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2.4GHz, 2.7GHz, or 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache. Released February 2013.

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Converting 2013 MacBook Pro to USB trackpad / keyboard

TL;DR - I am attempting to convert a keyboard & trackpad from an early 2013 Macbook Pro retina (a1398) into a standalone usb keyboard & trackpad that can be used with any modern laptop. As someone with minimal soldering and electronics experience, I could use some guidance!

Steps I've taken so far:

  • Researched to see if this is even possible -- looks like the answer could be 'yes' based on some examples seen around the web
  • Tried to find someone I could hire to do this (no luck thus far... hence why I'm here)
  • Recently downloaded the a1398 schematics with the 820-3332-A board and fed it into some chatbots to potentially teach me how to do it myself (schematics link: https://f.ch1p.io/rjHAmTOU/820-3332-a.pd...)

Chatbot Summary of Instructions -> could use help determining if this would work

1. Isolation: Open up the case and remove the R5701 & R5702 resistors -> Ensures the MacBook's PCH doesn't interfere with whatever end computer I connect it with.

2. Data: Solder the Green (D+) and White (D-) wires of the USB cable to the connector side of those R5701 & R5702 resistor pads -> Corresponds to the 'USB_TPAD_P' and 'USB_TPAD_N' connections (Keyboard + trackpad data signals are combined via IPD cable)

3. Power: Solder the Red (5V) wire of the USB cable to the L5700 pad leading to the connector -> this small inductor/ferrite bead provides 5V to the PP5V_S4_TPAD rail via L5700, allowing the trackpad's circuitry to manage internal power needs

4. Ground: Solder the Black wire (GND) to the metal ears or shield of the J5800 connector -> ensures data signals are clean and will be recognized by an external computer

NOTE: In case you're wondering why I'm doing this...

- I have chronic myofascial pain in my upper extremities. This Macbook Pro model allowed me to go for long periods of time without pain. Having tried dozens of newer laptop models for Mac, Windows, and Chromebook, I have yet to find one with a keyboard/trackpad that performed as well for my pain as the MBP a1398. I could really use some help on how to do this myself.

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Sorry to say a raw laptop keyboard don't have all of the needed pieces to do what you want.

Simply stated a keyboard is a collection of switches which communicate to a keyboard encoder chip to convert the outer world signals of the keyboard into what the inner world system requires in the digital logic. This chip is not present within the keyboard in a laptop it's held within the main logic board. Then you need to take this output and convert it to a USB useable signal.

Do you have access to any broken USB keyboards to snag the needed parts? Then using a multimeter verify which lines line up with the firing of a given key as an example the key A from the internal pathway of the USB keyboard to the encoder chip and then verify from the MacBook keyboard where that line is, you will then need to repeat that across all of the keys. Melting the MacBook keyboard to the USB's keyboards logic and as it's already USB wired you should be good!

The schematics won't help you here as the keyboard is treated as a black box. The lines you see lead to the logic board to the encoder within it. Locate within the schematics the section labeled PSOC USB CONTROLLER that's the encoder chip.

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2 Comments:

Thanks for this advice! Would this work with the trackpad as well?

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@nomath11 - That's more complex! Here you would need to find a discrete trackpad that uses the same tech as the Mac's Trackpad.

I think that's a much harder. Best to just use a standalone Trackpad

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