C OMPUTER /S OFTWARE P LAN
P11003
D YNAMIC K EYBOARD P HASE III (DK3)
Total Time
Equipment Required
OS Required
Software Required
30 Minutes
Computer with USB port and internet access, Assembled Dynamic
Keyboard
Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
Internet Browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, ect.)
Schedule
Personnel
Install VCP USB Drivers
Estimated time: 5 minutes
One Day
Evan Gelfand, Andrew Vitkus, Andrew Hobson
1.
Download the Virtual COM Port driver for Windows from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
.
2.
Unpack the downloaded file into desired directory.
3.
Connect the Dynamic Keyboard USB cable to the computer. If the computer displays a message reporting it does not recognize the hardware, continue to step 2. Else, the drivers are already installed, skip remaining steps.
4.
Follow driver installer wizard. Select the driver install path to the directory where you unzipped the drivers.
5.
Repeat step 4. (The Virtual COM Port a 2 layer driver.)
6.
Disconnect and reconnect Dynamic Keyboard and verify the computer recognizes hardware.
Install Arduino IDE
Estimated time: 2 minutes
1.
Download the Arduino Environment Software from http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software .
2.
Unpack the downloaded file into desired directory.
Install Python Software
Estimated time: 5 minutes
1.
Download the Python 2.7.1 MSI Installer from.
http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.7.1/ .
2.
Unpack the downloaded file into desired directory.
3.
Run Python 2.7.1 installer.
4.
Download the Python Serial Module (pyserial) MS Windows installer from http://pypi.python.org/pypi/pyserial .
5.
Unpack the downloaded file into desired directory.
6.
Run pyserial installer.
7.
Download the Python Win32 Extensions from http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32/files/pywin32/Build216/ .

8.
Unpack the downloaded file into desired directory.
9.
Run win32 installer.
Download Dynamic Keyboard III Software
Estimated time: 1 minutes
1.
Download software from https://edge.rit.edu/content/P11003/public/SDII-
%20%20Engineering%20Files/dk3_SW_package.zip
.
2.
Unzip file.
Run dk3_demo.py DK3 Python Script
Estimated time: 3 minutes
1.
Plug Dynamic Keyboard into PC USB port
2.
Wait 20 seconds, the keyboard LEDs should be changing color. If the LEDs are not changing color, the Nano most likely needs to be re-programed.
3.
Using command prompt, navigate to the directory where the Dynamic Keyboard III Software is.
Run the python script titled “dk3_demo.py”.
4.
If the program doesn’t execute or is missing a file, the Python packages were improperly installed. Try to properly install software.
5.
If the program runs but fails to connect to the Dynamic Keyboard, re-plugin the keyboard and rerun the Python script. If it still fails, the Nano most likely needs to be re-programed.
Program Dynamic Keyboard III Microcode on Arduino Nano
Estimated time: 2 minutes
1.
Install VCP drives for Arduino hardware if not already done.
2.
Plugin the DK to PC. Use “Windows Device Manager” to Identify the port # assigned to the
Nano microcontroller*
3.
Run there executable file located in the directory where you saved the Arduino IDE
4.
Verify that the Arduino program is set of the port # of the Nano. From the top menu -> Tools
->Serial Port. Set to correct port # if necessary.
5.
Verify that the Arduino program compiler is set to compile for the ATmega328 processor.
From the top menu -> Tools ->Board. Set option containing “ATmega328” if necessary.
6.
From the Arduino program, open the Program Dynamic Keyboard III Microcode file
“dk3_ucode.pde” located in a subdirectory where you saved the Dynamic Keyboard III software.
7.
Select “Upload” to compile and program the DK microcode to the Nano.
8.
If uploading failed, verify the Arduino program has correct port # and correct “Board”. Also make sure no other program or script is connected to the DK. Also verify drivers for Arduino have been installed. If all fails, power cycle DK.

9.
Wait 20 seconds, the keyboard LEDs should be changing color. If the LEDs are not changing color, the Nano most likely needs to be re-programed.
10.
Using command prompt, navigate to the directory where the Dynamic Keyboard III Software is. Run the python script titled “dk3_demo.py”.
11.
If the program doesn’t execute or is missing a file, the Python packages were improperly installed. Try to properly install software.
12.
If the program runs but fails to connect to the Dynamic Keyboard, re-plugin the keyboard and rerun the Python script. If it still fails, the Nano most likely needs to be re-programed.