Moinsen!
First of all, i hope this is the right Thread!,since this isnt about a "keyboard" yet, but basic keyboard-making knowledge, so i wasnt sure where to put this, but "making stuff together" seemed to be the closest thing!, so here i am!
A While ago,i decided, that i want to build my own Keyboard from scratch (PCB & All) because the
96key(not%) Layout i prefer to have isnt on the Market, strangely.
I am Electrician by Trade, building my own PCs since the '90s & do RC as Hobby and did some basic Programming back in the Days, so i know a thing or two about Electronics & Computers, but not enough about PCB's & Programming yet [At the Moment im in the middle of wrapping my head around KI-Cad7 to make that PCB, what an adventure
]
But since i have never done something like this before, i got alot to learn and certain questions came up, that would be very helpful, if someone could just answer them for me insted of long frustrating google & co searches for tiny details & specifics.
This list is neither in Order, nor Complete(i bet
) but these are questions i just couldnt find a definitive answer by myself yet, so any clarification on these points would be much appreciated!
Im aware that its likely,some my questions are answered in this forum somewhere, but to keep my sanity intact, i think putting them all together in this one thread is the better choice , so forgive my boldness
Im gonna cross out answered ones, so stuff doesnt get confusing & i hope i dont get confused either, doing this project
Thanks to all who are willing to help out!
Peace
mho
Function FAQ: 1-can keys fully randomly be programmed inside the IC or does the matrix diktate wich keyvalue the OS gets?
2-are NUM & ROLL function hard-(pcb wired) or software ?
3-can the keys be stacked in the IC's logic? (Roll Lock "hidden under" a NUM switched key)
4-can the FN-[F1-F12] keys freely programmed/set? or is their function dependend on the Fkeys keyvalue?
5-Is the NUMpad part of the normal grid? or a seperate entity on the pcb?
6-is the NUM key function a seperate hardware signal?, OS driver part? or a software value in the IC?
7-How dependent on the keyboard matrix are the Keyboard Key Code Values?
8-can we build the matrix however & let the IC figure it out by programming in "wich is what"?
9-do the IC's send the Key Code Values to the pc directly & let the OS-driver figure it out?
9a- or can we program the IC, so that it "lies" to the OS & just sends a Key Code Value of our choosing for a certain matrix grid?
10-how laborious is it to have the "Capslock,NUM&Roll" leds, routed as part of the key that switches them? and not on the frame?
10a-are the led's, software(OS or IC?) or hardware controlled?
Layout FAQ:A-How "off" does it feel to have F1 over 1 and not 2? ...only ever had keyboards with F1 over 2!
B-Would an ANSI Layout with "short ISO left shift+1key" be such a bad thing for international ppl? it would make the layout "hotswappable" between the 2 layouts by just changing the "big enter" for a 1.5u & 1.25u cap [+changing the IC/OSdriver logic ofc]
Nice to know FAQwhat the "best" IC to go for these days to learn to "deal with"/program, to have full freedom in layout & output? (this is a while off still & i bet its a contentious topic, so no need to go tooo deep
but some direction would be nice!)