Help with design of computer input devices 4

[dktoao]

I am not an electrical engineer (although I did take a digital logic class) so please excuse the amateurishness of my questions. I think that I may have found a niche market for a specialized usb keypad input device for a computer. The questions I have pertain to how exactly I would go about making a prototype to test the idea. Keep in mind, when I ask these questions I need to know just enough so that I can find someone who can do it for me and how I can specify the different components so that they all to tie together nicely. Specifically, are there any good resources on:

PCB Design
Plastic Enclosure Design
Interfacing with a USB port
Hardware Drivers

Also, if there is anything else that I missed that would be important please let me know.

Lastly, are there any OEM manufacturer of say, keyboards or anything like that that can do custom stickers for the keys so that I can adapt their already made designs into a product?

Thank you all in advance for your help.

 

[IRstuff]

"Specifically, are there any good resources"
Yes, there are, you just have to do a websearch for them.

And yes, again, you can search for manufacturers that make custom keypads and keyboards.

My question would be why? Is there such a driving need for any custom kayboard for any application? Most applications that I've seen that might have had a custom keyboard opt for custom GUI overlays and touchscreens. A typical example is restaurant wait-staff terminals.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[MacGyverS2000]

You're asking us to list resources that will already be known by the EE consultant you have already admitted will need to be hired to due the actual design. Find your consultant and ask them...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[VEBill]

I've seen at least one keyboard OEM that used a laser to etch the key legends as one of the final steps in the manufacturing process.

 

[dktoao]

VE1BLL, do you remember the name of the OEM? I found 2 OEM suppliers but did not see one with that capability.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I too have an idea - just haven't had time to work on it...

Good Luck

 

[VEBill]

Sorry, I don't know the name of the laser-equipped OEM.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Any manufacturer that has a lighted keyboard is a good bet for using lasers to engrave the keys...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[ScottI2R]

Google laser etched keyboards...

http://www.usb.org/developers

just a couple....

I really am a good egg, I'm just a little scrambled!

 

[hltc]

Plan on spending a few thousand to get a real proto built, including the plastics, et al.

The circuit is simple, USB interfaces are quite easy and add a micro and your done. I just finished a design not too long ago.

I work with several vendors on keypads, so lots of choices there as well. If your trying to sell the idea to a customer, you will want the proto to look, feel and act like the real thing. Thats why you will need to spend that much, because proto's are always expensive to build.

Drivers...for win7 you will need signed drivers. If you don't care about the VID/PID showing up as SiLabs or whomever chip is used, then they provide those. Otherwise you need to join the USB org and get your own VID then you can assign a PID as you wish. And now you will have to get the drivers signed, its not expensive, few hundred if I recall from last year.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Or you could cheat a bit and use a USB to RS-232 converter, like an FTDI part... PC drivers are provided. From the outside it would look like USB, but initial design from the inside would be easy-peasy RS-232/UART.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com