Datasheet

Identifying Characteristics of Ports and Cables
71
FIGURE 1.53 An RCA cable
The RCA male connectors on a connection cable are sometimes plated in gold to
increase their corrosion resistance and to improve longevity.
PS/2 (Keyboard and Mouse)
The final interface we’ll discuss is the PS/2 interface for mice and keyboards. Essentially, it
is the same connector for the cables from both items: a male mini-DIN 6 connector. Most
keyboards today still use the PS/2 interface, whereas most mice are gravitating toward the
USB interface (especially optical mice). However, mice that have USB cables still may include
a special USB-to-PS/2 adapter so they can be used with the PS/2 interface. Figure 1.54 shows
an example of a PS/2 keyboard cable.
FIGURE 1.54 A PS/2 keyboard cable
Most often, PS/2 cables have only one connector, because the other end
is connected directly to the device being plugged in. The only exception is
PS/2 extension cables used to extend the length of a PS/2 device’s cable.
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