended to handle mechanical switch inputs and
are debounced for that purpose. Logic drivers may be attached
to the inputs as well, provided they are an active low, logic level
signal. Refer to the Appendix A on specifications for the timing of
logic signals. Never attach any external power to the Inputs.

The KE-USB36FS input header is a dual row header with .100”
spaced pins. This format is suitable for many readily available
connectors on the market, including a typical IDE hard drive cable.
Since all the inputs require the same logic ground reference, the
ground may be “daisy chained” to the common of all the switches.
We also offer a breakout board (our part number IOX36) for
interfacing to the KE-USB36FS. This interface board attaches to
the KE-USB36FS header through an IDE cable (provided with the
IOX36). See the Accessories page of this manual for details on
the IOX36. Appendix B demonstrates connection techniques for

Figure 4 - The KE-USB36FS Input Header

a Trackball. Use the controls for either the X or Y axis for the
Spinner, according to the axis on which the Spinner movement is
to appear.

In order to accommodate the various brands of Trackballs, the
KE-USB36FS provides check boxes to reverse the Left-Right and
Up-Down movements of the Trackball. If you find that one or both
directions of your cursor movement from the Trackball are reversed,
check the appropriate box in the configuration program.

The KE-USB36FS uses the standard USB keyboard buffer length
which allows for up to six keys being reported “ON” at the same
time. This limitation only pertains to KE-USB36FS inputs that are
programmed with the repeat selection enabled. Use of the Left and
Right Shift, Left and Right Alt, Left and Right Control, and Windows
GUI keys, can be used in addition to the six key limitation.

The KE-USB36FS has the option of repeating an input that is held
on. If the input is selected to repeat, that input will count toward
the six key limit. Keys that are set to not produce a repeat will not
be subject to the 6 key limitation, provided there are no more
than 5 repeated keys currently active. Note that inputs defined as
mouse buttons do not figure into the six key limit.

Inputs on the KE-USB36FS which emulate a multiple key sequence,
such as Shift+F1, will automatically have repeat disabled.

Appendix C:
KE-USB36FS Read/Write from the Command Line

In addition to the KEUSB36FS.EXE configuration program, the
disk supplied with the KE-USB36FS contains two command line
programs for reading from and writing to the KE-USB36FS device.
For details, see the README.TXT file included on the disk.

using switches with the KE-USB36FS.

Note: The KE-USB36FS allows all of the inputs to be activated
simultaneously.

Keyboard Status Light Signals

Keyboard status light drive is available with the KE-USB36FS. The
unit provides a 6 pin header for connection of the Num Lock,
Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock status LEDs. As shown below, the
Anode and Cathode connections for these diodes are labeled on
the board near the 6 pin
LED header.

As with the input header,
this LED header has
.100” spaced pins,
which are suitable for a
variety of connectors. Soldering to the pins is also an acceptable
way to attach wires for connection to your LEDs.

The KE-USB36FS will drive an LED directly from each Anode/
Cathode pair of wires. At 5 volts, the drive current is approximately

10 ma for each LED. The KE-USB36FS
has current limiting resistors built into
the unit, so connection to the user’s
LED may be made directly.

Figure 5 - Status LED connection

Figure 6 - Connection of LEDs to the

Status LED Header

718

Interfacing to the KE-USB36FS Auxiliary Port

Trackball Mode - The KE-USB36FS auxiliary interface connector
can accept optical signals from a device such as a Spinner or
a Trackball. Power
is supplied to the
trackball interface
from the KE­USB36FS for 5 volt
operation only.
This interface is
compatible with the
most popular active or passive Trackballs and Spinners.

The Trackball header mates with the Hagstrom Electronics KE­TBH3 interface cable (see Accessories page of this manual).
In addition, the user may create their own cable using the pin
assignments as shown below.

Figure 7 - The KE-USB36FS Auxiliary Port Trackball inter-

face. The connector features 8 pins spaced at .100” centers.

Figure 8 - Trackball Interface signal assignments.

Note: Do not supply any power into the Trackball interface connector.

Appendix A:
Specifications

Operating Voltage

Operating Current

Operating
Temperature

Input Header

Required Input
Current

Input Active Time
(Debounced)

3.00

A1 = Y axis signal

5V = Power for Y axis

GND = Ground for Y axis

B1 = Y axis signal

A2 = X axis signal

5V = Power for X axis

GND = Ground for X axis

B2 = X axis signal