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Alternative Controller for HHKB Pro

I wanted to add some features like vi cursor and mouse keys to my HHKB but its controller is not programmable and firmware source code is not open, of course. This means customizing this keyboard needs to replace original controller with programmable one.

This controller can work with HHKB Professional, Professional 2, JP and Type-S.

See this thread in geekhack.org for details.

Update

  • Bluetooth module RN-42 is supported.(2015/01)

Features

  • Customizable keymap
  • More keymap layers(more Fn keys)
  • Mouse keys
  • USB NKRO
  • Bluetooth(RN-42)

See README of tmk_keyboard for more.

Pros

  • No risks: Everything is all reversible
  • No need for PCB trace patching, case cutting or any other destructive mod
  • Can keep original controller intact
  • Can change all HHKB behavior as you like

Cons

  • Void your warranty
  • Lose USB hub function of Pro2

DISCLAIMER

I'm not a professional of electronics nor MCU programming. This may damage your HHKB. And my English writing is poor, I'm not sure I can convey my notions accurately.

Quick-Start Guide for TMK Alt Controller

  1. Build a custom keyboard layout using the online tool

  2. Save the .hex file to your computer; note this is all you need to generate a custom layout with most of the available features (including mouse control)

  3. Download and install the dfu-programmer (the alternative to FLIP), open-source available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. e.g., for Mac OS: brew install dfu-programmer

    Note: This bootloader is all that is required to load/flash the firmware created using the online tool. You do not need the full avr-gcc development stack because you created the required .hex file using the online tool instead.

  4. Please read and understand this next step in full before running the following three commands

    dfu-programmer atmega32u4 erase --force
dfu-programmer atmega32u4 flash <your_downloaded_file>.hex
dfu-programmer atmega32u4 launch

    Or if your are on Unix-like shell you can use command sequence concatinated with &&

    sleep 20 && \
dfu-programmer atmega32u4 erase --force && \
dfu-programmer atmega32u4 flash <your_downloaded_file>.hex && \
dfu-programmer atmega32u4 launch

    • Run commands from the directory where you saved your .hex file

    • Put controller into programmable mode(bootloader) by hitting the red button located on your controller

    • Once in this mode, you will no longer have access to your HHKB, you need other keyboard to input the commands or mouse to copy and paste.

    • erase clears existent firmware on flash memory

    • flash loads new firmware you downloaded

    • launch restarts keyboard

    • See man dfu-programmer for details

    • Replug controller and redo the process when you are in trouble

    • sleep 20 gives you time to switch your controller to a programmable mode These commands execute automatically once the ~ 20 seconds have passed.

HHKB Internals

See doc/HHKB.txt and files under doc/ for internal of HHKB and this controller.

Build Firmware & Program

See this document and this first.

Configuration

Build options and firmware settings are available in Makefile and config.h or config_rn42.h.

Keymap

To define your own keymap create file named keymap_<name>.c and see keymap document and existent keymap files.

Build

Several version of keymap are available in advance but you are recommended to define your favorite layout yourself. Just make with KEYMAP option like:

$ make -f Makefile.<variant> KEYMAP=<name> clean
$ make -f Makefile.<variant> KEYMAP=<name>

Makefile can be used for Pro2 and Pro USB controller, Makefile.jp for JP, Makefile.rn42 for Pro2 Bluetooth and Makefile.rn42.jp for JP Bluetooth.

Program

First, push reset button on board to start bootloader.

This command programs the controller with dfu-programmer if the tool is installed and configured properly.

$ make -f Makefile.<variant> KEYMAP=<name> dfu

Or you can also use FLIP command to program. Also the tool should be installed and configured properly. FLIP GUI application is also available.

$ make -f Makefile.<variant> KEYMAP=<name> flip

Hardware

TMK Alt Controller Board

Preassmbled controller is available from here.

You can find design files of the controller at Keyboard Controller Board for HHKB(KiCad project).