Author Topic: Experimenting with the AIKON Controller  (Read 26398 times)

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Offline sixty

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« on: Thu, 31 December 2009, 11:45:46 »
After a long search I have finally managed to get my hands on one of the Korean AIKON keyboard controllers (previously known as LIMKB). These were designed and produced by the Korean keyboard community OTD.

AIKON stands for "Aqua+inornate Kontroller" which is obviously based on the authors names. The firmware is being written by Aqua (you may know him for his key testing utlity) and inornate.

Despite the firmware for the controller being closed-source the schematics to build the controller yourself are available online. However, a few months back they had a limited run of them available as a professionally made SMD PCB. The one I got is one of that very limited run.


When you first get the controller it is not assembled. You get the PCB, a mini-usb jack and 2 jumpers.

After I finally managed to somehow attach the mini-usb jack to the PCB with my large soldering iron (it was really hard and dirty, believe me) the first thing I had to do is upload the firmware to the controller. This was actually quite easy!


To get the controller into firmware-programming mode you have to bridge 2 points on the PCB by using the smaller jumper that came with it. After you have bridged the jumper you can connect the controller by USB. If you decided to put the optonal status led onto the PCB you should now see it flashing which indicates the controller is ready for firmware programming/updating.


The AIKON is flashed with a simple commandline tool and is ready for further use in just a few seconds. After flashing the firmware you have to replug the USB cable and you can theoretically start programming the controller.


For my first project-attempt I decided to pick an old WYSE Terminal keyboard (tenkeyless). Somebody had already figured out the matrix of the newer (full-size) version so I just went to see what would happen if I use the same Matrix for the older keyboard. I have desoldered the old controller chip and I am going to re-use the same solder points to connect the AIKON.


So many wires! It seems that the board uses a 9x13 matrix, so I setup the controller for this.

Back on the PC, I connected the AIKON and started the AIKON client. The controller is detected automatically and you are presented with a blank keymap showing all the rows and columns. Keymaps can be imported and exported, so if you wish to share a matrix with a friend or save different layouts/setups you can always export the full matrix and import/upload it to the controller again within seconds.

The second tab in the software is where the true magic begins:


This is where I went "holy crap, this is amazing!" for the first time. What you do here is simply press a key on the physical keyboard and then click (or select from the dropdown menu) the according key to map on the virtual keyboard in the AIKON software. Whenever you press a key the software automatically detects the row and column that was triggered and lets you asign a function. Every key can be mapped on 3 layers (normal, function lock, numlock). Whenever you update a key function it is automatically written back onto the controller in real-time. Yes, this is indeed real-time remapping.

Within minutes I had the first few keys on the WYSE board mapped out and fully working.

Sounds cool? You bet. Check out the video inornate has up on youtube which shows exactly what I just described: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qAIEpUoJjU


The controller also already supports full n-key rolover if you matrix supports it. There are also a few other options which could come in useful.

For now I don't know what else to say - I am pretty much stunned by how easy and convenient this thing is. Even without knowing the matrix you could probably have almost any vintage keyboard converted to USB in a matter of hours, assuming you can solder some and have some patience to figure out the matrix and remap the board.

Sadly this has been sold out and has been out of production since a long time now, so this is probably the only one I will ever get. Therefore I will keep it like a treasure!

Whatever happens to our "opensource keyboard controller" project here on GH -- It will be damn hard to beat the AIKON in terms of features and usability.

I will keep this topic updated with my progress on converting the WYSE board to full USB.
« Last Edit: Thu, 31 December 2009, 11:48:52 by sixty »

Offline itlnstln

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 31 December 2009, 12:17:12 »
Yeah, it's a shame this is not in production anymore.  It looks like a very well-made part.  Well done, Sixty.


Offline ak_nala

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 31 December 2009, 20:23:38 »
Very cool, but would it support something like a 122-key terminal board?
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Offline sixty

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 31 December 2009, 20:46:14 »
I changed the Matrix just for the Wyse. The default Aikon setup is 18x8, so yeah it would work fine.

Offline NOMiS

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 01 January 2010, 00:16:06 »
Wow that thing is awesome, I'm so jealous! Any info on how much they cost, and maybe how much it cost to have the batch made?
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Offline sixty

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 01 January 2010, 01:27:37 »
Quote from: NOMiS;146977
Wow that thing is awesome, I'm so jealous! Any info on how much they cost, and maybe how much it cost to have the batch made?

The ready-made-version was something around $10 I think when it was originally made available. However when I first asked inornate about it he told me to make it myself, since it would be cheaper. Sadly this exceeds my electronic knowledge so I kept looking for a premade one.

If you want to give it a try, he has posted schematics on how to make one yourself over here:

http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=125144&postcount=119

The AIKON is an impressive controller, even thought it of course has some bugs. for example getting the device to be recognized when programming may take a few times where you have to replug the USB cable or even reboot your PC. However this does not bother me much, since programming is a one time thing. Also programming can only be done under Windows and on 32bit systems. However, the keyboard (after programming) will of course work under any OS (including Macs since the last revision of the firmware - 1.0.4).

PS: The WYSE is now almost entirely done, all keys are mapped besides some in the in the numeric row. I must be missing something on the PCB.

Offline roadblock2thesun

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 01 January 2010, 12:49:05 »
Is anyone able / willing to provide more information on actually constructing an aikon controller?

Offline kishy

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 06 January 2010, 17:19:04 »
OMFG HOW'D I MISS THIS

Someone please poke me with a stick if another premade batch becomes available. I want to be able to go back to having two keyboards on my desktop at once!

(with the terminal board how it is, the remaps are applied to all connected keyboards, meaning the terminal board is the only actually usable one)
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Offline kishy

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 06 January 2010, 17:38:26 »
Edit: nevermind, "Korean keyboard community", got it.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out :)

Edit again: looks like it's a wanted ad. Google translate:

Quote
[Exchange] LIMKB AIKON to obtain ^ ^

Seller: singer
Views: 66
[Hwangjeon 9] Contact: Phone (01,193,761,023), mobile (01,193,761,023)
Product Name: LIMKB -> AIKON exchange
Manufacturer: Panopticon
Hope the price: the exchange
The item states: (sinpum A +, A-film and unused, etc.)
How to deal: Delivery

LIMKB 2 개 and there I would like to exchange any number one icon.
« Last Edit: Wed, 06 January 2010, 17:41:46 by kishy »
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Offline kishy

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 06 January 2010, 17:43:34 »
Quote from: webwit;148647
Korean. You are not a true geekhacker if you don't have Asian fonts installed!


Lol true, I just tend to uncheck everything after I install Windows. Fixed that.
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Offline overdriver

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 07 January 2010, 19:05:53 »
Quote from: webwit;148652
Hmm, maybe Sixty wants to swap with him for a number one icon ? It's a hard choice.

Show Image


the seller wants just simple swap:LIMKB with AIKON. that's all.

LimKB is the older version of AIKON, so he just wanted newer version of it.
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Offline inornate

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 07 January 2010, 22:21:14 »
Here's the schematic

http://www.otd.kr/data/file/pj_LIMKB/1964092542_24157b90_Aikon28LIMKB29-SMD_Schematic.PNG

After buliding circuit, burn bootloader

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=aikon_manual&wr_id=24

Now you can use the Aikon client as explained.

Offline inornate

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 20 January 2010, 03:44:33 »

Offline cirthix

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Experimenting with the AIKON Controller
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 01 September 2010, 07:34:51 »
Hi, I have a question about your controller.

Do you have an option to use an extra i/o pin as a pwm output for a controlled-brightness led back light?  Function+arrow keys or some other (remappable) key combination to adjust levels would be excellent.