07-30-2020, 12:59 AM
I've been dabbling in this design challenge as well. Currently my plan is to modify the backframe to accommodate a screwed in keyboard.
My plan is to use transparent keys on top of either an e-ink screen or a LCD, this would allow for customization of layouts and other cool things like kb adapting to applications. Switch mechanism is a bit difficult to figure out since my FDM 3D printer isn't exactly great when it comes to very small and tight clearances, though I have a rough idea how the key mechanism will work.
From my current design it seems possible to also fit a gamepad for emulators and such, which luckily can be used for mouse emulation and scrolling.
I will likely have to tap into the USB bus on the phone, but I hope to avoid it if possible since that would require reverse engineering the USB-C board.
Some difficulties arise since there is reverse engineering needed before the actual project can move forward. It would help me and others greatly if a 3D model of the backcover, backframe and screen+pcb assembly was available. I get that you're afraid of copies made by competitors, but they have equipment and expertise to reverse engineer the Pinephone anyways. On the other side these 3D files would help hackers and others develop cool addons and cool mods for the phone.
My plan is to use transparent keys on top of either an e-ink screen or a LCD, this would allow for customization of layouts and other cool things like kb adapting to applications. Switch mechanism is a bit difficult to figure out since my FDM 3D printer isn't exactly great when it comes to very small and tight clearances, though I have a rough idea how the key mechanism will work.
From my current design it seems possible to also fit a gamepad for emulators and such, which luckily can be used for mouse emulation and scrolling.
I will likely have to tap into the USB bus on the phone, but I hope to avoid it if possible since that would require reverse engineering the USB-C board.
Some difficulties arise since there is reverse engineering needed before the actual project can move forward. It would help me and others greatly if a 3D model of the backcover, backframe and screen+pcb assembly was available. I get that you're afraid of copies made by competitors, but they have equipment and expertise to reverse engineer the Pinephone anyways. On the other side these 3D files would help hackers and others develop cool addons and cool mods for the phone.
