Skip to content

Usage

The T-Deck contains an ESP32C3 configured as an I2C slave to read the keyboard inputs. It's accessed using the 6 pin connector holes below the reset button. The controller can be programmed using the Arduino IDE, VS Code, etc.

Hardware Setup

There are many ways to program this controller, you can use something like the FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 USB To Serial Cable or an Arduino Uno. Connect the pins as shown in either of the methods below. To put the ESP32C3 into programming mode, short the BOOT pin to ground and power it on.

  • the header doesnt use standard breadboard spaced holes so you might want to use wires.
  • the ESP32C3 controller has to be turned on by pin 10 in the main ESP32S3 sketch, so make sure the T-Deck's firmware does that (the provided test firmware does).

Method 1: Using An Arduino Uno

  • GND on the Ardunio Uno to GND on the Arduino, this is required for the serial communication to work.
  • TX to TX (T-Deck >>> Arduino Uno),
  • RX to RX (T-Deck >>> Arduino Uno),
  • GND to GND (T-Deck >>> Arduino Uno),
  • Short the T-Deck's BOOT pin to the T-Decks GND pin to put the ESP32C3 into programming mode.

Wiring Picture 1 Wiring Picture 2

Method 2: Using A FTDI Cable

  • TX to RX (T-Deck >>> Arduino Uno),
  • RX to TX (T-Deck >>> Arduino Uno),
  • GND to GND (T-Deck >>> Arduino Uno),
  • Short the T-Deck's BOOT pin to the T-Decks GND pin to put the ESP32C3 into programming mode.
t-deck    |
         |=|  rst button       ftdi cable
          |                ____________
          |               | RTS         Green
        o | TX  ----------| RX          Yellow
        o | RX  ----------| TX          Orange
        o | BOOT----|     | VCC         Red
        o | RST     |     | CTS         Brown
        o | GND ----o-----| GND         Black
        o | VCC           |_____________
          |             
-|       /
_|______/

Software Settings

The Arduino IDE configuration in the tools menu:

  • Board -> ESP32C3 Dev Module
  • USB CDC On Boot -> disabled
  • CPU Frequency -> 40MHz
  • USB DFU On Boot -> Disable
  • Flash Mode -> DIO 40MHz
  • Flash Size -> 4MB(32Mb)
  • Partition Scheme -> Default 4Mb with spifs
  • Upload Speed -> 921600

Select the COM/SERIAL port of the USB to serial cable. Once the controller is in programming mode (it'll print a message over the UART saying "waiting for download" when powered up with the BOOT pin shorted to ground) press download on the Arduino IDE and it should upload the firmware. Restart the device afterwards.

Using The Keyboard On The T-Deck

The keyboard is accessed using the I2C interface, the test program provided reads the values from the keyboard and prints them over the serial connection. The keyboard will send a keyInfo array over I2C when requested, this array contains the key value, and bools for modifiers and custom functions. For information on how to flash the test program to your T-Deck please refer to the official T-Deck Github repository.