deskthority

Has anyone ever tried to put a Rasberry PI into the quest for adding layers to a usb keyboard? I know its like putting a computer between a computer but they are as cheap as the Arduino Uno and have two usb ports. I'm just throwing this out there I don't have that much knowleadge into these type things so please be kind to an old man.

I would guess the power draw wouldn't make it desirable.

The only thing you could more easily do is connecting the matrix directly to the GPIO pins of the Raspberry Pi. You couldn't use it easily to connect to a PS/2 keyboard using the GPIO header. And even if you managed to connect a keyboard to it using the GPIO pins, you would have trouble connecting it to a different computer. You have no way of getting an USB-Output, and outputting PS/2 is at least as hard as inputting PS/2. The biggest problem is, that the Raspberry Pi uses 3.3V Logic, while PS/2 and most ICs use 5V logic.

Thanks, I thought it might be a stupid idea but what the heck.

If you search specifically for an ARM board, there is the new Teensy 3 http://www.pjrc.com/store/teensy3.html

I was actually wondering the feasibility of this the other day. I have an old M7 switch based board with no controller. I was thinking it might be neat to put into some sort of retro inspired C64 style 'pc' and just hooking the 16 pin matrix to gpio direct. I just figure to use the Rpi as the basis with some sort of Commodore/Amiga emulator (if something suitable is available for it). What would be involved with that if it could be done?

something like the C64x http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx but with an ARM Rπ… It makes me the idea of modding my CPC464 with a Rπ and an LCD screen maybe it ever be made.

Actually not too much. You would need to connect the matrix to the GPIO, and then write a program, that registers the keypresses, registers as a event device and returns scancodes (as this event device), and you would be done. You only have to install VICE then (a linux Commodore Emulator). Actually I have been thinking about this for a very long time (shortly after my Pi arrived), and I'm still willing to place a Raspberry Pi inside a Model M Terminal keyboard. I still can't decide whether I want to go the easy way, and use a Teensy, or whether I want to try learning C on the Raspberry Pi while trying to figure out a way to easily connect the matrix foil cables to the Raspberry Pi.