Using a Arduino Pro Mini and UART Bluefriend with HID support to make an old C64 to a ble 4.0 keyboard.
I am sorry about my old 1982 commodore. the Mainboard is still working. But I only want to use the high quality keyboard for my modern notebook and desktop system.
Actually it is an improvement - but still usable.
This project and keyboard layout has no focus on vice or mice c64 emulator!
circuit
CTS to GND, GND to GND, arduino TX/RX to bluefruit RX/TX, and 3.7-5V power to VIN. I use the UART and the AT commands to send HID keyboard keys via the Bluefriend Module. It is quite simple and without any additional libary.
Again: it is a proof of concept and I did not spend to much brain power in it.
For example: keypressed and holding that key and alt, alt+gr, F1..F12
are not complete implemented. A combination of that keys and shift did not work..
if I (or you) spend more time: there are easy solutions for it.
the ctrl will be implemented in commodore key with:
g,r,f,l,y,z,s,c,v,a,x,0,plus,minus
The normal c64 keyboard connects this switch/button to the LEFT_SHIFT. But I want to identify the Lock! Thus I cut the wire! If you press it, GND and A6 is connect (not connected? 10k resistor between A6 and VCC makes it HIGH).
I use the us-layout on Linux. This .Xmodmap file in my home folder solves the "Umlaute" problem:
keycode 66 = Mode_switch
clear Lock
keycode 38 = a A adiaeresis Adiaeresis
keycode 30 = u U udiaeresis Udiaeresis
keycode 32 = o O odiaeresis Odiaeresis
keycode 39 = s S ssharp
With this change I have to press e.g. LEFT_SHIFT + SHIFT_LOCK + a to get a Ä!
Similar to the Shift Lock: I add the 3rd connector (the 2nd wire from the c64) to an A7 (analoge only) pin. Pressing RESTORE connects this wire to GND and I add a 10k resistor to A7 and VCC to set it HIGH (analoge value>1000 is not pressed).
I did not realy need a RESTORE key, thus it is the \ key and with LEFT_SHIFT the |
... mark to the left and to the right.
... mark to up and to down.
... page up and page down.
It is different to the c64: with LEFT_SHIFT you get: cursor up / cursor left
Without shift: cursor down and cursor right.
Additionaly I add cursor left to the <- key and cursor up to the up arrow key.
With Commodore Key pressed: left shift is left-mouse-click and cursor keys are to move.
Commodore+SPACE is a right mouse click.
LEFT_SHIFT and <- key makes brightness lower, LEFT_SHIFT and up arrow key makes
it brighter.
LEFT_SHIFT and + or - are mapped to volume keys.
Pressing CLR/HOME sets the cursor to the first position of the line. In combination with LEFT_SHIFT the cursor is set to END.
The RUN/STOP key is ESC (with LEFT_SHIFT: F11).
With LEFT_SHIFT and DEL you get the BACKSPACE.
- the
^: LEFT_SHIFT and0 - the ``` and
~: `£` key (and LEFT_SHIFT) - the TAB: use CTRL key
- the
_underscore: LEFT_SHIFT and= - the
{and}: LEFT_SHIFT and@or*
Thats all folks! Some other chars are still lost.
Unused! you may implement a mouse via MPU6050 gyroscope, poti or something like this.
- 1: to GND
- 2: no wire, no hole
- 3: RESTORE key (to arduino A7)
- 4: hole, but no wire - not connected
Now, the "Matrix" wires:
- 5-12 (columns): to arduino Pin 9-2
- 13-20 (rows): to arduino Pin 10, 11, 12, 13, A0, A1, A2, A3