Use the ItsyBitsy M4/M0 as a custom USB mechanical keypad with CircuitPython!

The Pimoroni Keybow is a 12 mechanical keyswitch USB HID keyboard controller designed to work with a Raspberry Pi Zero.

We'll build a custom Pi Bonnet to adapt the Keybow for use with the Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 or M0 microcontroller board and programmable in CircuitPython.

You can create custom key mapping, macros, media control and your own DotStar RGB lighting with this simple, fast booting, super-charged keypad!

Adaptation Options

You've got a couple of options of how to adapt the Keybow to work with an ItsyBitsy M4 -- you can wire up the pins on a ProtoBonnet as shown in this guide, or order this nifty PCB (printed circuit board) designed by John Park for this exact purpose.

Here are the Eagle CAD files for the board:

Parts

Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51 connected to a small breadboard.
What's smaller than a Feather but larger than a Trinket? It's an Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring the Microchip ATSAMD51! Small,...
$14.95
In Stock
Angled shot of a Adafruit Perma Proto Bonnet on a Pi zero
Design your own Bonnet or pHAT, attach custom circuitry and otherwise dress your Pi Zero with this jaunty prototyping Bonnet kit!To add to the
$4.50
In Stock
Large spool of Wire Wrap Thin Prototyping & Repair Wire
This stuff is called "wire-wrap wire" because it used to be used for wire-wrapping high-speed digital circuits on a special kind of contact board. It's pretty rare to see wire-wrapping in...
$7.50
In Stock
Break-away 0.1 inch 2x36-pin strip dual male header
Breakaway header is like the duct tape of electronics. Its great for connecting things together, soldering to perf-boards, fits into any breadboard, etc. We go through these guys real...
$7.50
In Stock

This guide was first published on Jun 10, 2020. It was last updated on Mar 27, 2024.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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