USB haas operator panel interface

I thought the 7i73 was limited to maximum of a 8 X 8 matrix ?

yes it is (and try to find a 64 key matrix keyboard)
- that's what I tried first - panelui in linuxcnc is meant for this.
I was hoping to reprogram the fpga for a larger matrix but that's too much of a jump for me so far...

Besides it still doesn't work as a keyboard for entry (or at least it requires a custom component for the that)

My thought so far; seems to be a few ways to go:

USB HID keyboard what sends weird key combinations for the linuxcnc-related keys, so the screen can catch and interpret though normal keystroke channels.

Two USB HID keyboards (from one keyboard), one would be for normal keys, one for HAL to catch and make pins for.

USB keyboard for normal keys, serial or Smartserial for linuxcnc-related keys

The first one is easiest so that's what I did first.

Chris

Hi,

long time ago I try to "hack" sserial. It is posible.
I had to make new firmrware for my 7i76e, because i need ttl on p2 no rs485. Than I used logic analyzer and listen communication between 7i76e and 7i73
after a long time and many attempts my stm32f1 and 7i76e speeks together. Then I migrated to stm32f4, because f1 have not enough pins for keyboard, encoders etc.
(atmega is fine, but not for fast communication on 2,5Mb speed)
here is a very simple example.and log file from analyzer.





and source code made in stm32cubemx and uvision arm keil for f1 (no keyboard attached only sserial communication) and f4 (keyboard attached)
only for ilustration. I am not programmer.

Martin

That awesome! can't wait to look at your work - thanks for posting.

Chris

cmorley wrote: Besides it still doesn't work as a keyboard for entry (or at least it requires a custom component for the that)

One iteration of the matrix_kb HAL component was capable of generating keystrokes. But I wasn't sure that the OS call that I was using was thread-safe, so I removed the option.

It wasn't difficult to do. But it was difficult to test.

The nice thing about the HID USB keyboard it will work as a boot keyboard.
Less of a concern on as system not used for development I guess.

It would be nice if there was an easy way to make the os RUN IN 'KIOSK' mode for such things as dedicated controllers.

Chris

cmorley wrote: It would be nice if there was an easy way to make the os RUN IN 'KIOSK' mode for such things as dedicated controllers.

Chris

I did make Linuxcnc work in KIOSK mode when the Ubuntu 10.04 was in use, but it was to much trouble so never bothered with it again.
Some info here :
forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=219026
forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=234241
oneguyoneblog.com/2019/12/20/google-chro...-mode-on-linux-mint/

Here is the program I used for mapping the matrix - it prints to the serial port so you can see it in the monitor window.
it requires the modified version of the keypad library to use 32 bits rather then 16.
i didn't get a chance to clean it up - when i do I'll reupload it.

Chris

I do not suppose you have a pinout of the plug? i did not see the voltage pins in anything you shared. ( may have overlooked it )

pinout of the HAAS keyboard plug? It's a matrix keyboard so there is no one power pin. There are column and row pins.