NeoKey Socket Breakout with NeoPixel for MX and CHOC Key Switches

Get your switch on, one key at a time!

by Kattni Rembor

published June 13, 2023, last edited February 20, 2025

posted in Adafruit Products LEDs/ LED Pixels CircuitPython Breakout Boards Programming/ MicroPython / CircuitPython

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Beginner

Product guide

Arduino

Using the NeoKey Breakouts with Arduino involves wiring the breakouts up to your Arduino-compatible board, installing the Adafruit_NeoPixel library, and running the provided example code.

Wiring

QT Py GND to ground rail on breadboard
QT Py 3V to power rail on breadboard
Both NeoKey breakouts S+ to power rail on breadboard
Both NeoKey breakouts S- to ground rail on breadboard
Both NeoKey breakouts C to ground rail on breadboard
QT Py A1 to left breakout A
QT Py A2 to right breakout A
QT Py A3 to left breakout I
Left breakout O to right breakout I

Library Installation

You can install the Adafruit NeoPixel library for Arduino using the Library Manager in the Arduino IDE.

Click the Manage Libraries ... menu item, search for Adafruit NeoPixel and select the Adafruit NeoPixel library:

There are no additional library dependencies for the NeoPixel library.

Example Code

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// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 Kattni Rembor for Adafruit Industries
//
// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NEOPIXEL_PIN A3
#define NUM_PIXELS 2

#define SWITCHA_PIN A1
#define SWITCHB_PIN A2

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, NEOPIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  //while (!Serial);
  strip.begin();
  strip.setBrightness(25);
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  pinMode(SWITCHA_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(SWITCHB_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
}

uint8_t j=0;
void loop() {
  for(int i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
  }

  // turn off LED if not pressed!
  if (!digitalRead(SWITCHA_PIN)) {
    Serial.println("A");
    strip.setPixelColor(0, 0);
  }
  if (!digitalRead(SWITCHB_PIN)) {
    Serial.println("B");
    strip.setPixelColor(1, 0);
  }
  
  strip.show();

  j++; // go to next color
  delay(10);
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {

}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
   return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
  } else if(WheelPos < 170) {
   WheelPos -= 85;
   return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  } else {
   WheelPos -= 170;
   return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
}

// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 Kattni Rembor for Adafruit Industries
//
// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NEOPIXEL_PIN A3
#define NUM_PIXELS 2

#define SWITCHA_PIN A1
#define SWITCHB_PIN A2

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, NEOPIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  //while (!Serial);
  strip.begin();
  strip.setBrightness(25);
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  pinMode(SWITCHA_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(SWITCHB_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
}

uint8_t j=0;
void loop() {
  for(int i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
  }

  // turn off LED if not pressed!
  if (!digitalRead(SWITCHA_PIN)) {
    Serial.println("A");
    strip.setPixelColor(0, 0);
  }
  if (!digitalRead(SWITCHB_PIN)) {
    Serial.println("B");
    strip.setPixelColor(1, 0);
  }
  
  strip.show();

  j++; // go to next color
  delay(10);
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {

}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
   return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
  } else if(WheelPos < 170) {
   WheelPos -= 85;
   return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  } else {
   WheelPos -= 170;
   return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
}

Upload the sketch to your board. The NeoPixel LEDs on the NeoKey breakouts will light up in a rainbow swirl pattern. If you press a key, the associated LED will turn off. When you release it, the LED will begin rainbowing again!