Can I use a keyboard with an ESP32 ? Or a keypad ?

[GeorgeFlorian1]

Hello !

I am interested into connecting a keyboard to the ESP32. I would need to to have all the number keys, an Enter and a Backspace. Much like an ATM keyboard.

I couldn't find anything useful online, other than users saying that is very hard to implement this.

Any thoughts or ideas ? Thank you !

[tommeyers]

First, it is not difficult because there are so many examples of code and wiring and so many keypads available.

For example: "sparkfun.com 4x4 keypad"

Take a look at that first then use the search terms you see to google more or banggood or amaon or "arduino keypad"

Tom Meyers

[GeorgeFlorian1]

First, it is not difficult because there are so many examples of code and wiring and so many keypads available.

For example: "sparkfun.com 4x4 keypad"

Take a look at that first then use the search terms you see to google more or banggood or amaon or "arduino keypad"

Tom Meyers

Could you point me to an actual example ? I have searched and I have no idea where to start from.
I haven't found any wiring examples and the code examples I have found are just plain code without any instructions or proper devices that would work with that respective code.

For example, this: https://gist.github.com/sabas1080/93115 ... a19f3e7787
How should this code work ?

From what I've found there can be wired, Bluetooth and WiFi keypads. Is this correct ? Do I simply plug in the keypad to the ESP and it should work with some code ?

Should this work with an ESP ? https://www.banggood.com/Small-2_4GHz-W ... rehouse=CN

or this ? https://www.banggood.com/4-x-4-16-Key-M ... rehouse=CN
Thank you.

[PeterR]

http://www.esp32learning.com/code/inter ... -esp32.php

If above does not match your need then there are plenty of I2C key pad reader/controller e.g. https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/ ... AX7360.pdf.

From a hardware point of view you need to make sure that ESP32 and device logic levels are the same (although you could add a shifter).
Next you need a software library or write one yourself.
Most tutorials are not very detailed or even very accurate and so you will have to spend some time.

I would skip bangood and look on a hobyist website e.g. AdaFruit.

[tommeyers]

Did you Google:

For example: "sparkfun.com 4x4 keypad"

... or banggood or amaon or "arduino keypad"

Tom

[GeorgeFlorian1]

http://www.esp32learning.com/code/inter ... -esp32.php

If above does not match your need then there are plenty of I2C key pad reader/controller e.g. https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/ ... AX7360.pdf.

From a hardware point of view you need to make sure that ESP32 and device logic levels are the same (although you could add a shifter).
Next you need a software library or write one yourself.
Most tutorials are not very detailed or even very accurate and so you will have to spend some time.

I would skip bangood and look on a hobyist website e.g. AdaFruit.

http://www.esp32learning.com/code/inter ... -esp32.php
This looks promising. If I can get the AD Keypad to work I think I can also reverse engineer it so that I can make my own custom board with proper keypads.

I will keep looking.

Thank you.

[GeorgeFlorian1]

http://www.esp32learning.com/code/inter ... -esp32.php

If above does not match your need then there are plenty of I2C key pad reader/controller e.g. https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/ ... AX7360.pdf.

From a hardware point of view you need to make sure that ESP32 and device logic levels are the same (although you could add a shifter).
Next you need a software library or write one yourself.
Most tutorials are not very detailed or even very accurate and so you will have to spend some time.

I would skip bangood and look on a hobyist website e.g. AdaFruit.

Did you Google:

For example: "sparkfun.com 4x4 keypad"

... or banggood or amaon or "arduino keypad"

Tom

I actually need a bigger keypad, something more like a keyboard. Something that has all the alphanumerical keys, an enter and a backspace.

Can this be done in ESP32 ? Or should I move to a Raspberry Pi Zero ?

I need something like this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32319513912.html

This also has an RS232 interface. So I can connect it on the serial. But will it work just like it ?
Do I simply have to connect it to the RS232 connector and then listen on the serial for a keystroke ? Identify each keystroke and make a switch based on that ?

[tommeyers]

If it has a serial interface you can read key presses from it.

Note which is Tx on the KB, note the baudrate, etc.

Do you have pinouts for the KB or a schematic.

What are the voltage levels presented and accepted

Does it respond to any commands on RX are there any config switches

Tom Meyers