A small extra keyboard for a PC (or Raspberry Pi)
I was inspired by Maker's Muse to make my own private keyboard. The first keyboard that I made was a "gaming" keyboard for my son, an extra "quick access" keyboard attached to his (game) PC. Next project was two-key keyboard (PageUp and PageDown) for a Raspberry Pi showing a series of pages.
The first keyboard that I made was a "gaming" keyboard for my son.
I selected the following components:
- Arduino Pro Micro
- Keyboard switches
- Keyboard key caps
- Casing to be 3D printed. I used inserts to fix the bottom to the top part of the casing
- USB HID software library from NicoHood, which actually comes with the Arduino IDE
- The Arduino application
The Arduino application is written by me in such a way that it should be easy to configure. The code is in ProMicroKbd. That is what this github project is about.
I am considering adding a virtual serial com port to the keyboard, so that the configuration can simply be written to the keyboard, meaning that a recompile is no longer needed.
Bottom view with USB plug and bolts (that connect to inserts)
The Arduino pro micro inside
Top view, still without the key caps.
Final keyboard with the caps.
Half a year later, I made a NarrowCast system: a screen in the coffee corner showing company news. I noticed that people wanted to go back to a certain page to discuss that. So, I decided to add a two-key keyboard to the screen with keys for PageUp and PageDown.
The original code needed some adaptations (as foreseen), resulting in ProMicroKbd2. I did have to make one unforeseen change: the button levels changed. The reason is that I used capacitive touch sensor boards, those boards give 1 (3V3) when pressed, not 0 (0V0) as the mechanical switches did.
The Arduino pro micro wired to two touch sensors.
The Arduino PCB top view.
The PCBs in the box.
Adding inserts in the box.
Securing the bottom with bolts.
Complete assembly, top view.
Four years later, I gave the RP2040 a try.
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