ESP32 as Bluetooth Keyboard

Description:

• ESP32 has BLE support thus it can be used as Bluetooth Keyboard with open source library
• Compatible with Windows,Linux,Android,MacOSX,iOS

Concept:

Making use of the Blutooth Capability of ESP32 board,we are going to send keystrokes to the device we want to. Various use cases are possible:

• Automating any set of actions
• Taking a photo with a hand trigger
• and many more

Parts Required:

• ESP32 Board
• Push buttons
• Jumper wires

Schematics:

Instructions:

1. Load Arduino IDE
2. Install the library from here (https://github.com/T-vK/ESP32-BLE-Keyboard/releases)
3. Add the .ZIP library from the sketch menu
4. Make the connections according to the schematic
5. Try out the below codes:

Space bar button

• Upload the below code
• Connect with PC using Bluetooth
• Open "chrome://dino" and start playing

//D13       Button pin
//3.3V      Connected to the other leg of the button

#include <BleKeyboard.h>
//Set the name of the bluetooth keyboard (that shows up in the bluetooth menu of your device)
BleKeyboard bleKeyboard("ESP_KEYBOARD");

const int buttonPin = 13;
//Set the old button state to be LOW/false; which means not pressed
boolean oldPinState = LOW;

void setup() {
  //Start the Serial communication (with the computer at 115200 bits per second)
  Serial.begin(115200);
  //Send this message to the computer
  Serial.println("Starting BLE work!");
  //Begin the BLE keyboard/start advertising the keyboard (so phones can find it)
  bleKeyboard.begin();
  //Make the button pin an INPUT_PULLDOWN pin, which means that it is normally LOW, untill it is pressed/ connected to the 3.3V
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLDOWN);
}

void loop() {

  if (bleKeyboard.isConnected()) {
    //if the keyboard is connected to a device
    if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH) {
      //If the button pin is pressed (since it is pulled down, it is pressed when it is high)
      if (oldPinState == LOW) {
        //if the old Pin state was LOW and the button pin is HIGH than...
        //send the spacebar
        bleKeyboard.print(" ");
      }
      oldPinState = HIGH;
    } else {
      oldPinState = LOW;
    }
  }
  delay(10);
}

Play/Pause button

• Upload the below code
• Connect with Phone using Bluetooth
• Play your favourite music playlist,and now you can play pause the song using the ESP_keyboard

#include <BleKeyboard.h>
//Set the name of the bluetooth keyboard (that shows up in the bluetooth menu of your device)
BleKeyboard bleKeyboard("ESP_KEYBOARD");

const int buttonPin = 13;
//Set the old button state to be LOW/false; which means not pressed
boolean oldPinState = LOW;
int state = 0;

void setup() {
  //Start the Serial communication (with the computer at 115200 bits per second)
  Serial.begin(115200);
  //Send this message to the computer
  Serial.println("Starting BLE work!");
  //Begin the BLE keyboard/start advertising the keyboard (so phones can find it)
  bleKeyboard.begin();
  //Make the button pin an INPUT_PULLDOWN pin, which means that it is normally LOW, untill it is pressed/ connected to the 3.3V
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLDOWN);
}

void loop() {

  if (bleKeyboard.isConnected()) {
if (state == 0 && digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH) {
    state = 1;
    bleKeyboard.write(KEY_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE);
  }
  if (state == 1 && digitalRead(buttonPin) == LOW) {   
    state = 0;
  }
  }
  delay(10);
}