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Arduino Forum Making a Compartmental Arduino Qwerty Keyboard
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Related

Making a Compartmental Arduino Qwerty Keyboard

Former Member
Former Member over 9 years ago

While I can find ways to add a single keyboard matrix to an arduino Leonardo to make it a keyboard (Qwerty Keyboard) for most computers, I'm looking to make a compartmental keyboard with an arduino.  That way I can start with making a gaming keypad and switch it over to an ergonomic keyboard and maybe latter be able to add arcade type attachments, additional macros, or maybe a custom mouse.  I know this is a bit of a advanced project for a beginner, but I just plan to start with a gaming pad.  My question is, which arduino would be best to start with?  I have thus far looked at the Leonardo because of its built in HID and libraries, but I don't know if there is enough inputs for the number of eventual interfaces I might use.  I'm also looking at the Mega and Due, but I'm not sure the Mega will be workable and the Due offers the additional challenge of guarding against over-volting the board and many types of interface boards use higher voltages.  Any Input and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance.

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Top Replies

  • mcb1
    mcb1 over 9 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps +5 suggested
    I watched a very interesting documentary on Linotype and how it revolutionised both printing and literacy in general due to the reduced cost of print. Their keyboard was based on the most used lower case…
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps +3
    Because if you just use keyboard most of the time it's assumed you are making a midi keyboard. I use qwerty as a description for a alpha Numeric keyboard. Additionally I do plan to make the keyboard so…
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to clem57 +2
    I thought about using the PI, but thought that the nature of raspberry design might cause too much latency. I'll research using a PI and PI Zero. Thank you.
Parents
  • gihu
    0 gihu over 9 years ago

    Hi,

     

    The HID libraries to build a keyboard with the Arduino IDE works great, so, have you considered using a dedicated IC for the keyboard scanning connected to the Leonardo? TCA8418,TCA8424, MAX7360...

     

    Hope that helps

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to gihu

    I hadn't considered using a dedicated IC as far as I know of.  I was looking at some kits that could be modified and would let me move into the rest of the design faster like this 64 button shield (http://spikenzielabs.com/SpikenzieLabs/Button64Shield.html) or this DIY Qwerty keyboard (http://lucidtronix.com/tutorials/53).  I did look up those dedicated IC's and I like the MAX7360's specs. If I knew a bit more about electronics I would probably use it instead and anticipate eventually moving from a breadboard to a custom ordered PCB.  I'll still research them though to see if there is something with them in it that I can modify into the project.

     

    Thank you gihu.

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  • gihu
    0 gihu over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

    If you only need 64 button, you do not even need the shield, you can make the scanning directly with the Leonardo, you have 20 digital I/O.

    You can copy the wiring of the buttons indicated in the button shield link, connect it to the Leonardo, and start coding image

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  • gihu
    0 gihu over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

    If you only need 64 button, you do not even need the shield, you can make the scanning directly with the Leonardo, you have 20 digital I/O.

    You can copy the wiring of the buttons indicated in the button shield link, connect it to the Leonardo, and start coding image

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to gihu

    I eventually want at least three sets of 64 tied into the arduino.  That way I can get a full keyboard and extra buttons like macros.

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  • gihu
    0 gihu over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Then it could be a little bit more tricky, and you will need to use shift register. But it does not change too much.

    I recommend you to start just with matrix of 8x8, so 64keys, and when you get it working, usb, hid, matrix scanning... then change 8-bit output for the matrix scan, for a shift register, serial to parallel to as many bits as you need,

    As shiftregister for example SN74HC595NSN74HC595Nand you have info to work with arduino

    https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ShiftOut

    I think that with this you can complete your project.

    Hope that helps image

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to gihu

    This helps me out a lot. 

     

    Thank you

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