Keybow mini slots past index 2 not responding

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1

I just got a Keybow Mini from Adafruit. I assembled it, gave it a try, and I’m hitting unexpected behavior.

I downloaded the firmware version 0.0.4 from the keybow github repo.

I added the mini setup call to the default layout and updated the key handlers to use minikey instead of just key:

require "keybow"
function setup()
    keybow.use_mini()
end

-- Standard number pad mapping --

-- Key mappings --

function handle_minikey_00(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("0", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_01(pressed)
    keybow.set_key(".", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_02(pressed)
    keybow.set_key(keybow.ENTER, pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_03(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("1", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_04(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("2", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_05(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("3", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_06(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("4", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_07(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("5", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_08(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("6", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_09(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("7", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_10(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("8", pressed)
end

function handle_minikey_11(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("9", pressed)
end

When I did this they LEDs on all of the keys work fine, but I couldn’t get any of the key presses past index 2 to work. They keystrokes just don’t register.

I then enabled the mini layout with the rest of the keys mapped:

require "keybow"

-- Keybow MINI --

function setup()
    keybow.use_mini()
    keybow.auto_lights(false)
    keybow.clear_lights()
end

-- Key mappings --

function handle_minikey_00(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("0", pressed)
    if pressed then
        keybow.set_pixel(0, 255, 0, 0)
    else
        keybow.set_pixel(0, 0, 0, 0)
    end
end

function handle_minikey_01(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("1", pressed)
    if pressed then
        keybow.set_pixel(1, 0, 255, 0)
    else
        keybow.set_pixel(1, 0, 0, 0)
    end
end

function handle_minikey_02(pressed)
    keybow.set_key("2", pressed)
    if pressed then
        keybow.set_pixel(2, 0, 0, 255)
    else
        keybow.set_pixel(2, 0, 0, 0)
    end
end

-- From here down I added the rest of the key mappings missing from the mini example

In this case I still don’t get keystrokes past index 2, but also when I push key index 0 the LED for key index 1 lights up.

keybow not working past index 2

To try to isolate the issue to the board vs the keys I popped off the keys and mounting board and tried moving some of they keys that were unresponsive to keypress to the indexes that were working and vice versa. The problem follows the indexes in the circuit board because keys that were not working in indexes 3 and up would work fine in index 0, 1, and 2. Keys that worked in 0, 1, and 2 didn’t work in the other indexes.

I also created a layout where I tested out lighting each of the LED indexes from a known good key. This one was odd because I know all of the LEDs work when I let the auto_lights run, but when I press key 0 I can’t get any of the LEDs to light up from the set_pixel method past index 3.

I’m pretty sure I have a bad circuit board, but this is also my first time diving into the codebase and the first time I’m using lua, so I’m not sure if maybe I’m doing something or misunderstanding something at the code level.

Here’s the link to the version of the codebase I’m loading onto the keybow if that helps clue anyone in to a snag that I’m not seeing: GitHub - chris-schmitz/cs-keybow: My keybow codebase with custom mappings

Any help is greatly appreciated!

2

If it’s the 12-key Keybow, I wouldn’t have thought you need keybow.use_mini()? I think that’s for the 3-key Keybow MINI.

3

: facepalm:

Ah thanks for the reply @major_tomm. I went back to adafruit site and realized that the issue was from me misinterpreting the name of the keybow:

Screenshot_20220313-090012_Chrome
Screenshot_20220313-090012_Chrome1080×2400 139 KB

I thought I bought the keybow mini bc of the product description, but I realize now that the description should read " Pimoroni Keybow, Mini Mechanical Keyboard Kit"

It’s funny, I’m used to the idea of a missing comma blowing up my code, but this is the first time it’s blown up my understanding of a purchase 😜

Thanks for the help!

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