Skip to main content

ThumbsUp! Bluetooth Controls

Some ThumbUp! keyboards can use nice!nano v2 controllers with ZMK firmware which makes them wireless over Bluetooth connection.


Bluetooth Profiles


Keyboard supports four simultaneous Bluetooth connections, you can switch between them by pressing Tab (the key under Escape in the leftmost column) and W, E R, T (for connections 1 to 4). To reset/forget the currently selected connection press Tab+D.




For example to connect your primary computer as connection #1 - press Tab+W, then Tab+D, initiate the Bluetooth pairing on the computer, select ThumbsUpV5 in the list of available devices. If/when prompted to enter PIN/given numbers - type them in and press enter (the second from the bottom key in the rightmost column.)


Then to connect to the phone in the second slot - press + Tab+E, then the same with Tab+D and so one as listed above for the computer connection.


Once you have those two connections established you may switch between them by pressing Tab+W and Tab+E.


You may switch to the unused slot to temporarily block keyboard output to any device, e.g. Tab+T to switch to connection #4 which is not yet configured. Keyboard will remain connected to the computer and the phone.


The power slider switch is located on the bottom side of the middle board. It disconnects the battery, effectively turning Bluetooth off completely. Note that it should be in ON position to charge the battery, i.e. if you attached the keyboard to the computer with a USB C cable and the switch is OFF, then the keyboard will work (since it is powered and communicates through USB cable) but the battery would not be charging.


Keyboard firmware is built with ZMK: https://zmk.dev/


My layout/keyboard configuration is in these project folders:

58-key keyboards ThumbsUp! v5, v8, v11:

https://github.com/ak66666/zmk-config/tree/master/config/boards/shields/thumbsupv5


ThumbsUp! v9:

https://github.com/ak66666/zmk-config/tree/master/config/boards/shields/thumbsupv9


Projects thumbsupv5q and thumbsupv9q support Proglide Cirque touchpad.

If you want to change the layout - clone my project and do whatever changes you need.


Power Control

All Bluetooth-enabled ThumbsUp! keyboards contain a battery which is connected through a switch. When that switch is turned off the battery is disconnected from the USB connector and the charging circuit. To charge the battery that switch much be in ON position.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ThumbsUp! Trackball v3/v5 Assembly Steps

I designed a trackball, two versions actually, which differ in the switches used V3 with Kailh Choc switches: https://github.com/ak66666/ThumbsUp-Trackball-v3 V5 with Omron micro-switches: https://github.com/ak66666/ThumbsUp-Trackball-v5-Omron Assembly steps are quite the same, except for the switches. The original article version described v3, steps specific for v5 are added in the end. I sell the PCBs on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4367668734/thumbsup-trackball-v3-pcbs-for-dyi In this post I show the process of building the board. Bill of Materials To assemble you will need to obtain the following parts: 1x PMW3610 sensor and lens (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007118767775.html) 1x Nice!nano v2 (or clone) (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006074191337.html) This will give you a Bluetooth-connected device. You may add another nice!nano to make a USB dongle . 1x 34mm ball (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007857787050.html) 1x 3.7V 110mAh 301230 Lithium Polymer...

Adding a Touchpad

  Updated:   Jun 5 The unibody ThumbsUp! keyboards support ProGlide Cirque touchpads. Cirque touchpad fits nicely under the top PCB and are not visible from outside, so here its picture sticking out, not yet glued to the top PCB:     There are tracks leading to a connector on the top board. (Add it to the order and let me know if you want the connector to be installed, provided I have them in stock.)     You'd need to buy these two parts from Mouser (or any other vendor): Mouser #: Mfr. #: Desc.: 355-TM0400402024-301 TM040040-2024-301 Capacitance Touch Sensor Modules Capacitance Touch Sensor Modules 40mm Round SPI/I2C adhesive overlay 538-15166-0125 15166-0125 FFC / FPC Jumper Cables FFC / FPC Jumper Cables FFC 0.50 Type A 12 ckts lgt 127   Touchpads need to be modified: R1 needs to be removed to use I2C the boards support:   For the ProMicro and Atmel32U4-based keyboards the touchpad also needs to be made t...

ThumbsUp! Trackball v3/5, v4 Usage

ThumbsUp! Trackball comes in three versions, v3 (the bottom one), v5 (top left) and v4 (top right): https://github.com/ak66666/ThumbsUp-Trackball-v3 https://github.com/ak66666/ThumbsUp-Trackball-v4 https://github.com/ak66666/ThumbsUp-Trackball-v5-Omron Trackball v3 and v5 Versions v3 and v5 have the same layout, six mouse buttons in each, plus configuration buttons and three slider switches. The only difference between them is the switch types they use: Kailh Choc in v3 and regular mouse-type buttons Omron in v5,  These two versions can be used as thumb- or finger-operated with either left or right hand. Two slide switches define device orientation and hand it is used with: In thumb-operating mode index finger presses left button, middle finger - middle button, and ring finger - right button, this configuration is kept in all device positions (configured through switches shown above) : Trackball v4 v4 got two more buttons and it uses Kailh Choc switches. In v4 the orientation switc...