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Introduction

typebox is an arduino-based serial input to keyboard output USB converter box.

Keys and key names are written to a serial port in the system connected to the input. The input stream is converted to key strokes that are sent to the system connected to the output, emulating a USB keyboard.

The following example shows a stream of keys and key names that are the input on the left side. The stream opens a text editor, types a line with hello world, and then moves up to do two edits to the line. The final text that results from that stream in the output is shown on the right side, assuming that the system connected to the output has a Gnome desktop environment:

{alt-f2}gedit{enter}                                        +---- gedit ----+
hello world{enter}                +-----------+             | Hello world!  |
{up}{delete}H         USB ------> | type box  | -----> USB  |               |
{end}!                            +-----------+             +---------------+

The typebox converter allows to send keys from one computer to another from a script as needed.

It is a DIY experimental hardware + software project.

Materials

You need:

  • Arduino Uno
  • Easy Input chip, by Radovan Robotics, 24 DIP package
  • Small protoboard
  • USB type B plug
  • 1.5K ohm 1/4W resistor
  • 470 ohm 1/4W resistor, 3x

The Arduino development software is also required, to compile and download the program into the Arduino.

Preparation

Hardware

Plug the Easy Input chip into the protoboard. Connect as shown:

protoboard.png

Four wires connect between the protoboard and the Arduino ground, DO8, D09 and DO10 pins:

Arduino pin Mode Easy Input pin Description
DIGITAL8 Output ~CLOCK Arduino tells the Easy Input chip that a data bit is ready in DATA0
DIGITAL9 Output DATA0 Arduino sends a bit of data to the Easy Input chip
DIGITAL10 Input BUSY Easy Input chip tells the Arduino that data bit has been read, transmision can continue
GND      

Software

In a Debian or Ubuntu Linux system, install the arduino-core and arduino-mk packages.

Download the software from github, then compile and download it into the Arduino. In a bash shell:

git clone git://github.com/ppaez/typebox.git
cd typebox
make
sudo make upload

Contributing

Please provide suggestions, comments and patches in http://github.com/ppaez/typebox or by email to Patricio Paez, pp at pp.com.mx -