geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: QuincyJones on Tue, 14 June 2016, 07:17:58
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Bare with me here - I'm throwing an idea around in my head about having a modular keyboard. So maybe there'll be the absolute basic keys, and then I'll be able to connect a keypad, a block of additional keys with legends for extra functionality, an F-key block etc.
How can the additional blocks be connected to the basic block? Would some sort of ribbon connector be necessary to connect into the matrix?
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Either you can run lots of wires for the matrix or you can use an I/O expander which only uses 4 wires. The Ergodox uses one, I'm not aware of anyone using more than that but you can have multiple devices on an I2C connection so it's only a firmware change.
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If you do use ribbon cables, do make each additional module's logical matrix as close as possible to a square. That way you use the fewest wires as possible.
But an I/O expander uses fewer wires already if the number of keys is larger than 4.
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I would use 1u blocks of keys made with Enabler and wire up the diodes and switches so that they can interface with a breadboard.
I think it might be possible and fun but definitely not practical.