http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

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Easy stealth footswitch / pedal to minimize windows and show Desktopby eliastorre on October 22, 2008

Table of Contents

Easy stealth footswitch / pedal to minimize windows and show Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   Easy stealth footswitch / pedal to minimize windows and show Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   The parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   Unscrewing the keyboard and finding the "Scroll Lock" key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 3:   Finding which pins works for our key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4:   Soldering the cables in the keyboard microcontroller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5:   Making the foot switch / pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 6:   Solder the foot switch to the keyboard microcontroller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 7:   Programming the Scroll Lock key to hide all the windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 8:   Load the file automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 9:   The video of the pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Step 10:   Done!! start hiding your windows!!! =P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Author:eliastorreHi there, member since long time ago, not much instructables, but happy to browse around.

Intro:  Easy stealth footswitch / pedal to minimize windows and show DesktopI spend most of the time at a computer programming, and in a matter of no time I end with all my screen real state filled with windows. Also, most of the time my feet arevery lazy, so I took the idea I saw somewhere to do a very easy and cheap foot pedal to hide / unhide all the windows by using my feet.

Also, I had a lot of friends that would like to hide all the IM and youtube screens when the boss passes by, so maybe this will help =P

Most of the modern computer keyboards don't use the "Scrll Lock" (or Bloq Despl in spanish) for anything, so we will use this key to trigger the hiding function inwindows.

I hope you have fun doing it as I had fun making it.

BTW, I was a member like for 4 years now, but this is my very first instructable.

Thank you!! and please have a look at my blog for extra pics: my blog

UPDATE: Just to be clear, this instructable is not about hacking your actual keyboard, but hacking and attaching an extra one to your regular computer, so you end usingyour regular keyboard and also this hacked one, both at the same time. Have fun!

Image Notes1. The foot switch =)2. Inside this tiny box is the circuitry, than can be used for future projects... keep in touch3. This is the foot switch!

Step 1: The parts1) An unused old keyboard - for the keys functionality (I had A LOT of unused keyboards at home)2) A multimeter - not a must, but it really helps to check everything OK3) An arcade switch - this will be the switch on the pedal4) An unused cardboard box - I had several unused boxes from AMD processors, U can use one of these boxes5) A soldering iron6) A dremel tool7) Some cable, about 6 ft.8) The AutoHotKey free windows application that you can find here: http://www.autohotkey.com/download/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. To check the resistance of the circuits, and the continuity between the cableends

Image Notes1. Heavy duty buttons

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Step 2: Unscrewing the keyboard and finding the "Scroll Lock" keyA keyboard works by closing a circuit between 2 plastic layers; when you press a key, the 2 layers get in contact and a current flow between this connection, sending asignal to the microcontroller inside the keyboard.

1) You will have to disassemble the keyboard. Remove all the screws you might find in the back, and release the back cover.

2) Then, remove the thin plastic layers thar are inside the keyboard.

3) then, put the cover on the back and turn the keyboard facing up, to put the layers over the keys to write with a permanent marker where the keys are, one for the upperlayer, and one for the bottom layer.

Image Notes1. Carefully "peel" the plastic layers in the keyboard2. Here's the microcontroller, you will also need it

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. Here are the keyboard layers.2. This is the microcontroller pins that get in contact with it

Image Notes1. Put the layers over the keys, to find where exactly are our Scroll Lock key...2. ... and here we have, mark the key in both keybard layers, the top and thebottom, so you can find it later!

Image Notes1. Ok, here is the keyboard plastic layers, lying over a piece of fabric

Step 3: Finding which pins works for our keyThen, you will have to find wich two pins on the microcontroller are the ones to be pressed together to close the circuit and send the key code to the computer, so:

1) Take the upper plastic layer (it's glued to the bottom layer, you can use a Xacto knife to cut the small glue spot that puts the 2 layers together.

2) Put one of the multimeter probes at the brown spot, and then put the other probe in the first of the circuit track endings

3) Get the resistance reading in the multimeter (the one with the OHM symbol on it) , if you don't get any reading, move the probe to the next pin in the track endings, untilyou got some reading.

If you don't have a multimeter don't worry, just follow the track until the ends, just don't get lost because of the tiny lines =P

Once you find where the key ends, do the same procedure for the bottom layer of the keyboard

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. One of the probes over our key...2. The other probe at the track endings...3. We get no reading, this means that the current key and the current track endaren't the same, we need to find the same track along the keyboard

Image Notes1. Move the probe tip to the next track2. Keep this tip on the key, be carefull to not press too hard3. And now we get some reading!!! we have found the track on the upper plasticlayer for our key!!! Do the same for the bottom layer

Step 4: Soldering the cables in the keyboard microcontrollerOk, so now that we know which pins (or track endings) are the ones for our key, we have to solder some cable in the keyboard circuit.

Before soldering the cables, use the dremel tool to remove the black material over the tracks in the circuit, this will help the solder to stick to the circuit.

I will solder cables for the "Ctrl", "Alt", "Right arrow", "Left arrow" and "Scroll Lock" because I'm using this circuit for another project in the near future. But U just need tosolder the cables for the scroll lock keys.

Image Notes1. The pins are shiny beneath the black coating, use the dremel brush toremove that coating.

Image Notes1. The key pins whitout the coating

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. Hold the cable with the dremel tweezer, and apply some solder over eachpin and cable

Image Notes1. This two are the cables for the scroll lock key. If you connect both wire endingsthe scrll lock will be "pressed" and the microcontroller will send the code to thecomputer. The rest of the cables are for the other keys that will be used foranother instrcutable very soon!2. I glued the cables to a small piece of wood found in a popsicle stick, this wasmade just to give a little bit strenght to the soldering

Step 5: Making the foot switch / pedalThen, you have to install the arcade switch in some kind of support. I used an old AMD processor cardboard box, very sturdy and lightweight.

1) Cut a hole in the box2) Remove the black switch of the button and screw down the yellow casing3) Tighten the yellow button with the plastic black nut4) Solder cable to the ends of the switch5) Attach the switch again to the arcade button and close the box

Image Notes1. Use the marker to draw the size of the hole

Image Notes1. Remove the switch by pulling this leg to the right, then hold the switch a little bitto the left and then pull it towards you. It will gently snap2. The removed switch

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. Cut the hole and spin the button to screw it into the box...

Image Notes1. Tighten the nut to hold the button to the box

Image Notes1. Put some wire in these two terminals, these are switched when you pressthe button

Image Notes1. Apply some solder to the cables and assemble back the switch to the buttoninside the box, then, close the box.

Step 6: Solder the foot switch to the keyboard microcontrollerSolder the two arcade switch cable endings to the soldered cables in the microcontroller, this way every time you press the button, the circuit will short, "pressing" theScroll Lock key.

I used another old nokia cellphone box to keep the brains of the circuit to be used later in future projects.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. Solder the footswitch cable ends to the previously soldered microcontrollercables.2. The rest of the cables will not be used in this project at this time, just the onesfor the scroll lock key

Image Notes1. Put the circuitry inside the tiny box, coincidentally, it's almost the exact size.

Image Notes1. Inside lies the brains and the cable reaches the exterior...

Step 7: Programming the Scroll Lock key to hide all the windowsSo far, the foot switch only presses the scroll lock key, which is kind of useless. We need a freeware program called AutoHotKey to tell the computer to minimize all whenwe press the key. This program has a lot of functionality (sadly, only under windows and not in Linux), but we will use just the basics. If you want more information youcan read the embedded help.

So:

1) Download the program from http://www.autohotkey.com/download/ download the "Install AutoHotKey" option.

2) Install the program, it's pretty straightforward

3) Then we have to program the code in a text file called minimize.ahk , you can find the file for downlad below, but in case you want an explanation of the code, here youhave:

SetScrollLockState, AlwaysOff ------------ this will turn off the scroll lock LED light

ScrollLock:: --------- if you press the Scroll Lock key, the function will minimize all the windowsWinMinimizeAllreturn

+ScrollLock:: -------- if you pres the Scroll Lock key, while holding the Shift key, all the windows will return to the screenWinMinimizeAllUndoreturn

You can download the file below, and save it inside the AutoHotkey folder in you computer.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. Once you install the AutoHotKey, this icon will be added to your taskbar

File Downloads

minimize.ahk (118 bytes)[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'minimize.ahk']

Step 8: Load the file automaticallyThen, we have to load the file everytime windows starts, so you have to add a shortcut inside the "Startup" folder under the "Programs" tab at the "Start" button underWindows XP

Just drag the shortcut to the "Startup" submenu under "Programs"...

Image Notes1. Here's the file with the script2. Create shortcut (sorry, my computer OS is in spanish)

Image Notes1. Here's the shorcut... just drag it to the "Start" button, then, over "Programs",and at last, over the "Star" sub folder

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

Image Notes1. There we have our shortcut, this will make to load the script everytime we startthe computer, so the footpedal always be enabled to minimize the windows

Step 9: The video of the pedalI guess you can see the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB0eY56Yr0U

Step 10: Done!! start hiding your windows!!! =PThen connect you fabulous pedal to your computer, I used a PS2 to USB adapter, so don't need to reboot anything.

Once you reboot (or load the script by right clicking in the AutoHotKey icon in the taskbar) you will be able to hide ALL the windows with just the press of a pedal!!!

And, if you press the pedal while holding the shift key, all the windows will be restored.

Well, this is a very quick computer MOD, you can use another kind of pedals, or a nicer box, but the idea is to kep it very simple.

This is my first instructable , so please let me know what you think about it!!!

THANK YOU!!!

=)

P.S. I have a video with the pedal working, but I don't know how to upload the videos, any help?

Image Notes1. The foot switch =)2. Inside this tiny box is the circuitry, than can be used for future projects... keep in touch3. This is the foot switch!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

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Comments

24 comments Add Comment

 bbear4 says:  Sep 9, 2011. 11:41 AM  REPLYLove it!

And just mentioning the other project, I had to go check that one out too! I started working on this and got frustrated trying to find the two pins to close the gapfor the keys I needed. I didn't think of using a multimeter rather than trial and error with a keyboard button test. It was a cool program though. It'll highlight thekeys you press on an on-screen keyboard so you know if they are working. I don't remember its name but a google search will find it along with multitudinousothers and might come in handy for someone reading this.

Now that you've shown me a better way to isolate the keys I need, I'm going to make a similar switch.

TY

 eliastorre says:  Sep 9, 2011. 11:49 AM  REPLYHey thanks to you for your comment!

Good luck with you project, hope this instructable helps you. Let me know if you need something else.

¡Cheers!

 Tubehacker01 says:  Dec 7, 2009. 10:50 AM  REPLYYeah, that's exactly what I got.However, I made this work by simply replacing ''+ScrollLock with Pause. It works perfectly now, so I'm more than happy.

I'm currently running win 7, maybe this has something to do with it...

 Tubehacker01 says:  Nov 28, 2009. 2:23 PM  REPLYHey! That file doesn't work, it only minimizes and doesn't undo :( Any ideas why?

GREAT INSTRUCTABLE +++++

 eliastorre says:  Dec 7, 2009. 8:15 AM  REPLYHi!

mmm I'm not sure why it is not working, do you have this on the file?

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////SetScrollLockState, AlwaysOff ScrollLock::WinMinimizeAllreturn +ScrollLock::WinMinimizeAllUndoreturn//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Just delete the dashes, keep the code and let me know

 daneframe says:  Jul 17, 2009. 8:11 AM  REPLYI've hacked Keyboards before, and usually use a Sharpie to trace the contacts, but this method of finding the correct pins saves a LOT of time andfrustration. Thanks for the post! :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

 darklucifer says:  May 11, 2009. 12:34 AM  REPLYwould it not be better to have it trigger the computer to "lock" instead of minimizing windows?, or perhaps minimize the windows and then lock?

 eliastorre says:  May 11, 2009. 9:17 AM  REPLYBut I guess the idea is to look as if you were actually working =P a locked screen looks more suspicious hehe

thanks for comment!

 kwah says:  Feb 25, 2009. 4:15 PM  REPLYJust a quick note that a Windows version of AutoHotKey is available (I currently have it installed in XP) - if anything, I think that you have gotten this wrongway around:

""This program is very powerful (sadly, only under linux) and has a lot of functionality, but we will use just the basics. If you want more information you canread the embedded help.""

That is in step 7 and to my knowledge, this is a Windows-only program that can be run under linux with WINE (it stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator) but dueto the way that WINE works, AHK has only very limited 'power' - something to do with WINE acting similarly to a sandbox I think but I would advise that youlook into that yourself if you're interested.

Anyhow, the point is that AutoHotKey is NOT linux-only.

Other that that minor correction and a couple of doubts re: bringing hardware into the workplace from home (that's not generally isn't commonplace.. is it?),its a Cool first Instructable =]

Keep up the good work!

-- Kwah

 eliastorre says:  Feb 25, 2009. 5:23 PM  REPLYAwww, you're right!! I dunno why I put that comment about linux, actually autohotkey is only under Windows, my mistake. I will update that ASAP.

Didn't get ur last comment about bringing the hardware =P

Thanks for ur comment!

 kwah says:  Feb 26, 2009. 2:47 AM  REPLYI didn't read/understand this 100% in depth but from what I can remember reading you are going to modify a keyboard and then plug modifiedkeyboard (with a foot pedal attatched) that into the computer. If you are going to use it at work then you've either got to modify your work's keyboardor bring one in from home.<br/><br/>If its like most offices I've heard / read about, something like this would be frowned upon at least a little (health &safety etc).. It might be worth noting that I'm in the UK.<br/><br/>{....}<br/><br/>I've just skimmed through again and it seems I might havemiunderstood slightly - the instructable is for creating a foot pedal that is completely seperate to the keyboard? <br/>I imagined that you were goingto short out the path from the scroll lock key to the controller using the foot switch but it seems that you were proposing to build something seperatefrom the keyboard that has its own USB port - effectively making the computer think that it has two keyboards attached to it?<br/><br/>Meh, maybeI'm wrong here too but my excuse is that I only skimmed through =P<br/><br/>Happy hacking<br/>

 eliastorre says:  Feb 26, 2009. 2:33 PM  REPLYYeah, your'e right about the second tought, this instructable is about hacking an extra keyboard, so yes, te computer thinks it has 2 keyboardsconnected at the same time. I have A LOT of old unused keyboards, I thouhgt this would be a nice end to them. Thanks again for reading!

 berky93 says:  Feb 11, 2009. 8:29 PM  REPLYlol I was just going to use the autohotkey script and modify it a bit to change what keypress hides all windows (and not bother with the foot switch, since Ihave a laptop and dont usually even have my feet on the gound) but then i read the comment about windows + d useful! still this is a great instructable

 pyrogoth says:  Nov 18, 2008. 6:51 PM  REPLYi would just like to say that you dont even need to bother with the auto hot key script at all, al ud need to do is find the "win:" and the "D" keys, and u couldmake a dual switch to press both or you could get one of those switches that are specifically made to be connected to two things at once and u only need topush 1 button, just an idea its a small bit of extra work but its worth it incase some1 pushes the scroll lock while playing a game or something other wisethere would b no use to haveing the switch because some1 could just push the scroll key but all in all a good instructable

 eliastorre says:  Nov 18, 2008. 8:47 PM  REPLYYeah, you're right. But the idea behind this was to show another use for both the feet and a almost-dead key. And keep the hardware as simple aspossible, like with this one switch button.

You can see other approach in the other instructable, where key combinations are used. For this specific instructable I tried to keep the hardware assimple and affordable possible, also this kind of arcade buttons are very sturdy, so it can withstand the stress under your feet.

Thanks for your comment!

 SeanJay says:  Nov 10, 2008. 11:25 AM  REPLYHey so doing this for my pre-IB personal project dont have a dremel tool is theyr anyway of doing this without it ??

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-stealth-footswitch-pedal-to-minimize-window/

 eliastorre says:  Nov 10, 2008. 12:34 PM  REPLYHi there! Don't worry, the dremel is just to make the work easier. You can use regular sandpaper to clean the tracks of the keyboard microcontroller. Askfor a sandpaper sheet at your local hardware shop. The sandpaper roughness is measured by a number, a bigger number, like 500, means smallergrains and a small number, like 10, means bigger grain. So, ask for a #500 sandpaper and use it to remove the black coating of the tracks. Or just ask fora soft sandpaper, and be careful to remove the black coating but not the copper layer. Hope this help you! Let me know, and thanks for watching!

 Guy.Fawkes says:  Oct 24, 2008. 11:56 AM  REPLY"add a shortcut inside the "Star" folder under the "Programs" tab at the "Start" button under Windows XP" On the English versions of Windows, the foldername is "Startup."

 eliastorre says:  Oct 24, 2008. 12:08 PM  REPLYUpdate made Thanks!

 Guy.Fawkes says:  Oct 24, 2008. 1:25 PM  REPLYNo hay de que. ;-)

 Padlock says:  Oct 23, 2008. 6:38 PM  REPLYWow! Perfect use for those old PS2 Keyboards.

 eliastorre says:  Oct 23, 2008. 7:33 PM  REPLYHaha, yeah! Instead of just catching dirt Thank you!

 gabo83 says:  Oct 23, 2008. 9:19 AM  REPLYA little bit crazy, but well done. Keep working !

 jackbravo says:  Oct 23, 2008. 7:02 AM  REPLYThis stuff is really neat, although a little frightening =P

nice instructable.