Hi all,
We've been experimenting with a barcode scanner and the PS2Keyboard library v2.4, but we're running into a problem .
The scanner is a Symbol LS-9100 + wedge for PS/2 connection. We've soldered the PS/2 connector to a cable leading to pin 2 (clock) and 40 (data) on an Arduino Mega 2560. Most of the time, this works just fine!
The problem: following certain actions, the library starts returning garbage for every barcode read. The issue can't be resolved unless the arduino is reset!
What we tried:
- repeat the .begin(DataPin, IRQpin) call
- power off and then power on the scanner
- reducing transmit speed and/or transmit delay of the scanner (up to 99ms delay between each character)
The code is SimpleTest from within the library, we don't think can't get any easier:
#include <PS2Keyboard.h>
const int DataPin = 40;
const int IRQpin = 2;
PS2Keyboard keyboard;
void setup() {
delay(1000);
keyboard.begin(DataPin, IRQpin);
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("Keyboard Test:");
}
void loop() {
if (keyboard.available()) {
// read the next key
char c = keyboard.read();
// check for some of the special keys
if (c == 'W') {
Serial.println();
} else {
// otherwise, just print all normal characters
Serial.print(c);
}
}
}
The scanner is set to return a 'W' after every barcode (might just as well've been [Enter]), hence the check for it. We're only reading EAN-128 barcodes composed of digits.
Example output for scanning the same barcode over and over:
...
00703229211
00703229211
00703229211
00703229211
00703229uttem0070;uuuttemqq++++++>))&)#@@(@!!
))&)#@@(@!!
))&)#@@(@!!
))&)#@@(@!!
))&)#@@(@!!
))&)#@@(@!!
))&):UUUTTEM))&)#@@(@!!
Any hints or additional debugging tricks that we could try would be highly appreciated :(.
no one with a similar experience? We'd dig further into the library but C++ programming isn't really our forté...