Keyboard encoders

[matsadona]

Hi all

Is the Wiki up to date regarding keyboard encoders, or are there any additional model/brands out there?
I have a non-arcade project that requires a small footprint board with just a few connections. Important is also that there is a utility to set keyboard mappings, and the settings has to stay (eeprom).

[PL1]

Is the Wiki up to date regarding keyboard encoders, or are there any additional model/brands out there?

Per Saint, Wiki logins have been broken since the forums updated/moved months ago.

[offtopic]
Anybody that knows how to fix this and is willing to help, please contact Saint. (Sirwoogie hasn't been logged in since November 9th and he's the one that was taking care of IT related issues for the forums for Saint)
[/offtopic]

I have a non-arcade project that requires a small footprint board with just a few connections. Important is also that there is a utility to set keyboard mappings, and the settings has to stay (eeprom).

The KADE is exactly what you are looking for.

While you're waiting for the KADE release date, you can buy an AVR (the board KADE is based on) here or here.

The AVR encoder firmware is here on the resources page.

Check out Modes 6 and 7, they may already cover the keystrokes that you need.


Scott

[matsadona]

Scott, thank you very much for your reply.
That is definitely a very interesting product that is more or less exactly what I am looking for.
However there is no default mode that suits my needs, since I want “F9”. But that shouldn’t be that hard to implement…

[RandyT]

matsadona:

What keys are you looking for specifically, and what is your application?  I have a budget USB Key encoder nearing completion which will be available with a number of different default key sets.  Perhaps one of them will be suitable for your needs?

RandyT

[DaOld Man]

Randy I would like to see the keywiz be programmable through a eeprom, so you dont have to run the wizard every time just to re-assign a button or two.
Sorry, dont mean to derail the original subject.

[RandyT]

Randy I would like to see the keywiz be programmable through a eeprom, so you dont have to run the wizard every time just to re-assign a button or two.
Sorry, dont mean to derail the original subject.

The high-end processor on the KeyWiz does not have physical EEPROM memory built in.  To support this capability, an external memory chip would need to be added.  Not only would this increase the cost of the KeyWiz, it would also reduce the number of available inputs by at least two.  Sometimes, just a couple of inputs is the difference between a workable 4-player setup, and not.   With the well thought out default codeset, 99.5% of applications allowing for remapping of controls, and less than 1% (based on our experience with thousands of satisfied users) of users actually having the need to permanently change the codeset, it seems like a poor tradeoff for the other 99+% who won't need to.  The V-EEPROM feature is included in the software for the others.

RandyT

[PL1]

there is no default mode that suits my needs, since I want “F9”. But that shouldn’t be that hard to implement…

F9 is already available in the KADE loader software under the "MAME Encoder (Custom)" menu.


Scott

[matsadona]

At this point I only need one key, and that is F9.
It is used in a factory for an assembly process, where the operator has to confirm each assembly step in order to get the next instruction.
It would be more convenient for them to have a large button to push closer to the assembly station, than go to the PC every time (and have to remove gloves etc to push the correct button).

So the interface would only need one or a very few number of inputs. Preferably it could be pre-set to the keys needed, thus removing the need for a utility. And it should install as a standard windows HID/keyboard so it installs automatically without any fuzz.

Randy, I am indeed interested in a budget alternative assuming that it meets my requirements above.

Scott, where did you find that information? Or am I only blind…?

[PL1]

Scott, where did you find that information? Or am I only blind…?

It's in the KADE loader program, not the older AVR encoder firmware linked above.

Forgot to mention that I'm helping out with beta testing on the KADE.


Scott

[degenatrons]

Hi matsadona,

I made some bespoke USB keyboard encoder firmwares for you with simple key mappings.  Firmwares are attached.

F9_only.hex: All 20 pins map to F9
func_and_nums.hex: One side of AVR maps to functions keys F1 to F10,  and the other side maps to numbers 0 to 9

These firmwares are for the Minimus AVR boards as described on my project page here: https://sites.google.com/site/degenatrons/controller-interfaces/usb-keyboard-encoder
I will happily send you an encoder if you can cover postage and the cost of the AVR with terminals.  Just drop me a PM if you are interested.



This is not a KADE device but it will be compatible with the KADE Loader software when it is released early next year so you will be able to make your own mapping changes if necessary in future.

Good luck with your project and let me know if I can help.

[matsadona]

You got to love this forum and the members 
PM sent to degenatrons and a lot of appreciation to all others that commented or answered my questions

[Louis Tully]

.

[MTPPC]

I saw elsewhere that "budget" was defined as 30 bucks including a wire set.

[equlizer]

I can get these locally for $6.  Can i make my own button layout? I have 22 buttons but it says only 21 connectors?  I have 2 joysticks, 6 main buttons, 1 and 2 player buttons and 6 option buttons.  Also, any difference between the regular one and the 32k one?  The latter is only $2 more.

[PL1]

I can get these locally for $6. 

Great price for AVRs.

Can i make my own button layout?

Once the KADE loader program releases, it will be pull-down menu easy to do custom layouts.

If you use the older AVR Encoder firmware, you have to edit the source code to reprogram it or get Degenatrons to whip you up a custom map like in this earlier post.

I have 22 buttons but it says only 21 connectors?  I have 2 joysticks, 6 main buttons, 1 and 2 player buttons and 6 option buttons. 

AVR has 24 pins - 20 normal/programmable inputs + ground + 5v output + Reset + HWB. (Hardware Button = mode/group change in AVR and shift function in KADE IIRC)

Given that you want 8 (2 start + 6 other) admin buttons, it looks like the AVR Encoder firmware won't work for this application, unless you use 2 encoders.

The KADE firmware can do this easily with up to 20 shifted inputs.

*** Haven't tested this yet, but you'll probably need 1 diode per shifted function line to prevent activating all shifted functions at once, similar to this method for wiring Magnasave and upper flippers in parallel with MAME keys.



Without the diodes, pressing any of these 3 buttons will output "A" and "L-Ctrl."

Also, any difference between the regular one and the 32k one?  The latter is only $2 more.

KADE loader will work with either board and several others IIRC.

No real advantage for this application that I know of to the 32K one, since the regular one can hold at least 23 maps, based on the latest AVR Encoder firmware.


Scott

***EDIT: Just remembered that the diodes are only needed to do a 1-button push shifted function.  A 2-button push shifted function will not require diodes. 

Take a look at this setup. It allows either a 2-button press (left side only) or 1-button press. (4 upper switches)

Thanks to RandyT for the easy-to-follow diagram.

[equlizer]

Picked up 3 locally from "Foundmy" and ready for the KADE software   I just need terminal blocks now   In the flip software they are known as "Atmega32u2"

Flashed with the latest 1.5 and just testing it.  have one button hooked up on the left side 2 from the bottom.  In one mode i get a spacebar and the 2nd mode i get the letter "Z" which does not conclude with the chart posted by degenatrons.  Could i just hook up all the buttons, go into notepad and write down what they are then change them in mame?

[PL1]

It's probably in a different Group or Mode than you want.

Check the Full Key Mapping table here.

When you plug the encoder in, you should get 1-7 blue flashes followed by 1-6 red flashes. (Watch closely -- they go pretty fast.)

Blue = Group
Red = Mode

If it flashes 1 blue and 5 red, you are in Group A, Mode 5 = Pinball.

Press and hold HWB for >3 seconds to go to the next Group.

Press HWB for <3 seconds to go to the next Mode.

If the flashes show you are in the desired Group and Mode, the other possibility is that you are looking at one of the older terminal numbering maps.  The correct one is 2/3rds of the way down the page here on the resource page.

Check e-bay or your favorite electronics supplier for "2.54mm/0.1" Screw Terminal".


Scott

[AndyWarne]

At this point I only need one key, and that is F9.

We have various products which are ideal for one key but the most compact is the U-HID nano (www.u-hid.com).

Also USBButton (www.usbbutton.com) which is a complete solution with a pushbutton.

Of course our I-PAC board would do this as well but is more than required for one key. All these products store the configuration on the device permanently.

[DaOld Man]

All these products store the configuration on the device permanently.

Does this mean that you can program the device for any key? So if I assign one button, say for load game, it will be the same at each bootup?

[AndyWarne]

All these products store the configuration on the device permanently.

Does this mean that you can program the device for any key? So if I assign one button, say for load game, it will be the same at each bootup?

Yes thats correct.

Andy

[matsadona]

Thanks for the information Andy.
So, if I configure the button, it holds the settings and can be moved from one computer to another?

[PL1]

Thanks for the information Andy.
So, if I configure the button, it holds the settings and can be moved from one computer to another?

Yes -- same as plugging a keyboard into another computer.

True of I-Pac, Mini-Pac, U-HID, USBButton, and AVR encoders.

I think the only commonly used encoder that goes back to default on power loss is the X-Arcade encoder, but I'm not certain about that.


Scott

[BadMouth]

I think the only commonly used encoder that goes back to default on power loss is the X-Arcade encoder, but I'm not certain about that.

The KeyWiz doesn't store alternate keys after powre down either. 
It has an uploader program to re-upload them to the encoder from the PC at startup.