Difference between revisions of "PS/2 interface"
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| − | The '''PS/2 interface''' is a serial keyboard and mouse interface developed by [[IBM]] for their PS/2 line of computers. | + | [[File:PS2 converter sockets.jpg|thumb|250px|Colour-coded keyboard and mouse sockets on a Belkin [[converter]]]] |
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| + | The '''PS/2 interface''' is a serial keyboard and mouse interface developed by [[IBM]] for their PS/2 line of computers. The PS/2 keyboard connector uses the same keyboard protocol as the [[AT keyboard interface]], but uses a Mini-DIN 6 connector with four pins connected. Like the [[XT keyboard interface|XT]] and AT interfaces before it, the PS/2 interface is not hot-swappable, and connecting a keyboard to a running computer can cause older operating systems to hang. | ||
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| + | For many years, keyboard ports have been coloured mauve, and mouse sockets, green. Besides the modern colour-coding, PS/2 mouse and keyboard connections are visually identical, and unlike the contemporary [[Apple Desktop Bus]], the two sockets are not compatible. Connecting a keyboard into the mouse port, or vice versa, will traditionally not work; an IBM PS/2 computer will hang on boot with a cryptic number displayed on the screen if the keyboard is mistakenly connected to the mouse port. Some more modern laptops however feature a single PS/2 port that can be used by either type of device. | ||
For desktop keyboards, the PS/2 interface has a number of advantages over the [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] interface: | For desktop keyboards, the PS/2 interface has a number of advantages over the [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] interface: | ||
| − | * PS/2 keyboards send commands directly to the host computer, unlike USB keyboards which must be polled for | + | * PS/2 keyboards send commands directly to the host computer, unlike USB keyboards which must be polled for keypress events. |
| − | * Providing that the keyboard circuitry supports it, there is no limit to the number of keys which can be | + | * Providing that the keyboard circuitry supports it, there is no limit to the number of keys which can be registered simultaneously over PS/2. The USB protocol is limited to 6 simultaneous keypresses, while PS/2 supports true [[Rollover, blocking and ghosting|N-key rollover]]. |
| + | [[Category:Keyboard terms]] | ||
[[Category:Keyboard protocols and interfaces]] | [[Category:Keyboard protocols and interfaces]] | ||
Revision as of 00:30, 24 October 2012
This article is a stub. You can help Deskthority by expanding it.
The PS/2 interface is a serial keyboard and mouse interface developed by IBM for their PS/2 line of computers. The PS/2 keyboard connector uses the same keyboard protocol as the AT keyboard interface, but uses a Mini-DIN 6 connector with four pins connected. Like the XT and AT interfaces before it, the PS/2 interface is not hot-swappable, and connecting a keyboard to a running computer can cause older operating systems to hang.
For many years, keyboard ports have been coloured mauve, and mouse sockets, green. Besides the modern colour-coding, PS/2 mouse and keyboard connections are visually identical, and unlike the contemporary Apple Desktop Bus, the two sockets are not compatible. Connecting a keyboard into the mouse port, or vice versa, will traditionally not work; an IBM PS/2 computer will hang on boot with a cryptic number displayed on the screen if the keyboard is mistakenly connected to the mouse port. Some more modern laptops however feature a single PS/2 port that can be used by either type of device.
For desktop keyboards, the PS/2 interface has a number of advantages over the USB interface:
- PS/2 keyboards send commands directly to the host computer, unlike USB keyboards which must be polled for keypress events.
- Providing that the keyboard circuitry supports it, there is no limit to the number of keys which can be registered simultaneously over PS/2. The USB protocol is limited to 6 simultaneous keypresses, while PS/2 supports true N-key rollover.
