keybrd Tutorial 4 - split keyboard with I/O Expander
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When you finish this tutorial you will be able to be able to modify a 2-matrix keybrd sketch to suite your own split keyboard design.
## Overview of split keyboard with I/O Expander
The breadboard in this picture models a split keyboard.
![breadboard keyboard with 2 rows and 4 columns of keys](images/breadboard_keyboard_2x5_labeled.jpg "2x5 breadboard keyboard")
There is a total of 4 matrix rows, each on a breadboard power rail.
The right matrix is connected to a microcontroller.
The left matrix is connected to a I/O expander.
The I/O expander has a small notch on one end, which identifies the end with pin 1.
In the picture, pin 1 is on the right end.
The microcontroller and I/O expander are connected by 4 jumper wires:
* ground
* power
* Serial CLock signal (SCL)
* Serial DAta signal (SDA)
A decoupling capacitor on the power pin dampens noise coming in through the power wire.
The microcontroller and I/O expander communicate via [I2C](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%C2%B2C) bus, which consists of two signals: SCL and SDA.
Two resistors pull-up voltage on the SCL and SDA.
I/O expander I2C address is configured by hardware pins.
The MCP23018 with all address pins grounded has an I2C address of ?? todo.
The I/O expander has two ports. Each port has eight pins.
One port is connected to the matrix's rows. The other port is connected to the matrix's columns.
## Building a split keyboard with I/O Expander
We will build a split keyboard adding parts to the basic breadboard keyboard described in [tutorial_1_breadboard_keyboard.md](tutorial_1_breadboard_keyboard.md)
todo add schematic
Continuing from the basic breadboard keyboard instructions:
4. Insert the I/O expander
5. Install I/O expander power
* ground
* power
* capacitor
6. Install I2C bus
* SCL
* SDA
* pull-up resistors on SCL and SDA
7. configure I2C address
8. Assemble key matrix as shown in the picture.
9. Connect I/O expander ports to matrix rows and columns
## Sketch for split keyboard with I/O Expander
The [keybrd_4_split_with_IOE_annotated.ino](keybrd_4_split_with_IOE_annotated/keybrd_4_split_with_IOE_annotated.ino)
sketch explains how the I/O Expander works on a keyboard.
keybrd tutorial by Wolfram Volpi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://github.com/wolfv6/keybrd/issues/new.