qmk-firmware/doc/USB_NKRO.txt

USB NKRO MEMO
=============
2010/12/09


References
----------
USB - boot mode, NKRO, compatibility, etc...
    http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=13162
NKey Rollover - Overview, Testing Methodology, and Results
    http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=NKey+Rollover+-+Overview+Testing+Methodology+and+Results
dfj's NKRO(2010/06)
    http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=191195&postcount=251
    http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?p=204389#post204389


Terminology
---------
NKRO
ghost
matrix
mechanical with diodes
membrane


OS Support Status
-----------------
USB NKRO is possible *without* a custom driver.
At least following OS's supports.
    Windows7 64bit
    WindowsXP
    Windows2000 SP4
    Ubuntu10.4(Linux 2.6)
    MacOSX(To be tested)


Custom Driver for USB NKRO
--------------------------
NOT NEEDED
at least when using following report formats on Windows, Linux or MacOSX.


USB NKRO methods
----------------
1. Virtual keyboards
    Keyboard can increase its KRO by using virtual keyboards with Standard or Extended report.
    If the keyboard has 2 virtual keyboard with Standard report(6KRO), it gets 12KRO.
    Using this method means the keyboard is a composite device.

2. Extended report
    It needs large report size for this method to achieve NKRO.
    If a keyboard has 101keys, it needs 103byte report. It seems to be inefficient.

3. Bitmap report
    If the keyboard has less than 128keys, 16byte report will be enough for NKRO.
    The 16byte report seems to be reasonable cost to get NKRO.


Report Format
-------------
Other report formats than followings are possible, though these format are typical one.

1. Standard             8bytes
    modifiers(bitmap)       1byte
    reserved                1byte(not used)
    keys(array)             1byte*6
Standard report can send 6keys plus 8modifiers simultaneously.
Standard report is used by most keyboards in the marketplace.
Standard report is identical to boot protocol report.
Standard report is hard to suffer from compatibility problems.

2. Extended standard    16,32,64bytes
    modifiers(bitmap)       1byte
    reserved                1byte(not used)
    keys(array)             1byte*(14,32,62)
Extended report can send N-keys by using N+2bytes.
Extended report is expected to be compatible with boot protocol.

3. Bitmap               16,32,64bytes
    keys(bitmap)            (16,32)bytes
Bitmap report can send at most 128keys by 16bytes and 256keys by 32bytes.
Bitmap report can achieve USB NKRO efficiently in terms of report size.
Bitmap report needs a deliberation for boot protocol implementation.
Bitmap report descriptor sample:
        0x05, 0x01,                     // Usage Page (Generic Desktop),
        0x09, 0x06,                     // Usage (Keyboard),
        0xA1, 0x01,                     // Collection (Application),
        // bitmap of modifiers
        0x75, 0x01,                     //   Report Size (1),
        0x95, 0x08,                     //   Report Count (8),
        0x05, 0x07,                     //   Usage Page (Key Codes),
        0x19, 0xE0,                     //   Usage Minimum (224),
        0x29, 0xE7,                     //   Usage Maximum (231),
        0x15, 0x00,                     //   Logical Minimum (0),
        0x25, 0x01,                     //   Logical Maximum (1),
        0x81, 0x02,                     //   Input (Data, Variable, Absolute), ;Modifier byte
        // LED output report
        0x95, 0x05,                     //   Report Count (5),
        0x75, 0x01,                     //   Report Size (1),
        0x05, 0x08,                     //   Usage Page (LEDs),
        0x19, 0x01,                     //   Usage Minimum (1),
        0x29, 0x05,                     //   Usage Maximum (5),
        0x91, 0x02,                     //   Output (Data, Variable, Absolute),
        0x95, 0x01,                     //   Report Count (1),
        0x75, 0x03,                     //   Report Size (3),
        0x91, 0x03,                     //   Output (Constant),
        // bitmap of keys
        0x95, (REPORT_BYTES-1)*8,	//   Report Count (),
        0x75, 0x01,                     //   Report Size (1),
        0x15, 0x00,                     //   Logical Minimum (0),
        0x25, 0x01,                     //   Logical Maximum(1),
        0x05, 0x07,                     //   Usage Page (Key Codes),
        0x19, 0x00,                     //   Usage Minimum (0),
        0x29, (REPORT_BYTES-1)*8-1,	//   Usage Maximum (),
        0x81, 0x02,                     //   Input (Data, Variable, Absolute),
        0xc0                            // End Collection
where REPORT_BYTES is a report size in bytes.


Considerations
--------------
Compatibility
    boot protocol
    minor/old system
        Some BIOS doesn't send SET_PROTOCOL request, a keyboard can't switch to boot protocol mode.
        This may cause a problem on a keyboard which uses other report than Standard.
Reactivity
    USB polling time
    OS/Driver processing time


Windows Problem
---------------
1. Windows accepts only 6keys  in case of Standard report.
        It should be able to send 6keys plus 8modifiers.
2. Windows accepts only 10keys in case of 16bytes Extended report.
        It should be able to send 14keys plus 8modifiers.
3. Windows accepts only 18keys in case of 32bytes Extended report.
        It should be able to send 30keys plus 8modifiers.
If keys are pressed in excess of the number, wrong keys are registered on Windows.

This problem will be reportedly fixed soon.(2010/12/05)
    http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=30873364&postcount=17


Tools for testing NKRO
----------------------
Browser App:
http://www.microsoft.com/appliedsciences/content/projects/KeyboardGhostingDemo.aspx
http://random.xem.us/rollover.html

Windows:
AquaKeyTest.exe http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=6643

Linux:
xkeycaps
xev
showkeys

EOF