Custom Wireless Macropad

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The board is confirmed at 100 × 100 mm, 4-layer, with 180 placed components. A placement executor is still working on reducing the design to 22 RGBW LEDs total, centering 14 beneath the Choc switches, and distributing eight around the perimeter.
Remaining
  • Confirm the eight excess perimeter LEDs and capacitors were removed and the data chain repaired.
  • Verify concentric key LED placement, uniform perimeter spacing, top-edge USB access, antenna keepout, and overlaps.
  • Run final placement DRC.
I can’t complete or verify these steps because no ACUs are currently available.
Received notification from "Macropad LED Placement" that it finished — picking the work back up.

flux

The LED placement executor reports completion, but I cannot inspect or reconcile its committed changes because no ACUs are available.
Current target state:
  • 100 × 100 mm, 4-layer board
  • 14 RGBW LEDs centered beneath the Choc switches
  • 8 RGBW LEDs evenly distributed around the perimeter
  • Both USB-C ports on the top edge
  • Encoder top-left and joystick top-right
Remaining verification: confirm 22 LEDs total, repaired data chain, capacitor count, exact placement, USB/antenna clearances, overlaps, and placement DRC.
Verify current placement
Verify LED chain
Review clearances and DRC
Refine component placement
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Files

Schematic

Layout

Preview

K2
K11
K4
K7
J2
U2
K12
K3
K10
K8
K9
K5
J3
K1
K13
K6
J1
J4
K14
D10
C48
Capacitance
1uF
C53
Capacitance
1uF
D7
C35
Capacitance
22uF
C58
Capacitance
10nF
C46
Capacitance
22uF
D14
C6
Capacitance
100nF
D13
C3
Capacitance
100nF
C7
Capacitance
100nF
C42
Capacitance
10uF
D12
D8
C33
Capacitance
22uF
C38
Capacitance
4.7uF
C1
Capacitance
100nF
C55
Capacitance
100nF
C39
Capacitance
1uF
D9
C52
Capacitance
100nF
C24
Capacitance
100nF
C14
Capacitance
100nF
C18
Capacitance
100nF
C12
Capacitance
100nF
C11
Capacitance
100nF
C54
Capacitance
100nF
C4
Capacitance
100nF
C20
Capacitance
100nF
D2
C43
Capacitance
10uF
C37
Capacitance
22uF
C45
Capacitance
10uF
C61
Capacitance
100nF
C28
Capacitance
100nF
C10
Capacitance
100nF
C41
Capacitance
10uF
D1
C9
Capacitance
100nF
D5
C13
Capacitance
100nF
C8
Capacitance
100nF
D4
C50
Capacitance
10uF
C34
Capacitance
22uF
D11
C44
Capacitance
10uF
C59
Capacitance
10nF
C26
Capacitance
100nF
C40
Capacitance
10uF
C56
Capacitance
100nF
C2
Capacitance
100nF
D3
C36
Capacitance
22uF
C30
Capacitance
100nF
C16
Capacitance
100nF
C60
Capacitance
100nF
D6
C62
Capacitance
1uF
C5
Capacitance
100nF
C47
Capacitance
1uF
C49
Capacitance
1uF
C51
Capacitance
100nF
C15
Capacitance
100nF
C57
Capacitance
100nF
C22
Capacitance
100nF
C32
Capacitance
22uF
C63
Capacitance
1uF
R11
Resistance
100kΩ
R29
Resistance
330kΩ
LED9
LED6
R8
Resistance
330kΩ
R24
Resistance
10kΩ
TP2
TP8
R20
Resistance
330Ω
LED11
TP10
LED29
LED17
TP4
R27
Resistance
10kΩ
LED3
R5
Resistance
1MΩ
LED12
R25
Resistance
10kΩ
R18
Resistance
137kΩ
R6
Resistance
330kΩ
R10
Resistance
100kΩ
R3
Resistance
5.1kΩ
LED13
R9
Resistance
332kΩ
R16
Resistance
0Ω
R4
Resistance
5.1kΩ
LED7
R22
Resistance
1kΩ
LED21
R21
Resistance
100kΩ
R17
Resistance
1MΩ
R14
Resistance
10kΩ
LED10
TP1
R19
Resistance
100kΩ
LED23
LED1
TP5
LED2
R23
Resistance
1kΩ
R30
Resistance
10kΩ
R15
Resistance
332kΩ
TP7
LED19
R1
Resistance
5.1kΩ
TP6
R7
Resistance
1MΩ
TP3
LED8
R28
Resistance
1MΩ
LED14
R2
Resistance
5.1kΩ
TP9
LED4
R12
Resistance
1.78kΩ
LED25
LED27
R13
Resistance
10kΩ
LED15
R26
Resistance
10kΩ
LED5
U9
SW1
U6
VR1
U8
L1
Inductance
1uH
U3
U10
U1
U5
U11
L2
Inductance
1.5uH
U7
U4
Feasibility Note
Conclusion
The macropad is technically feasible using an nRF52840 BLE/USB architecture, but the lighting system and dual interchangeable USB-C ports are the two areas requiring the most careful design.
Key Feasibility Findings
  • Controls: Fourteen matrix keys, encoder, and two-axis joystick fit comfortably within nRF52840 GPIO/ADC capability when the keys are matrix-scanned.
  • Bluetooth and USB: nRF52840 supports low-power BLE HID and USB 2.0 device operation. ZMK is suitable for keyboard/encoder behavior; configurable analog joystick support will need custom development.
  • Dual USB-C: Two equivalent ports are feasible, but their data pairs cannot be tied together. A USB 2.0 analog switch/mux and safe port-detection/selection method are required. The 5 V inputs also need reverse-current blocking or power multiplexing.
  • Battery: A 2100 mAh cell can support multi-day intermittent use if deep-sleep current is low and lighting is aggressively managed.
  • Lighting: Individually controlled key and perimeter RGBW lighting can dominate consumption. Maximum-brightness runtime will be measured in hours, not days; battery-mode current limits, inactivity dimming, and complete sleep shutoff are mandatory.
  • Mechanical: A thin build is realistic with Choc switches, but the joystick, encoder body, hot-swap sockets, battery thickness, light diffuser, and enclosure stack-up will determine the final height.
Main Risks and Mitigations

Table

RiskMitigation
LED peak current exceeds battery/regulator/thermal capabilityEstablish total LED count and enforce rail-level and firmware current limits
Poor warm-white/RGB optical mixingPrototype LED placement with intended translucent keycaps and perimeter diffuser
USB ports back-feed or contendUse dedicated power ORing and USB 2.0 data mux; specify one-host-at-a-time behavior
BLE range reduced by battery/enclosureUse certified module, preserve antenna keepout, keep battery and metal hardware away
Joystick center driftAdd calibration, filtering, dead zone, and stable analog reference/power
Multi-day runtime not achievedMeasure mode currents, shorten LED timeout, lower battery-mode brightness, and power-gate LED rail
Develop the schematic architecture and quantitative power budget together. First select the nRF52840 module, joystick, LED approach, charger/power-path IC, USB data mux, and battery connector; then calculate worst-case and typical currents before committing to regulator and protection ratings.

  • Conclusion

  • Key Feasibility Findings

  • Main Risks and Mitigations

  • Recommended Next Engineering Step