🌈 ESP32-S3 Rainbow: ZX Spectrum Emulator Board! Get it on Crowd Supply →
View All Posts
read
Want to keep up to date with the latest posts and videos? Subscribe to the newsletter
HELP SUPPORT MY WORK: If you're feeling flush then please stop by Patreon Or you can make a one off donation via ko-fi
#AI CODING #CHERRY SWITCHES #DIY ELECTRONICS #KEYBOARD #PCB DESIGN #TPS2117 #VIBE CODING

I’ve made a very silly thing. It’s a single key keyboard - perfect for vibe coding!

This is all you need - a “Vibe it” button

There’s a couple of interesting things on the PCB - I’ve switched over to using a TPS2117 for switching between battery and USB power. I used to use the pretty classic MOSFET and diode circuit but the TPS2117 has some very nice features. In particular is controls the slew rate so you can put a lot of capacitance on the other side of it without breaking any of the USB limits.

Ooooh - what a lovely PCB

The cherry foot print is a pretty interesting. I wanted to try using low profile key switches. Annoyingly these have completely different footprints from the normal cherry keys - but I did manage to make something that worked for both.

Low profile and high profile Cherry keys

The only slightly annoying thing is that I couldn’t find compatible stabilisers for the low profile keys - so they aren’t really usable with these large key caps.

Not so “strong and stable”

With the full height keycaps we can use stabilisers - this gives a much nicer feel and stops any wobbliness on the key.

For the actual coding - I just vibed it - I didn’t look at the code, I just let the AI crack on with it.

You can view the results in this GitHub repo - and you can see how well it worked in this video:

#AI CODING #CHERRY SWITCHES #DIY ELECTRONICS #KEYBOARD #PCB DESIGN #TPS2117 #VIBE CODING

Related Posts

1 touch pin 8 touch pads - To make my ESP32 ZX Spectrum touch keyboard work even better, I needed to ensure every key was independent. The ESP32-S3 only has 14 touch pins, so I’ve been using a matrix approach. While this works well, it struggles with key combinations, critical for the ZX Spectrum. I explored touch detection and experimented with analog multiplexer ICs (4051 series) to expand the touch pins. Initial tests were promising. After prototyping with breadboard-friendly versions and ordering parts, the new keyboard was not only functional but exceeded my expectations. Scanning the keyboard now takes around 20ms, and the solution is ready for production. This was the last big challenge, and I’m thrilled with the results!
Esp32 s3 zx spectrum - In a bid to quench my nostalgia and flex my ESP32 chops, I managed to get a ZX Spectrum emulator running on my ESP32-TV board! Then, spurred on by PCBWay's new full color silk screen service, I pursuit the audacious task of recreating the ZX Spectrum's iconic keyboard. It's been quite the joyride - wrangling touch pins, shrinking screens and creating a thing of beauty on PCB. It's not quite ready for the spotlight, but keep an eye on my newsletter for more eagerly-awaited updates. It's like the Spectrum is reborn!
Look at my shiny crystal balls - Just upgraded my basic AliExpress crystal balls with some tech wizardry - I've thrown in an ESP32-S3-MINI, a mic, and made them battery powered. Thanks to WLED software, they're now smart and responsive! Shared the KiCAD project for fellow tinkerers. Check out my video to see these balls in action!
Electronic chopsticks - I recently got my hands on the HT140 Solder Tweezers from Sequre, adding an exciting new piece to my toolkit. Powering it via USB-C, these electronic chopsticks heat up fast thanks to a robust 65W power supply. Testing on a Raspberry Pi Pico board proved successful with a little flux help. Despite hoping for minimal use due to my PCB order, these tweezers are a handy backup for precise soldering work.
ESP32 TV Version 3 - In the latest board revision, I've successfully resolved some key issues, including a USB interface conflict between the USB2244 and the ESP32 and a risky battery charging mistake—no more direct USB 5V to the battery! Plus, I managed to wrap this up without any clumsy bodge wiring. I've even introduced a new feature: a microphone is now on board, setting the stage for some exciting future projects. Stay tuned for what's coming!

Related Videos

A Vibe Coded One-Button Mechanical Keyboard - ESP32-S3 USB+BTLE - Say goodbye to your regular keyboards and hello to Vibit - the one-button mechanical keyboard that practically builds itself! Join me as I transform an ESP32-S3 Mini with a Cherry switch, Li-ion charger, and RGB LEDs into a sleek macro pad. Powered by AI-written firmware, it’s designed for ultimate convenience, cycling through ⌘ + Enter commands on both USB and Bluetooth LE. Perfect for your coding vibes!
ESP32 - 40 Independent touch pins! - Wow! I'm absolutely thrilled with the results of this video - I've been experimenting with my ESP 320x Spectrum board and its touch Matrix keyboard. Had a bit of trouble with combined button inputs, so I took a deep dive into how touch works and discovered these old, but gold, ICs. After some testing, they turned out to be a perfect solution to my multiplexing problem! I then got a new board design shipped from PCB way - looks awesome and it didn't break the bank. Can't believe how responsive the keyboard is! Got the 'Hello World' program up and running, and even played Manic Miner. The final board's all set - can't wait to get this on sale! And keep watching because I've got some interesting plans for this expansion port!
ESP32-S3 ZX Spectrum - Full Color Silk Screen is really cool! - Super stoked to share this creation – an ESP32 ZX Spectrum emulator! Although it's still very much a proof-of-concept, it's looking pretty rad. I've got the classic games like Manic Miner, and yes, you can program in basic too! In perfect Sinclair fashion, I'm planning on selling this key piece of nostalgia for just £99. Work still needs to be done before the production phase, but rest assured, I'm meticulously working out the kinks, including tweaking the keyboard to ensure even better user experience. And on the technical side - a single ESP32S3 runs the show and we’ve multiplexed the keys exactly like the OG Spectrum. It's been great fun designing this piece of kit with the new full color silk screen printing from PCB way. Stay tuned for further updates!
Lots of Stuff - And a NEW PCB! It's a rare mailbag video. - In today's episode, I'm unboxing some goodies from PCB way - my super tiny esp32 breakout boards, which I'm planning to use to recreate a mini TV complete with speakers and a display. Also received some convenient adapter boards for easier testing. Excited to explore a new Arduino Nano esp32 based on a different, tinier module, and contrasting it with other products like the Tiny Pico. Also up for testing is a new mini wear electronic load compared to my old one, and an ATX power adapter for more USB ports. I'll be testing power banks, playing with inexpensive yellow displays and nunchucks for fun gaming projects, and testing out an RGB bead curtain with hackable possibilities. Also, under my ongoing experiments is a Raspberry Pi zero, turning into a 'Doom' playing device with added sound and game controllers. Finally, an air quality measuring device for detecting air particles, CO2 levels, humidity, temperature and other parameters is up for exploration as well. A whole array of fun projects queued up, so stay tuned!
Happiness is a Working Blink Sketch - ESP32-S3 PCBs Are Here! - In this video, I explore the functions of my newly arrived little boards - essentially a PCB that an esp32 S3 room module can be connected to. I put the board's voltage regulator, battery charger, and a 3 watt class D amplifier to the test, and damn, they work perfectly! I even use breadboards, connecting them together to facilitate a wider workspace. I gave the pcbs a spin, conducting sanity checks to ensure full functionality. With a successful battery charge and impressive voltage measurements, my PCB's are up to the challenge. I also dabble in some circuit jargon, explaining schematics, amplifiers, battery chargers and a clever mosfet approach. To top it off, I solder on an ESP32 module and prove that yes, it actually works. Stay tuned for a following video where we'll work with a speaker and display!
HELP SUPPORT MY WORK: If you're feeling flush then please stop by Patreon Or you can make a one off donation via ko-fi
Want to keep up to date with the latest posts and videos? Subscribe to the newsletter
Blog Logo

Chris Greening


Published

> Image

atomic14

A collection of slightly mad projects, instructive/educational videos, and generally interesting stuff. Building projects around the Arduino and ESP32 platforms - we'll be exploring AI, Computer Vision, Audio, 3D Printing - it may get a bit eclectic...

View All Posts