68kMLA Classic Interface
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| The one keyboard to rule them all | |
Posted by: sircabulon on 2025-09-06 14:53:07This is like a sad mashup of a IIgs and Sinclair QL but I’ll throw it out there as another keycap option: https://a.co/d/csR0cKkI kind of love these! | |
| Posted by: paws on 2025-09-06 23:58:46 Random old keyboard idea I once had: I once bolted a bit of code onto TMK where you could switch the keyboard into a "daisy chain" mode so instead of sending HID packages over USB, it would send them over the UART but prefixed with a number based n the hot key. So you'd press hotkey + 2, and it'd prefix packets with the number 2. The firmware also listened to the UART, and if it received a package it would look at the prefixed number, and if it was 0 it was send it over the USB connection, else decrement the number and send it over the UART. So you'd have a chain of controller boards and each board would be connected to a separate computer and the result was sort of like an infinite KVM using cheap microcontroller boards for each node. I had the idea to also make a firmware/board that would take these prefixed HID packets and translate them to ADB, but I never got as far. | |
| Posted by: sircabulon on 2025-09-21 09:18:30 coming back to the design, I realized that putting all the logic into the one micro controller was a bit above my head. Then I got the idea to augment my skills using fiverr where I met a nice Kenyan man who seemed affordable. After some discussion and many compromises later, I got a $600 design bid. At this point, I think I need to change approach to make this more modular and allow for expansion. With that in mind, I am now developing 3 PCBs. One will be for the ADB power button and Left USB port, one for the keyboard itself, and one for the USB Hub, switch, and Right USB port. Then I will design the case for provisions for the wombat board to be integrated. That board is large enough that if I can develop an RJ9 adapter later, it can be swapped out. The right PCB is almost done, however I am taking a leap of faith on this one. I am trying to keep power and grounds separate, and the controller for the keyboard only needs 3.3v. I tried to use a DPDT switch to allow for switching power domains from USB to the Wombat, and then using analog switch ICs to move the data lines back and forth.  | |
| Posted by: sircabulon on 2025-09-22 16:33:54 I was able to get the pcb for the keyboard done, so I can now start working on the case. I am leaving the other boards modular so that I can replace them individually when I let the magic smoke out. | |
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