laptop keyboard conversion?

[chimera15]

The litl keyboard thread got me to think of something I thought of a long time ago, but never persued...

So I think maybe this should go in the modification area, but I want to ask some basic questions here to see what everyone thinks first.

A long time ago I came up with the idea of turning a laptop keyboard into a normal keyboard, in other words, one that would work with usb, or ps/2.   Does anyone know if there's a standard matrix for them, I guess I should take a look at a few of mine.  Does anyone know if there's a controller that would work with them right off the shelf maybe even?  With a similar matrix?  Maybe this would be easy and possible with the teensy controller?

What would be the best keyboard from a laptop to turn into a normal usb keyboard?  Are there any modern ones that have clicky keys? I guess I should read that thread about that...

[Mnemonix]

Does anyone know if there's a standard matrix for them, I guess I should take a look at a few of mine.  Does anyone know if there's a controller that would work with them right off the shelf maybe even?  With a similar matrix?  Maybe this would be easy and possible with the teensy controller?

These keyboards are frequently connected to the motherboard via some flat cable, so the first problem is to get hands on a proper connector. Unfortunately, there are many different connectors out there...

I don't know if there is anything like a standard matrix, but I doubt so.
If you cannot find a complete controller, you could build your own one and put my firmware on it. Only requires you to figure out the matrix.

Which laptop keyboard would be worth it to turn it into a regular one? I can only think of the ones on the IBM T-series, but would always prefer a decent BS keyboard.

[ocdonkb]

Lenovo kinda already did this here:

http://www.thinkpads.com/2009/10/29/review-lenovo-thinkpad-usb-keyboard/

Same layout, same scissor-switch keys as the Thinkpad T400S.

Although it has more flex, since unlike the one in the T400S, this one lacks a brick of a laptop to serve as solid base.

[lowpoly]

Toshiba T5200 Alps keyboard to USB:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4488

[chimera15]

Toshiba T5200 Alps keyboard to USB:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4488

Wow, cool thread thanks! So you did that one Lowpoly.. We really think alike. lol

So you used a different controller from the teensy...what firmware did you use? Or do you know what to use with the teensy to do it?