convert wireless mini keyboard to a wired one?

[okppko]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mini-I8-2-4G-Wireless-Touchpad-Keyboard-Adjustable-Air-Mouse-With-Backlight/283562746

This is a commonly available keyboard. Can I dismantle the keyboard, solder an usb wire to the keyboard and use the keyboard as a wired usb keyboard?

Is the keyboard's signal an usb signal before it gets wireless?

If you can convert the keyboard into a wired usb keyboard, will it require batteries?

Thank you.

 

[Ralston18]

Going to suggest "probably not".

Here is why: most things are no longer made to be repairable which also has the side effect of restricting/reducing/preventing modifications.

And circuit boards are assembled and soldered using robots which means the components, solder points etc. are very small and precise. Any human held soldering gun is likely to melt or otherwise damage some nearby component or components.

Plus you will need the keyboard's schematics to identify the applicable solder points. Especially those with respect to replacing the existing battery power source with USB power. (Eliminating the need for batteries.)

All in favor of such DIY projects and could may be a fun (and successful) project.

Even if not you can still learn from what becomes a smoking, melted project. 🙂

And you must be careful about what you connect the now wired keyboard to - may zap the host motherboard.

Unfortunately, unlikely to work. And I am not going to question the reasons per se for such a conversion. However, I am curious - why?

 

[okppko]

Thanks.

And circuit boards are assembled and soldered using robots which means the components, solder points etc. are very small and precise.

Maybe you are right. All components are in one piece and you do not get to make modifications.

Even if not you can still learn from what becomes a smoking, melted project.

You can get it low priced.

And you must be careful about what you connect the now wired keyboard to - may zap the host motherboard

.

The raspberry pi zero accepts usb keyboards.
Testing the keyboard be done on one of those.

why?

This is the pocketchip
https://getchip.com/pages/pocketchip

It's keyboard is not an usb keyboard.
I have investigated how to turn keyboards into usb keyboards. It appears to be to difficult. You have to know the wiring of the keyboard. Then you have to program a micro controller. I do not know how to do it.
I cannot find a small wired usb keyboard.

https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68
It is a libre software pc card. I would want to make something similar to a pocketchip. One which accepts a pc card. In order to make it simpler, all components have to be usb devices. Usb wifi, ethernet, keyboard, sound. Display hdmi.

I also got an asus eeepc. Same concept. I do not know how to turn the keyboard into an usb keyboard.

 

[Ralston18]

Interesting.

No direct answer or suggestion but I did some googling and searched "small USB wired micro keyboard".

Found the following product:

https://www.ebay.com/p/SR-Mini-Keyboard-Wired-Thin-Light-78-Keys-USB-Multimedia-Small-for-PC-Computer/2041083432?iid=352102793992&opts=opick

Also found this wireless keyboard product:

https://www.ebay.com/i/361906150013?chn=ps

Google and a vary the search criteria as you learn.

You may find some specialized keyboard with a proprietary plug that comes with a plug to USB adapter.

It does appear that you have some options available. Keyboards are commodities in my mind barring some really unique and specific requirement. An off-the-shelf product will most likely make your project simpler than you trying to modify some other product....

 

[USAFRet]

I cannot find a small wired usb keyboard.

Small, wired USB

Not much bigger than your hand
https://www.amazon.com/Super-Mini-USB-Keyboard-Black/dp/B000BSLU28

 

[okppko]

Thanks.

https://www.ebay.com/p/SR-Mini-Keyboard-Wired-Thin-Light-78-Keys-USB-Multimedia-Small-for-PC-Computer/2041083432?iid=352102793992&opts=opick is too big.

The https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mini-I8-2-4G-Wireless-Touchpad-Keyboard-Adjustable-Air-Mouse-With-Backlight/283562746 has the advantage it has a touchpad too.

 

[USAFRet]

The https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mini-I8-2-4G-Wireless-Touchpad-Keyboard-Adjustable-Air-Mouse-With-Backlight/283562746 has the advantage it has a touchpad too.

I have an offshoot of that.
It is ...mediocre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alSEocPTqj8
https://www.amazon.com/Rii-Wireless-Bluetooth-Backlight-Touchpad/dp/B01GCPVZDW

And I thought you wanted wired?