Create own Membrane Matrix Keypad (and hooking it up to the Arduino)

Step 7 Arduino anyone?!

Time to hook up your keypad to the Arduino for the first time... exciting no?

Well Exciting as it may be it'll have to wait for now! The Laminator lovingly ate my keypad so until I can find the time to make another one then it'll have to wait. I WILL be coming back so do not to worry this step will come. Perhaps in the near future I will explain how to set it all up and not exactly show it off. For now here is the arduino code I was using with my prototypes for those of you who know where to go from here good luck. For the others sit tight.

***NOTE*** you will have to install the keypad library from arduino.cc

Comments

[roachburn]

I combined this instructable with Arduino 3 wire Matrix Keypad : http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-3-wire-Matrix-Keypad/
it works very nicely. Thanks for the fun and interesting project. :)

[TheBestJohn]

That's an awesome Idea! I'd love to see pictures if you have the time!

[EngineerJakit]

If possible, this method could be used to make a modded cell phone part?

[nixoid]

Why would you post an incomplete Instructable - not cool.

 

[charlie_r]

He did say in the intro that it would be a "work in progress", meaning that it will be added to as he has time and/or new steps completed.


Kudos to you Jorad! Great ideas!

[TheBestJohn]

Thanks Charlie! Also Nixoid, I decided to post this after having it half written for a month. I finished what information I had however my original keypad was eaten so I could not take pictures of the final step of hooking it up. In my defense all the information needed to do this is in the instructable. I included all the code you need and if you read the comments you'll find that someone has already built the entire keypad and gotten it working. Also I am active on instructables, if you want to build it and have any questions, I am here.

[Geosync]

Eaten? The original keypad was eaten?   Great article.  Looking forward to reading more.

[TheBestJohn]

 Eaten by the laminator lol it was a mess and I wish I had pictures

[wocket]

laminators love to eat anything thats not really flat. perhaps putting the pads on after laminating? I'm a complete nubie to all this make your own electronics stuff, could you explain some basics in this wonderful instructable or point out some links?

love the idea, can't wait to see what it could be used for.

could you make a while typing keypad or rolled up piano keypad this way?

[TheBestJohn]

You most likely could. Look up the arduino if you want a good introduction into microcontroller programming and whatnot. it's really easy to pick up and run with and there are thousands of tutorials for it out there.

[mdawg22]

there is already a roll-up-piano keyboard. I have one, but sadly i took it apart.

I had a very bad habit of taking things apart a while ago, thinking i could make them better. (Hmmm.... maybe i could combine my cell phone with my psp! oops....)

Now my keyboard is broken. :)

[bighamms]

Jarad,  hope you plan to complete this ible.  I am intrigued.  I would like to understand how to use the keypad when complete.  I'm assuming it interfaces with arduino.  I have no clue what arduino is or how to use it, but am guessing that I will know when you complete the projects. thanks in advance, look forward to it.

[TheBestJohn]

 I sure do just really busy lately. While you are waiting make sure to look up Arduino tutorials ;)

[leo_bergamo]

Dumb question,  but how are you identifying the buttons on the Arduino.  The reason I am asking because my limited electronics knowledge tells me you should have a unique hot and a common ground for each button.  I did not see this.  Could you explain alittle.

This project is very intresting as I am a car PC enthuisiast and have pretty much hand made all the electrical interfaces that went along with it.  I could name about 100 applications for this when it comes to car PC's.  I would like to use an old USB game pad witch I have already tapped the button hots and grounds to all the buttons with small stranded wire.

[mdawg22]

the answer to your first question is that (obviously) Aluminum foil is an electric conductor. There are 6 pieces of foil, 3 for the horizontal and 3 for the vertical.

Lets name these first three A, B, and C. The second three are 1 2 and 3.

The combinations for the 9 numbers are A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, and C3.

the arduino will recognize which Horizontal (A, B or C) input connects to which Vertical (1, 2, or 3) output.

so, assuming that the number 1 is A1, the number 3 is A3, the number 4 is B1 and so on, the combination 6, 7, and 2 would be B3, C1, and A2.

Get it now?

[funtimems]

I would suggest laminating the front cover (one side) before assembling the keypad entirely.  Or get some wide clear packaging tape and laminate it yourself with tape.

[TheBestJohn]

I haven't experimented much with all these different methods. I had thought of that and I figured that I was just using it for my dorm door, which means drunk freshmen ripping everything they see down in the hall so I didn't want to put too much time into it in case it was destroyed. Thats why I love instructables though. You can make it that way and post your results for others to see how it went.

[leo_bergamo]

How are you identifying each button press.  Are you measuring resistance.  The reason I ask is not every button has it's own seperate contact.  The ground I imagine would not matter.  The reason I am asking is instead of using an Arduino I want to actually interface it to an old USB game pad wich I have already tapped the ground and button leads with small wire. 

Great project!

[magickaldan]

It's a matrix layout that's how 6 wires can be used to sense the 9 buttons.