A1200 hardware hacking

[xeron]

I'm putting an A1200 motherboard inside the case from a Technics Hi-Fi CD-Player, to make an AGA CDTV-like computer.

The front of the CD player has loads of buttons, and i'm wondering what the best way to attach them to the A1200 is, so that I can write software to make them do what they say (like the Eject button to eject CD Rom, play button to active OS3.9 CD player etc. etc.). Also, I intend to put a VFD (vacuum flourescent display) on the front of the case, in place of the custom one that is already there.

So, I need a bunch of inputs (switches), and 3 outputs (VFD clock, reset, data). My initial thought is to use the parallel port, since it has 8 independant I/O pins, but I'm wondering if it would be possible to hook this stuff up without losing a standard port.

I have access to a PIC programmer through my work, but ideally i'd like to be able to hook all this up with just a few passive components and a little bit of soldering.

Any ideas?

[xeron]

Hmmm... an IR transceiver doesn't help me at all really. Even if it did, I think it connects to the parallel port, which I can just wire the buttons to anyway!

I'd rather save all the standard ports, if possible. I was wondering if the clock port would be easy to use...

[xeron]

I don't plan on super-expanding this A1200 (it'll never replace my souped up 4000, or my AmigaONE), I only intend to add an 060 accelerator in the future, so using the clockport isn't a problem.

In fact, Ian Stedman had a design to hook up an Intel 8255 chip to give 24 digital I/O pins from the clock port, but he has since changed it to use the parallel port :-(

I have no experience of designing this sort of circuit, but I have no trouble following simple diagrams and converting them to veroboard. Its a shame Ian didn't keep the old schematic on his site...

[xeron]

I take it a VFD would likely need a 74245 as well?

Wiring up a bunch of switches should be pretty easy though?

[xeron]

I'm actually a programmer for a company that builds fruit machines, so writing things like a software debounce routine is second nature to me ;-) plus it saves a couple of parts.

As for the VFD, i'm not sure about the specs. I'll ask one of the hardware guys about the samsung units we use at work, but i'd imagine they'd pull more current than a LED... They just hook up to 3 of the I/O ports on our custom motherboard.

[xeron]

Hey.. samsung do some cool VFDs, actually. I was just going to use an alphanumeric, but looking here, i'm spoilt for choice :-D

I cant find any datasheets there, though, just simple tables. The only current ratings are for supply, not data...