A series of boards were made which each had an IO expander onboard. These expanders required power, ground, SDA, and SCL connections from the controller. For the time being, only these connections would be used so things like addressable LEDs weren’t natively supported.
Three images were captured for each board. The first image, with a black background, was the layout view of the board which shows all layers, front and back. The second image was the front of the board, as it would appear when produced with green soldermask. The third image was the rear of the board located at the bottom.
Each board was the same length with the same mounting screw configuration. The pins along the side were arranged the same way so they could easily connect to adjoining boards. These were the same arrangement as the controller board to ensure compatibility.
The IO expansion boards require three of the pins to be set high or low in hardware to give the chip a three-bit address. These pins were broken out into three sets of three header pin holes so the holes could be jumpered to ground or voltage.
A 4x4 grid was made with keys at the standard 19.05mm (0.75”) key spacing. This spacing is standard across most keyboards but also fits standard keycaps. The 4x4 uses all points from a sixteen-point IO expander. This type of configuration could be used for a number pad, most of a home row, or an off-hand macro keyboard.
A 1x4 board was designed to use an eight-point IO expander. The four unused terminals were broken out along with some ground pins so additional switches could be attached if desired.
When the 2x2 board was created, it used the same methodology as the 1x4 with breakouts for unpopulated IO points but the board was shorter than the previous boards. The hole pattern was maintained at the ends. Connections to the side were simple feed-through ports for I2C and power. These boards were not meant to be mounted next to the 1x4 or 4x4 boards but they could serve as a button array for the thumb apart from the regular board.
The 2x4 board was arranged the same as the 1x4 except twice as wide and each switch was broken out. Each column of four switches had four switch terminals and four ground terminals.
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1.
Completed projects from year 2.
Completed projects from year 3.
Completed projects from year 4.
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/ and http://24hourengineer.com/
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2018-02-23
Three images were captured for each board. The first image, with a black background, was the layout view of the board which shows all layers, front and back. The second image was the front of the board, as it would appear when produced with green soldermask. The third image was the rear of the board located at the bottom.
Each board was the same length with the same mounting screw configuration. The pins along the side were arranged the same way so they could easily connect to adjoining boards. These were the same arrangement as the controller board to ensure compatibility.
The IO expansion boards require three of the pins to be set high or low in hardware to give the chip a three-bit address. These pins were broken out into three sets of three header pin holes so the holes could be jumpered to ground or voltage.
A 4x4 grid was made with keys at the standard 19.05mm (0.75”) key spacing. This spacing is standard across most keyboards but also fits standard keycaps. The 4x4 uses all points from a sixteen-point IO expander. This type of configuration could be used for a number pad, most of a home row, or an off-hand macro keyboard.
4x4 board with I2C chip
A 1x4 board was designed to use an eight-point IO expander. The four unused terminals were broken out along with some ground pins so additional switches could be attached if desired.
1x4 board with I2C chip
When the 2x2 board was created, it used the same methodology as the 1x4 with breakouts for unpopulated IO points but the board was shorter than the previous boards. The hole pattern was maintained at the ends. Connections to the side were simple feed-through ports for I2C and power. These boards were not meant to be mounted next to the 1x4 or 4x4 boards but they could serve as a button array for the thumb apart from the regular board.
2x2 board with I2C chip
The 2x4 board was arranged the same as the 1x4 except twice as wide and each switch was broken out. Each column of four switches had four switch terminals and four ground terminals.
2x4 board with I2C chip
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1.
Completed projects from year 2.
Completed projects from year 3.
Completed projects from year 4.
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/ and http://24hourengineer.com/
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2018-02-23
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