[ANN] GTA04 Keyboard prototype

[joakim at verona.se]

Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller <hns at goldelico.com> writes:

> Hi,
>
> we have developed a prototype for a 80 button QWERTY keyboard PCB
> that could eventually be connected/integrated into the GTA04. It should fit
> into a specially designed battery cover so that you can easily stow it away
> if not needed. Such battery covers could be produced individually through
> 3D printing solving the issue of manageing and stocking 20 different key
> layouts.

This seems really nice! I added myself to the wishlist.

Is the back cover keyboard 3D model available? I have a 3D printer
currently being shipped to me and I would like to try to print the cover
when the printer arrives.

>
> But watch yourself how we think it can look like:
>
> 	http://youtu.be/WM94%5fR5eKcc
>
> There is also a new video showing a comparison with some other keyboards:
>
> 	http://youtu.be/wGASnE1zGh4
>
> Pleas tell us if you like this idea and what you would like to pay for such an
> extension unit through the Wishlist function of our shop:
>
> 	http://www.handheld-linux.com/wiki.php?page=GTA04%3AKeyboard
>
> Two issues are still to be developed:
>
> a) how to reliably connect it to the GTA04 PCB (soldering copper wires or a
>     FFCs is a little difficult so it should have a tiny, flexible but robust B2B cable).
>
>     Maybe, we can use a micro-USB socket or similar (we need to connect 6 wires).
>     This may also need a redesign of the GTA04 board (for a nice plug)
>
> b) design a 3D printable case with key-caps that is robust enough
>
> If you want to support us for developing this idea, please give us a kickstart
> donation.
>
>
> Nikolaus
>
> PS: the keyboard driver for the TCA8418 is already part of Linux 3.3 - and has
> been backported to the 2.6.32-kernel. This has been tested to work on a
> BeagleBoard XM.
>
> http://git.goldelico.com/?p=gta04-kernel.git;a=commit;h=f19d5c430458bbce8955bc9e04dd161f6a80347d
>
> It just needs platform data in the board file:
>
> http://git.goldelico.com/?p=gta04-kernel.git;a=blobdiff;f=arch/arm/mach-omap2/board-omap3gta04.c;h=8a7e4b0803920f635e7101bfbd5a60b6b84b1107;hp=3e49efef2de0b42cd419a46a9cd45448fd04a44c;hb=4b2de3db742abce9212c1af2cc576e2a3a64b0d9;hpb=1d7c6b5f043661621ec374d96c3c4a4454f9bb7b

-- 
Joakim Verona