Interest Check - Chameleon Keyboard Controller

User avatar
sixty
Gasbag Guru

21 Sep 2011, 20:34

As webwit suggested, I asked the Vortex guys about this controller. Yes, we can mass-order them.
The price currently unknown. The price depends on how many we order. I am assuming something around 10-20 Euros.

Please just leave a message if you are interested.

Image
Up to 4 layers (640 programmable keys)
* Up to 255 custom/macro keys (29 byte strings)
* N-Key Rollover support (USB currently unknown - at least 6 keys as well)
* "Knob" support - can be used for volume, mouse wheel emulation or LED adjustments
* GPO high-current output port (commonly used for LED mods or as a communication port)
* much more features, but my Chinese skills are too inferior to properly understand any of it
Much longer, very detailed description (thanks to litster for the translation!)
Spoiler:
Thanks to Cameleon’s perfect function and open bottom layer hardware customization option, users without professional knowledge can utilize macros to emulate mouse action, 3 states of Fn, GPO/SCO (LED definitions), PWM pulse width modulation output, delay, digital knob as any mixed group, setup different automated function on software and hardware.

Summarily, Cameleon is currently the only controller that can combine professional level keyboard/muse macros, specially fit for multi-functional, small, flexible control of any mechanical keyboards, including 工控 keyboards (Litster: don’t know what this is in English), ergonomic keyboards, one-hand keyboards, atypical keyboards, full keyboard backlit keyboards, pure hardware gaming keyboards, and financial keyboards.

Specification:
Full speed USB2.0 mode
Support all 6 sets of keyboard tables (or charts), including USB HID Usage Page 0x01, 0x07, 0x0C key tables, PS/2 code scan sets 1, 2, and 3 key tables, and:
- Support PC-AT, Mac, Unix systems
- Support worldwide language layouts with each language’s modifier layout and LEDs, including UK, US, Japan, Europe, Korea, etc
- Special support for AiKB, world-first Chinese CN layout standard

4-layer, 8-row, 20 column for 640-key programmable matrix design (litster: column and row maybe swapped)
Up to 255 custom macro keys, nested function keys, and extended macro keys (29 bytes)

Concurrent multiple-key no conflict support (N Key Rollover), 6KRO, 3KRO without using diodes, eliminate all USB keyboard compatibility problems (Litster: kind of imply NKRO over USB, but I am not sure).

Complete mouse button support, mouse stick, control stick (requires 8-direction switch separately)

Support rotary encoder, can be defined as volume knob, mouse wheel, or backlight brightness knob.

8-channel GPO high current output port or 1 8-bit SCO status control output port(typically for customized LED, backlight brightness control or communication interface).

8-way KVM keyboard/mouse switching synchronized connection, eliminlate LED line connection.

One PWM backlight brightness control output port, can be used for full keyboard, brightness control, respiratory backlight control (Litster: not sure what this is), or buzzer speaker control.

One current delay output port.

World-exclusive LED indicator superior left and right pair FN: each left and right FN can control 2 key table layers, and support Shift, lock, and sticky switching modes.

Support custom keys press down and release timing (as low as 1ms)

Support 2 delay settings, delay range from 1 to 65535ms (1000ms = 1 second)

Support USB power standby and wake up with dedicated LED indicator.

Support Windows application programming interface to program key layout and setup and write to chip, all features are hardware-only, no need to install any driver or software, (litster: I think here it means that you would not be banned if you have macros or automation because it can’t be detected by gaming services since it is all hardware-based)

Energy-saving low power consumption: 230uA current (USB standby mode)
Operating voltage range: 4.57-5.25V
Workign temperature range: 0°C to +70°C

For less demanding users, they can disregard those advance features, the “chameleon” keyboard can be used like an ordinary programmable keyboard.
tl;dr a fully programmable keyboard controller with macro support for usb and ps2 and n-key rollover.

User avatar
webwit
Wild Duck

21 Sep 2011, 20:38

I want 5 of them.

User avatar
CeeSA

21 Sep 2011, 20:54

how is the programming? Windows Software?
Seems to be very small....

anyway, i'm in for 5 too

User avatar
Ascaii
The Beard

21 Sep 2011, 20:59

ill take 2 for sure

User avatar
litster

21 Sep 2011, 21:23

I can help translate Chinese to English. Just tell me where to look.

User avatar
sixty
Gasbag Guru

21 Sep 2011, 21:30

litster wrote:I can help translate Chinese to English. Just tell me where to look.
Below:
Spoiler:
得益于【变色龙】完善的功能和开放式的底层硬件自定义选项,使用户无需专业的知识,就可利用宏键将各种键鼠动作、三态Fn、GPO/SCO(LED定义)、PWM脉宽调制输出、延时、编码旋钮等功能任意混组,能在软硬件上自行设置出各种各样的功能。



综合评估,【变色龙】是目前为止唯一的一款可直接提供给个人用户的高集成化的专业级键鼠混合可编程控制器,特别适用于功能多、体积小、操控灵活的各类机械键盘,包括工控键盘、人体工学键盘、单手键盘、异型键盘、全键背光键盘、纯硬件外挂游戏键盘和金融领域的键盘等。





l功能特性

v工作在USB 2.0 全速模式

v支持齐全的6套键表,包括USB HID Usage Page 0x01、0x07、0x0C 键表,PS/2 Code scan sets 1、2、3 键表,表现为:

1.支持PC-AT,MAC,UNIX 系统按键配列

2.支持全球语种配列,包括英美日欧韩等等各语种所需的切换键和指示灯

3.特别支持AiKB全球首创的中文CN配列标准



v4层8行20列=640键可编程键阵

v多至255个自定义/宏键,宏键嵌套功能键,加长宏键(29字节字符串)

v同时支持任意N键无冲(N-key Rollover)、任意6键无冲(6-Key)、无需二极管的任意3键无冲(3-Key),解决了USB 键盘冲突方面固有的所有兼容性问题。

v完整的鼠标键定义,可实现鼠标杆、操控杆功能(需另购8向开关)

v支持旋转编码器,可定义为音量旋钮、鼠标滚轮或背光亮度旋钮等。

v8个GPO通用大电流输出端口或1个8bit SCO状态控制输出端口(一般用作自定义LED,背光亮度调整或通讯接口)

v方便8路KVM键鼠切换/键鼠同步设备的链接,可免LED线路连接。

v1个PWM背光亮度调整输出端口,可用作全键背灯亮度控制、呼吸背灯输出或用作蜂鸣器喇叭声音提示

v1个延时电流输出端口

v全球独一无二带LED指示灯的超强左右双FN:左右FN可各自控制2个键层,并且支持换挡、锁定、粘滞3 种切换模式。

v自定义键的按下确认和释放确认的时间(最低1毫秒)

v支持2个延时设定,延时范围为1~65535毫秒(1000毫秒=1秒)

v支持USB省电待机和唤醒并有专用LED指示灯

v支持Windows应用程序界面上编辑键阵和设置项并写入芯片,所有功能特性均为纯硬件实现,无需安装任何驱动,应用于办公、游戏的外挂不会被封。





v节能低功耗: 230uA电流 (USB待机模式)

v工作电压范围:4.57 ~ 5.25V

v工作环境温度范围:0°C ~ +70°C





l对于要求不高的用户,可以不理会那些进阶的功能,则“变色龙键盘”完全可以像普通可编程键盘那样易于使用。

User avatar
litster

21 Sep 2011, 21:34

That's fast! I will do it as soon as I get back to my office after lunch. Can't really type on an iPhone :)

JBert

21 Sep 2011, 21:39

How do you wire it up, and how do you program it again?

If only it were easy to add to a Poker...

User avatar
sixty
Gasbag Guru

21 Sep 2011, 21:43

JBert wrote:How do you wire it up, and how do you program it again?

If only it were easy to add to a Poker...
Basically you will have to split up the keyboard PCB into rows and cols. The intention of controllers like these mostly is to convert old vintage non PC keyboards to work with current setups. Check the workshop section here for my Aikon guide. It won't be just like it - but very similar.

hoggy

21 Sep 2011, 22:13

I'm in for one.

User avatar
litster

21 Sep 2011, 23:59

Sorry this took longer than I expected. And this work thing keeps interrupting me… :)

Here is my translation.
Spoiler:
Thanks to Cameleon’s perfect function and open bottom layer hardware customization option, users without professional knowledge can utilize macros to emulate mouse action, 3 states of Fn, GPO/SCO (LED definitions), PWM pulse width modulation output, delay, digital knob as any mixed group, setup different automated function on software and hardware.

Summarily, Cameleon is currently the only controller that can combine professional level keyboard/muse macros, specially fit for multi-functional, small, flexible control of any mechanical keyboards, including 工控 keyboards (Litster: don’t know what this is in English), ergonomic keyboards, one-hand keyboards, atypical keyboards, full keyboard backlit keyboards, pure hardware gaming keyboards, and financial keyboards.

Specification:
Full speed USB2.0 mode
Support all 6 sets of keyboard tables (or charts), including USB HID Usage Page 0x01, 0x07, 0x0C key tables, PS/2 code scan sets 1, 2, and 3 key tables, and:
- Support PC-AT, Mac, Unix systems
- Support worldwide language layouts with each language’s modifier layout and LEDs, including UK, US, Japan, Europe, Korea, etc
- Special support for AiKB, world-first Chinese CN layout standard

4-layer, 8-row, 20 column for 640-key programmable matrix design (litster: column and row maybe swapped)
Up to 255 custom macro keys, nested function keys, and extended macro keys (29 bytes)

Concurrent multiple-key no conflict support (N Key Rollover), 6KRO, 3KRO without using diodes, eliminate all USB keyboard compatibility problems (Litster: kind of imply NKRO over USB, but I am not sure).

Complete mouse button support, mouse stick, control stick (requires 8-direction switch separately)

Support rotary encoder, can be defined as volume knob, mouse wheel, or backlight brightness knob.

8-channel GPO high current output port or 1 8-bit SCO status control output port(typically for customized LED, backlight brightness control or communication interface).

8-way KVM keyboard/mouse switching synchronized connection, eliminlate LED line connection.

One PWM backlight brightness control output port, can be used for full keyboard, brightness control, respiratory backlight control (Litster: not sure what this is), or buzzer speaker control.

One current delay output port.

World-exclusive LED indicator superior left and right pair FN: each left and right FN can control 2 key table layers, and support Shift, lock, and sticky switching modes.

Support custom keys press down and release timing (as low as 1ms)

Support 2 delay settings, delay range from 1 to 65535ms (1000ms = 1 second)

Support USB power standby and wake up with dedicated LED indicator.

Support Windows application programming interface to program key layout and setup and write to chip, all features are hardware-only, no need to install any driver or software, (litster: I think here it means that you would not be banned if you have macros or automation because it can’t be detected by gaming services since it is all hardware-based)

Energy-saving low power consumption: 230uA current (USB standby mode)
Operating voltage range: 4.57-5.25V
Workign temperature range: 0°C to +70°C

For less demanding users, they can disregard those advance features, the “chameleon” keyboard can be used like an ordinary programmable keyboard.
Last edited by litster on 22 Sep 2011, 00:39, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
webwit
Wild Duck

22 Sep 2011, 00:21

Thanks!

工控 keyboards = terminal keyboards? industrial keyboards? rackspace keyboards? server keyboards?

User avatar
litster

22 Sep 2011, 00:34

Both Bing Translate and Google Translate say 工控 is Industrial or Industrial control. Maybe in this context it means keyboards for machinery or manufacturing?

xbb

22 Sep 2011, 01:41

interesting!

ndp

22 Sep 2011, 01:51

I'm also interested. I'm in for one.

User avatar
002
Topre Enthusiast

22 Sep 2011, 08:24

2 for me please

mintberryminuscrunch

22 Sep 2011, 11:27

Depending on final price and shipping im in for 2-4
Thx for your efforts :)


Sent from my Milestone using Tapatalk

User avatar
Spharx

22 Sep 2011, 17:03

Want one if I wont have to pay more than 20€ + shipping :)

BiNiaRiS

23 Sep 2011, 21:55

What would it take to use one of these to get an old Wyse terminal boards working? I've wanted one of those working on a PC for a long time.

User avatar
webwit
Wild Duck

23 Sep 2011, 23:31

According to this topic there's a manual and Windows software to handle your configurations and the firmware.

alaricljs

26 Sep 2011, 15:45

I would suggest making sure to get the manual and software first. I'd like to know a whole lot more about this toy before committing to buy.

User avatar
hargon

26 Sep 2011, 16:53

Sounds very interessting. Depending on the price, I would be in for 1 oder 2.

Glockateer

26 Sep 2011, 22:27

I'd be interested in ordering some. Any idea what the difficulty is to code it?

JBert

26 Sep 2011, 23:02

I believe you can't "code" it, I think you just make a keymap with multiple layers and then upload those to the device.

Is this thing ready yet or is this still in the prototype phase?

mintberryminuscrunch

06 Oct 2011, 13:13

for how many orders are you waiting before ordering/asking for price?
did u post this over at geekhack?

Clickey

06 Oct 2011, 16:53

Could I get one in the US? If so I would be down for two.

User avatar
webwit
Wild Duck

06 Oct 2011, 23:01

That should be no problem (unless sixty corrects me). Maybe if there's sufficient demand from the US, someone could volunteer to receive a shipment for all of the US and distribute to people from there?

alaricljs

06 Oct 2011, 23:26

Considering the size of these things, demand wouldn't have to be too high to make that a good choice.

User avatar
litster

06 Oct 2011, 23:41

I would be happy to do the distribution in the US. Right now I just don't konw what I would use it for. Maybe convert one of my junky Wyse terminal keyboards to use this controller.

User avatar
webwit
Wild Duck

06 Oct 2011, 23:50

You can get some inspiration from sixty's aikon adventures here:
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15

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