UPDATE ON THE GH36 BETA PCB!Greetings, all!
On this (for some of us) holiday weekend, I completed* the re-layout of the GH36 in its final* form. MOZ will be happy, as I have shifted from my typical "all-ninety-degrees all-of-the-time" style to a more old-school curvy traces format. This board now has:
- New GH36 Interconnect (see more below)
- Full backlighting
- Optional position/size for top row switches or keycaps
- Common orientation for all diodes (marked for placement on top or bottom)
- Zero components under the Teensy
- Teensy moved inwards to enable right-angle USB cable and therefore side OR top cable exit
- Component-free zones for stabilizer footprints
- Accessible pads for Ground, 5V+, F1, and F2 circuits
And as always:
- 100% through-hole soldering on .010" spacing (even for the transistors!)
*NOTE: I use the words "complete" and "final" in the same sense as any software developer. Those words describe conditions unobtainable without differential equations - in the same way particles can never quite reach the speed of light.The only functional elements left to put in place are the traces and jumpers for optional LEDs. As it is today, all positions have full backlighting. However, to be added are separate LED circuits for WASD, NUM, and CAPS. The only reason they are not in place now is because I have not decided how to provide simple jumpers. I want the board to have full backlighting out of the box, and to have full backlighting without extra jumpers, etc. However, I also want the more advanced builder to be able to quickly and easily enable the separate LED circuits without pain. I am leaning towards traces without solder mask in places where they can be easily scratched off and a jumper put in place instead. To be determined.
New GH36 Interconnect DesignThis is intended for re-use on other keyboard PCBs. It provides a 6x12 matrix extension along with power, ground, and multiple other signals, in any 20-pin keyed connector with .010" (2.54mm) pad spacing. This will enable builders to select standard wire cables, ribbon cables, and quick disconnects for all options. Due to the layout, the interconnect provides a straight path for the cable regardless of PCB orientation.
GH36 Interconnect by samwisekoi 2014I plan to start adding this interconnect to other boards, so (e.g.) the GH-122/154 will have the capability to be extended by connecting a GH36 PCB -- if the GH-122/154 did not already have enough switches for you! A more sensible use of the connector would be to include it in a 40% or 60% keyboard PCB, which would enable quick and modular expansion from tiny to TKL. (Nubbinator, this is a hint.)
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TL;DR For those of you who wondered where the Beta GH36 was -- here it is!
More news when I have it!
- Ron | samwisekoi
Sig auto-typed by my GH36 LH keypad.