USB keyboard requirements? pro micro usb keyboard not working :(

[penfold42]

Not sure of the best way to troubleshoot this.

I'm using MiniDexed and I want to use an arduino pro micro to scan a mutiplexed keyboard and then send USB PC keyboard press/release events.
The promicro keyboard works fine on my linux laptop and the Pi when booted into Trixie.
MiniDexed works fine with 2 different regular PC keyboards, just not my promicro.

Before I make life hard for myself, is the fact that the promicro is both a pc keyboard and serial device likely to cause issues?

Thanks!

[rsta2]

Circle supports USB HID class standard PC keyboards in boot mode and a few USB serial interfaces (CDC class, with CH341, CP210x, FT231x, PL2303). It supports also USB devices, which have multiple interfaces, but maybe not in every combination.

Which log messages do you get from MiniDexed in the USB startup phase? Can you post the output from lsusb -v for your USB device, when connected to Trixie or the Linux Laptop?

[penfold42]

Thanks for your quick reply.
Here's me removing the working Logitech dongle and inserting the arduino.
It's a copy paste from a photo so if something seems a little off...

00:41:13.11 usbdev0-1: Device ven46d-c52b removed
00:41:19.43 usbdev0-1: Device ven2341-8037, devef-2-1 found
00:41:19.46 usbdev0-1: Product: Arduino LLC Arduino Micro
00:41:19.51 usbdev0-1: Interface int2-2-0 found
00:41:19.52 usbdev0-1: Using device/interface int2-2-0
00:41:19.52 usbdev0-1: Interface int3-0-0 found
00:41:19.53 usbdev0-1: Using device/interface int3-0-0
00:41:19.55 usbhub: Port 2: Device configured

lsusb -v

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Negotiated speed: High Speed (480Mbps)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Single TT
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x1d6b Linux Foundation
  idProduct          0x0002 2.0 root hub
  bcdDevice            6.18
  iManufacturer           3 Linux 6.18.33+rpt-rpi-v7 dwc_otg_hcd
  iProduct                2 DWC OTG Controller
  iSerial                 1 3f980000.usb
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x0019
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 Full speed (or root) hub
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0004  1x 4 bytes
        bInterval              12
Hub Descriptor:
  bLength               9
  bDescriptorType      41
  nNbrPorts             1
  wHubCharacteristic 0x0008
    Ganged power switching
    Per-port overcurrent protection
    TT think time 8 FS bits
  bPwrOn2PwrGood        1 * 2 milli seconds
  bHubContrCurrent      0 milli Ampere
  DeviceRemovable    0x02
  PortPwrCtrlMask    0xff
 Hub Port Status:
   Port 1: 0000.0503 highspeed power enable connect
Device Status:     0x0001
  Self Powered

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMC9514 Hub
Negotiated speed: High Speed (480Mbps)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         2 TT per port
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x0424 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC)
  idProduct          0x9514 SMC9514 Hub
  bcdDevice            2.00
  iManufacturer           0 
  iProduct                0 
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x0029
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                2mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol      1 Single TT
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval              12
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       1
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol      2 TT per port
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval              12
Hub Descriptor:
  bLength               9
  bDescriptorType      41
  nNbrPorts             5
  wHubCharacteristic 0x000d
    Per-port power switching
    Compound device
    Per-port overcurrent protection
    TT think time 8 FS bits
  bPwrOn2PwrGood       50 * 2 milli seconds
  bHubContrCurrent      1 milli Ampere
  DeviceRemovable    0x02
  PortPwrCtrlMask    0xff
 Hub Port Status:
   Port 1: 0000.0503 highspeed power enable connect
   Port 2: 0000.0103 power enable connect
   Port 3: 0000.0100 power
   Port 4: 0000.0100 power
   Port 5: 0000.0100 power
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
  bLength                10
  bDescriptorType         6
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  bNumConfigurations      1
Device Status:     0x0001
  Self Powered

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Negotiated speed: High Speed (480Mbps)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass          255 Vendor Specific Class
  bDeviceSubClass         0 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         1 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x0424 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC)
  idProduct          0xec00 SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
  bcdDevice            2.00
  iManufacturer           0 
  iProduct                0 
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x0027
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                2mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           3
      bInterfaceClass       255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol    255 
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0010  1x 16 bytes
        bInterval               4
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
  bLength                10
  bDescriptorType         6
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass          255 Vendor Specific Class
  bDeviceSubClass         0 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         1 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  bNumConfigurations      1
Device Status:     0x0001
  Self Powered

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2341:8037 Arduino SA Arduino Micro
Negotiated speed: Full Speed (12Mbps)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceSubClass         2 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x2341 Arduino SA
  idProduct          0x8037 Arduino Micro
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           1 Arduino LLC
  iProduct                2 Arduino Micro
  iSerial                 3 HIDPC
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x0064
    bNumInterfaces          3
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower              500mA
    Interface Association:
      bLength                 8
      bDescriptorType        11
      bFirstInterface         0
      bInterfaceCount         2
      bFunctionClass          2 Communications
      bFunctionSubClass       2 Abstract (modem)
      bFunctionProtocol       0 
      iFunction               0 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         2 Communications
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Abstract (modem)
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      CDC Header:
        bcdCDC               1.10
      CDC Call Management:
        bmCapabilities       0x01
          call management
        bDataInterface          1
      CDC ACM:
        bmCapabilities       0x06
          sends break
          line coding and serial state
      CDC Union:
        bMasterInterface        0
        bSlaveInterface         1 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0010  1x 16 bytes
        bInterval              64
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass        10 CDC Data
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               0
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.01
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 (null)
          wDescriptorLength      47
          Report Descriptors: 
            ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x84  EP 4 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               1
Device Status:     0x0000
  (Bus Powered)

[rsta2]

Thanks for the comprehensive info!

Your device provides an int3-0-0 generic USB HID interface for the keyboard, instead of an int3-1-1 interface, which is expected by the Circle USB keyboard driver. That's why it does not work. The int3-0-0 interface is a bit tricky to handle, because it requires a HID report descriptor parser. This is implemented in Circle for USB touchscreens and gamepads, but not for keyboards. I don't think, that this will change in the near future.

The serial USB interface int2-2-0 should work, but is probably not driven by MiniDexed. The application needs special support to use USB serial interfaces.

[penfold42]

damn!
Hopefully https://github.com/nicohood/hid or a pi pico can present themselves as a int3-1-1 "boot" keyboard.

I'll report back on my progress in the hope it helps others.

Thanks.

[penfold42]

progress!

nicohood's HID library using the BootKeyboard works great.

thanks for your help :)

[rsta2]

Great! You are welcome.