This?
http://blog.russnelson.com/2006/Mar
http://www.chordite.com/
This?
http://blog.russnelson.com/2006/Mar
http://www.chordite.com/
Wonder what switches he used - doesn't seem to be on the website. I'm always on the lookout for low force momentaries smaller than the Cherries.This makes me think about Tim Tyler, he did some research about those little buggers - even to a point where a keyboard would become barely usable.
It is a very simple concept really. And great too, because there is no friction etc. but still a tactile feeling and at very low forces.How does the push-button work though, is this also a "magnetic/optic" keyswitch?
In the middle of the rectangle you see a tiny magnet. The opposing magnet is on the key cap (removed here). On both sides of the rectangle are an optical receiver and transmitter, like you see in mice from that era. As you move the keycap in the direction of the arrow, separating the magnets gives the tactile feeling, and leaves a gap (the rectangle) so the receiving sensor gets a signal.
N-key with diode matrixes tend to be pretty straightforward. Others tend to be a mess.
Yep - that's it. It's all in an attempt to reduce controller pins.
These seem to be the ones.
Looks interesting:
=overview&tx_productkatalog_pi1[modifier]=0&tx_productkatalog_pi1[value]=6450&tx_productkatalog_pi1[pointer]=0&cHash=c2a011b15b]http://www.marquardt-switches.com/tact-and-key-switches.html?&tx_productkatalog_pi1[mode]=overview&tx_productkatalog_pi1[modifier]=0&tx_productkatalog_pi1[value]=6450&tx_productkatalog_pi1[pointer]=0&cHash=c2a011b15b (http://www.marquardt-switches.com/tact-and-key-switches.html?&tx_productkatalog_pi1[mode)
http://switches.com/
http://blog.russnelson.com/2006/Mar
It's at the bottom of the second link.
Just for the record, Russ likes those Marquardt switches much more than I do. For a Chordite I recommend microswitches with the little levers, not regular keyboard-type switches. Some are discussed here (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/chordite/message/187)and here (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/chordite/message/188)
(circa 2005)
Quote from: chimera15;131334These seem to be the ones.
Looks interesting:
=overview&tx_productkatalog_pi1[modifier]=0&tx_productkatalog_pi1[value]=6450&tx_productkatalog_pi1[pointer]=0&cHash=c2a011b15b]http://www.marquardt-switches.com/tact-and-key-switches.html?&tx_productkatalog_pi1[mode]=overview&tx_productkatalog_pi1[modifier]=0&tx_productkatalog_pi1[value]=6450&tx_productkatalog_pi1[pointer]=0&cHash=c2a011b15b (http://www.marquardt-switches.com/tact-and-key-switches.html?&tx_productkatalog_pi1[mode)
http://switches.com/
http://blog.russnelson.com/2006/Mar
It's at the bottom of the second link.
Just for the record, Russ likes those Marquardt switches much more than I do. For a Chordite I recommend microswitches with the little levers, not regular keyboard-type switches. Some are discussed here (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/chordite/message/187)and here (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/chordite/message/188)
(circa 2005)
Wow cool, are you one of the guys that made those? Do you know if this board would work for it?
http://pjrc.com/store/teensypp_pins.html (http://pjrc.com/store/teensypp_pins.html)
Would the software have to be rewritten or something?
A bluetooth board like I'm working on now would seem to be more ideal for a hand keyboard like that wouldn't it? ;)
Quote from: john_3000;131751
Wow cool, are you one of the guys that made those? Do you know if this board would work for it?
http://pjrc.com/store/teensypp_pins.html (http://pjrc.com/store/teensypp_pins.html)
Would the software have to be rewritten or something?
A bluetooth board like I'm working on now would seem to be more ideal for a hand keyboard like that wouldn't it? ;)
When it comes to Chordite keyboards I am definitely the guy. I didn't know about the teensy boards. Holy smokes. Thanks. I will definitely check it out. First guess: the firmware will run without modification on the ~646. If not it should be easy for me to fix it so it does.
My problems with Bluetooth are (a) I can't find any specs and (b) I worry about security. The link between keyboard and host is not something you want accessible to strangers. But in general you are right: anything wearable is going to benefit physically from wirelessness. In the field wires and connectors break
@chimera,
What was your process for soldering the leads to each switch, your welds look nice and neat. I'm having a hard time holding the wire, the solder and the iron all at the same time...
I got tired of waiting for the good wire I ordered, so I went at it with some junky stuff from radioshack. After 3 days of frustration and tracing paths I finally got it to work. For a while I thought i had blown it because I couldn't get it to pair. It turned out that one of the crimps I used didn't connect to one of the wires. I had to track it down with a multimeter. Anyway, I think it might be the first bluetooth ultra mini mechanical keyboard ever. The base keyboard was hacked out from my zenith model f with green alps, that I didn't really use or like, then I used the remaining real clicky whites from a Focus board that I used to modify one of my siigs with. Should be an awesome keyboard and will probably become my main driver I hope if I can get used to having to use a separate key to activate the numbers.Show Image(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4110658552_89f4dbcf07_b.jpg)
For the record I have received 2 teensy boards, modified the USB Chordite code to run on the teensy's atmega32u4 processor and downloaded the hex file to a teensy board. It enumerates as it should: a combined keyboard and mouse (a USB compound device). To go farther, i.e., to see if it actually works, I need to connect it to switches. That will take a bit longer but I don't foresee any big problems. I want to try a slightly different mechanical design. I'm aiming at a DIY prototype that folds to go in a pocket. The teensy board makes that possible.
Oh wow. That sounds amazing. Are you going to make the software/code available? You should start your own Chordite thread here?
I just got one of these mini bluetooth keyboards:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150386010210&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150386010210&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT)Show Image(http://thmb.inkfrog.com/thumbn/ebuysaleking/keya_______.jpg=600)
I was surprised to find out that they're conductive rubber over a pcb.
These are much better candidates for mechanical bluetooth keyboard hacks if anyone is interested in doing one in the future. Especially as they're full layout unlike the igo. They're also significantly cheaper.
How bad do they feel?
It's ok as a thumb board, but you're not going to get any speed out of it.