nickmaynard
Offline
rochester, ny

I just posted the first in a series of blog entries about my efforts to mod a Famicom keyboard to work with my NES. Basically, I want to use it as a controller for the programs I'll write for it (for example, a synth program kind of like cynthcart, but for the NES).

This is pretty ambitious for me because I don't really know much about this kind of stuff. Any help or feedback would be great!

part one - http://nickmaynard.tumblr.com/post/1348 … odifying-a

part two - http://nickmaynard.tumblr.com/post/1386 … -modifying

More entries can be found at this link as I post them - http://nickmaynard.tumblr.com/tagged/ni … ect/chrono

Last edited by nickmaynard (Dec 7, 2011 6:35 am)

nitro2k01
Offline
Sweeeeeeden

Interesting project. A regular NES controller is read out by using a parallel in, serial out shift register. One button is read at a time. It also has support for 2-3 controllers on one port, each with a separate data line.There's a common clock line that clocks all the 2-3 controllers that may be connected to one port.

It seems from the chips on the board that this corresponding clock line is used to increment a 4017 decade counter. A decade counter is a type counter that sets one output pin high at a time, incrented by a clock signal. it can cycle through ten positions. Each position would then select a segment of the keyboard. This is what the 9 diodes are for. Each segment selector is connected to a segment of 8 keys. Those 8 keys are probably further broken down into 2 groups of 4, selectable by an output, so you're reading 4*9=36 keys at a time.

All of this might be possible to achieve using two controller ports on a NES. The NES controller port is a bit more crude than the Famicom one. Another option is to hook up the Famicom to an Arduino, and invent a serial communication protocol to be used over the NES controller port. Of course, this could expanded to work with a Gameboy or anything you like. BTW, if anyone wants to send me a Famicom keyboard for experimentation, I'd be happy to.

NO CARRIER
Offline
GNV / FL / USA

Batsly Adams has done a lot of work with the Arduino and the NES. Talk to him first. It may be easier just to use an Arduino to interface with an actual modern existing keyboard or input device, rather than the Famicom keyboard. I know that would be cool and all, but the availability of cheaper stuff that more people have access to may be a better idea.

nickmaynard
Offline
rochester, ny
nitro2k01 wrote:

Interesting project. A regular NES controller is read out by using a parallel in, serial out shift register. One button is read at a time. It also has support for 2-3 controllers on one port, each with a separate data line.There's a common clock line that clocks all the 2-3 controllers that may be connected to one port.

It seems from the chips on the board that this corresponding clock line is used to increment a 4017 decade counter. A decade counter is a type counter that sets one output pin high at a time, incrented by a clock signal. it can cycle through ten positions. Each position would then select a segment of the keyboard. This is what the 9 diodes are for. Each segment selector is connected to a segment of 8 keys. Those 8 keys are probably further broken down into 2 groups of 4, selectable by an output, so you're reading 4*9=36 keys at a time.

Awesome info! Thanks a lot.

NO CARRIER wrote:

Batsly Adams has done a lot of work with the Arduino and the NES. Talk to him first. It may be easier just to use an Arduino to interface with an actual modern existing keyboard or input device, rather than the Famicom keyboard. I know that would be cool and all, but the availability of cheaper stuff that more people have access to may be a better idea.

If Batsly wants to make an arduino interface that would let you plug, let's say, a USB keyboard into a Nintendo, then I'll be the first in line to buy it. But since I already have the Famicom keyboard, I'm gonna keep working on it (since I know absolutely nothing about arduinos).

ne7
Offline
UK

hey Nick - not sure if this is super helpful but there is a project up at Famicom world to get multiple nes controllers working on the Famciom db front port (the other way round smile): http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index … pic=3583.0 \o_

nickmaynard
Offline
rochester, ny

second part posted.

http://nickmaynard.tumblr.com/post/1386 … -modifying

ne7 wrote:

hey Nick - not sure if this is super helpful but there is a project up at Famicom world to get multiple nes controllers working on the Famciom db front port (the other way round smile): http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index … pic=3583.0 \o_

thanks for the link! i think i saw that in my hours and hours of googling. definitely helpful!

nickmaynard
Offline
rochester, ny

third part - http://nickmaynard.tumblr.com/post/1470 … odifying-a

uXe
Offline
Melbourne, Australia

Nick, did you ever get any further with this project?!