BB Q20 Keyboard with trackpad, USB/I2C/PMOD

by Solder Party

A BB Q20 Keyboard in USB/PMOD/Qwiic format with an injection molded clear plastic case.

This is the evolution of the previous BBQ10 PMOD board. Solder Party took all the feedback from that board and improved on the design in every way.

They added a Qwiic/Stemma QT connector, USB HID support, changed to a Q20 keyboard, which gave four extra buttons, and the optical trackpad that works as a USB HID Mouse. And put the whole thing into a custom-designed injection molded clear plastic case for better usability and durability, as well as that retro 90s look.

The board uses the Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU to poll the keyboard and trackpad and put the key press information into a FIFO.

You can use the I2C interface to read the FIFO, reconfigure the chip, and change the keyboar backlight.

In addition to that, the board also has a USB Type-C socket, and when connected to a desktop computer (Windows/Linux/MacOS), a smartphone (iOS/Android), or a SBC (Raspberry Pi, etc), it enumerates as a USB HID Keyboard and Mouse combo!

The firmware can be configured over USB using the Vendor Class interface.

The I2C interface is compatible with the old BBQ10 module, you can use the same libraries to interface this board:

Note: This board is not 5V-tolerant!

What you get

  • The BBQ20KBD board assembled with an injection molded clear plastic case
  • Reference leaflet

18 customer reviews

a year ago
The keyboard is raised above the PCB and supported by only few small pieces of foam tape. Due to this, pressing certain keys causes the keyboard to flex instead of the key activating. Left Alt can not activate due to keyboard flex, but also the keys at the corners are problematic. For the price, I expected a useable product - not a poor solution that needs fixed.
by Anonymous about BB Q20 Keyboard with trackpad, USB/I2C/PMOD via REVIEWS.io
2 years ago
Everything that I hoped it would be. Have tested on my laptop with Windows 10 and on my smartphone with Sailfish and both worked great via USB. I just need to construct some kind of case to permanently attach it to my smartphone and I’ll have a keyboard phone again!
by Anonymous about BB Q20 Keyboard with trackpad, USB/I2C/PMOD via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
This is a neat little thing and will be very useful in my intended application (as a chatpad-style keyboard attached to a control pad) it is important to note that this is very much a "hacker" product, not off-the-shelf. Unlike macro-keyboards, there's no simple app given for you to redefine the behavior of individual keys or buttons, and it seems to be assuming you're on a en_US keyboard layout, so the key marked @ gives " and vice-versa if you're on USB and your keyboard layout is en_UK. Also, there doesn't seem to be anything defined as right mouse click out of the box, which is weird. You are obviously not going to get all the symbols or a full keyboard on this, so it's not ideal for programming, but the weirdest thing is that to get the symbols (@ ' * etc) you don't use the "sym" key, but "alt". Very counterintuitive. Finally, while the little injection-moulded case is rock solid and fits the circuit board beautifully, the keyboard itself is mounted on the board with a couple of adhesive foam pads, with the corners unsupported, meaning the keyboard flexes if you use buttons or keys near the edge. It leaves the keyboard very exposed if you don't keep it in the original box when not in use, or build an alternative enclosure. However, because the PCB is mounted to the case using only 2 screws, either you have to make your new case extremely precisely to ensure it is stable on two mounts only, or you have to drill new holes in the other two corners. One for the true hackers only, then, as you've got to have both hardware and software skills to get the most out of it.
by Niall about BB Q20 Keyboard with trackpad, USB/I2C/PMOD via REVIEWS.io

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