Difference between revisions of "Custom bluetooth keyboard"

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(Available approaches)
(Available approaches)
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* USB HID host chips are uncommon and expensive
 
* USB HID host chips are uncommon and expensive
 
* Programming USB HID host may be complicated
 
* Programming USB HID host may be complicated
 +
* PS/2 version of keyboard may or may not have USB output (though there are USB related markings on the PCB)
 
|-
 
|-
 
| PS/2 to bluetooth adapter
 
| PS/2 to bluetooth adapter

Revision as of 19:04, 13 September 2011

Bluetooth conversion of a Kinesis contour keyboard to a bluetooth keyboard.

Brainstorming

Available approaches

Options Pros Cons
USB HID to bluetooth adapter
  • No modification of the keyboard necessary
  • USB HID host chips are uncommon and expensive
  • Programming USB HID host may be complicated
  • PS/2 version of keyboard may or may not have USB output (though there are USB related markings on the PCB)
PS/2 to bluetooth adapter
  • Simpler to decode than USB HID
  • Any microcontroller can do it
  • USB version of keyboard may or may not have PS/2 output
Custom replacement keyboard controller with integrated bluetooth
  • Getting data directly from button matrix is likely simpler than decoding some other protocol
  • Opportunity to add extra features
  • Likely better battery life
  • Kinesis keyboards have some advanced programmability - reimplementing that on a custom controller could take some time
  • Requires interfacing with the key matrix directly which either requires special connectors or soldering to the key matrix

Features

  • Bluetooth module might have HID and audio capabilities
    • Use keyboard as audio extender - include a headphone port in keyboard
    • Kinesis has a key recognition click speaker built in which can be hard to hear when listening to music, but might still annoy others
      • Overlay key click sound over bluetooth audio signal
  • USB interface for charging
    • disable bluetooth while charging and instead use the USB connection
  • Saving, editing, and uploading custom keyboard layouts to the keyboard from the computer
    • Cross platform application

Reference