Directional keypad for phi-panel

This is a directional keypad I developed for phi-panel, together with the rotary encoder keypad.

There are two sizes, 20X4 and 16X2.

Features:

• Laser-cut 3mm-thick glossy/matte black acrylic face plate with window to mount a 20X4 or 16X2 character LCD and a 8 push buttons. You choose which side to use, glassy or matte. Brown/white color is removable protective layer on both sides.
• 4 push buttons are arranged in up/down/left/right
• 2 buttons above the directional buttons and 2 above.
• 8 short standoffs for LCD and keypad circuit board, 4 long standoffs for the face plate, 12 screws and 12 nuts, all M3 in size
• 6 button covers in case you want to cover up the button holes you don’t use
• PCB for the keypad and 8 buttons

Currently the 20X4 version is out of stock. I only made 2 in a batch of 4 new keypad face plates. If you want the 20X4 kit please respond with a comment.

Initial tests are all positive with phi-panel functions with new firmware. The directional keypad is very nice if you don’t need the 0-9 numbers provided by the matrix keypad. There is no more setup menu you can call up with the escape key.

It took me forever to make those white connectors. The female crimp end was so hard to make that if you add just a bit too much solder the spring is soldered on and can’t accept pins. These are not the best ways to connect the keypad to phi-panels. I did it only because I want to switch between keypads between photos and videos so I don’t have to tie up two assembled panels with keypads.

In the kit, I included regular male headers. You can simply solder wires to the pins or use male headers and wire wrap to the pins for connection, much easier than the white wafer connectors.

I am writing documents for these keypads but you can already purchase these kits and tinker with them. It’s pretty easy to hook them up to phi-panels or your arduino in case you don’t want a phi-panel.

Videos (20X4 version):

Still shots: