This, my friends, is what the word "awesome" is made for.

Indeed, this is so awesome I would call it SUPER AWESOME. And for all you morons on irc that like mixed case, this is the tool for you! Just reprogram it for 1-3 seconds!

Nice hack. BTW, you need a vacuum cleaner. :)

ummm schematics and code plz I cannot wait to print this board =)

CAPS LOCK SWITCHER FTW

hmn, methinks I am about to become annoying on a level that I have never attained before.
work colleagues beware!

This is such an awesome/hilarious idea. Can u give us the source code?

THIS IS NOT FUNNY SOMEONE DID THIS TO MY COMPUTER AND I CAN'T FIND THE CHIP THAT'S CAUSING IT

I want one.

so can you make more and sell them? i would buy about 10 of these little buggers and place them on the computers at work.

Next, a version for the internal USB header, think this one is hard to spot?

Use a CD Rom audio cable and tuck this up above the CD rom drive.

Change the code to a PC mouse HID and flip the scroll wheel or jig the X and Y randomly :D, this is so evil, and at the same time awesome.

Digital Super Glue for pranksters ;)

it looks like the PCB is 1/2 the thickness of the slot, why not make the board double sided (making the whole device remain inside the USB socket) hence it will only be possible to remove with tweezers...
the splinter in the toe of the PC.
--
Conor

This is precisely the kind of office mischief Thinkgeek adores. You should send this their way, see if they could hook you up with the guys who make the Annoyatron.

man, that is a really cooL IDEA OH CRAP SOMEONE GOT ME

I HaVe BuILT this BUT I thINK there IS an ISSUe with the INternal CloCK CIrcuit On THE uniT AS it SeeMS TO BE RUnning RANDom BUT WAy Too FasT.

Could you make it press insert?

I want one really bad!!!! I will buy one off of you!! It would be cool if you could use the scancode for the escape key or CTRL-ALT-DEL or watever

This is a nice practical joke to use cautiously. Employers paying salaries for lost productivity caused by a malicious act could consider it sabotage. This could lead to disciplanary actions, dismissal, or even a law suit. Individuals who lose their precious time or lose valuable resources to a "joke" might sue you. It is funny until someone get hurt by the joke.

I know many persons with limited troubleshooting and computer skills that this prank could push over the edge emotionally. Please use your gifts to better someone's day.

^^^ Killjoy...

This would be a fun plan to play on someone somewhat (some, some, some...) techy, it'll drive them more nuts not being able to fix it.

Garrett, is this the chip you used?
Atmel ATtiny45-20SU

Garret - Source code??? Can you post or send. Is it in ASM?

Can you post a complete parts list with Digikey part numbers by chance? Thanks!

this is SWEET! its torture for sure! My room mate uses a mac, will this still work?

This has great potential for troubleshooting. Can you make one that simulates holding down shift or option (or switchable between both) so I can pop it in, boot the computer and walk away knowing it will boot into safe mode?

Wow. The amount of people without a sense of humor really disturbs me. I think it's awesome, so long as you're not so cruel to not eventually let your "prey" off the hook.

Talk about ingenuity. This is so beautifully simple, and the fact that you're using a firmware based USB core is also amazing.

Now, to you losers posting your idiocy:

If you can't see the beauty of how simple this little project is, regardless of it's intended use, you're a tech/hack midget.

It's also amazing that a bunch of you morons who can't pull your heads out long enough to see this as potentially, mind you, potentially funny are posting their flame-bait as "Anonymous". Losers post flames as "Anonymous".

hehe.. :) Awesome.

Resetting someone's background using keyboard shortcuts or launching particularly colourful web pages comes to mind.

BTW I might have a use for this project, having lost yet another pendrive to USB port flakiness. Watch Hackaday :)

-A

plug it in to the internal usb headers, but solder it onto the back of the mobo, sending random keycodes like:

-Alt+F4
-Alt+Tab
-Win+L
-Win+D
-Win+E
-Ctrl+Z
-Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN

Thanks for the code Garrett!

Bummer, I do ASM & BASCOM, not really C
Also needed to run it on the AtTiny85 ('cause I have them) which only does 8MHz internal RC clock
I may be able to tweak it a bit.......

Just having a chuckle to myself...

How about a random Tyrrets version
Ha ha f'ing ha

Did you program it through the usb header - i.e. only connecting to reset and pin 6 by clip? I'm wondering if the 2k resistor (or the two 68s for that matter) will affect the programming?

Ok. I can't think of a reason off the top of my head why this won't work, so maybe someone can verify for me.

What if I were to solder a 2-position surface mount dip switch between the Vcc rail and pins 2 and 3. Couldn't we then Modify the code to read a value from the two ADC lines and switch the keyboard output by flipping switches instead of reprogramming?

I would sh*t myself with fear if I found that thing sticking out of my USB drive, wipe my HDs, burn the entire contents of my filing cabinet, and probably flee the country.

You do realise that this is kind of like posting something like a newspaper that no one will notice and set off a firecracker to scare someone when they walk by.truly hilarious until you get dissapeared by the government because some douchebag sticks a bomb in it. sometime soon some jackass is going to load an identity theft or some other kind of vicious program on one of these and YOU are going to be blamed. it really sucks that this is probably going to be the situation, but you should probably post a disclaimer of some sort. BTW ive already made a couple that switches the caps lock key on and off by 50,000 divided by the fiobinacci sequence. every time it switches the caps lock on and off it goes to the next term in the fiobinacci sequence, increasing the frequency. ;) happy trails and be safe in this world of fear mongering and control

This is really cool. I am trying to get into AVR microcontrollers, and to learn how to program too. I'm still a beginner though. I already have a programmer though. http://ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/index.html

I'd like to attempt to make one of these. Mainly for learning purposes.

First, I'd like to know what AVR's I should buy. I'd like to try this with DIP style type first, as I've never worked with surface mount devices, and not much electronics in general.

I was thinking of either ATtiny45V-10PU or ATtiny45-20PU. I'm not sure whether the 10 mhz or 20 mhz is needed. I don't think it matters, since you set the fuses, but i have no idea. Would either the ATtiny85V-10PU or ATtiny85-20PU work too?

Second, I'd like some sort of help with how to set the fuses. I've never done it before. I'm using avrdude if that helps. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

If you guys want to really start ballin with the big dogs, you should check out the MSP430, but that kinda takes some serious education and development tools to implement. It's kinda worth it though, I took a course at the local tech school to use it and the thing is crazy its just like "oh hey, i do absolutely everything you could ever want a microcontroller to do, oh and by the way there are like 20 million variartions of me for almost every kind of specialized task" downside, they are like $11+ just for a standalone chip, generally about 80 pins, and only come in SOIC

You could also make it open the cd drive over and over

if you load the data onto a normal flash drive and use the auto play, will that work also?

I just started putting mine together and wanted to add to your section on etching & soldering. If you coat the PCB with a clear Acrylic spray paint after removing the toner it will act as a sealant to protect the copper from oxidation. You'll still need to tin the USB connection pins, but the other traces will be protected. It will also act as a flux to prevent solder crossover to adjacent pins.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for a programmer to use? Preferably something less than $40. thanks

I got a couple of cheap 70 cent USB cables from monoprice, and cut off the ends. I used that in place of making my own connector. i know it costs a little more, but it saves some aggravation in the end.

the dust is driving me mad!

nice design - compared to the us-geek thing
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/a11e/

how do u actually load the software onto it?
put a adapter and connect it to the comp?
or straight from the circuit/

would someone be willing to make and sell these. I will order a few if they are reasonably priced. Or is there already somewhere to buy it pre-made?

Will it work on a MAC!!???

How soon can we get one, or a kit, from Make Magazine's store or Thinkgeek?

It SHOULD work on a mac, since it is displayed as a generic keyboard. But, who knows for sure.

..and for a nice cheap $20 programmer check here:

http://ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/index.html

or

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16&produc...

P.S. I still need help selecting a DIP chip, and need help with fuses. Please help.

C1 location on the PCB must be before VCC goes to pin 8, not after it! While electrical connection is the same, there is a difference in terms of noise immunity.

lots of dust.

Thanks JT,

That help ALOT.

The programmer software I've been using is Avrdude. I will ask around a bit, and see if I can get info for it specifically for avrdude. If not, I'll look into the program you suggested.

Thanks,

-Andrew
(keen101)

pwnage !!!

Nasty, very nasty. I must get one.

now that is luscious! that will drive anyone freakin insane. nice work.

How do you get the 3V for usb DATA from the 5V from VUSB ?
this wont work with all USB chips

I want to make one of these for my old mac G4 so I can have it boot into target disk mode with out a keyboard on it. I am curious if the mac is going to make and annoying noise to have it just hold Ctl+t after it has been booted. This might make my old G4 really useful again.

For those of you looking for cheap programmers, a parallel port adapter with PonyProg won't work. As soon as I try to uncheck clock/8 the program somehow flips all lock bits and disables the reset pin.

I finally gave up and order an AVR Dragon. That should keep me busy with plenty of AVRs.

Hello!

Would it be possible to BUY one of these from you guys?

Frankly, I have no idea how to do any of this stuff, but I'd really like one of these.

Hello,

I have build your device, too bad it does'nt work :(
I've used 68R and the 2K as in your schematic, programmed my attiny45 with bascom avr and set the fuse's to Divide/8 off and 10001 pll 1K.
I use an attiny 45 20PU (dip) tried your hex file and the one of easylogger.

Hah!

Excellent!

Alright! I just got my AVR Dragon in. Set some fuses and and it works! Haha, awesome idea and implementation. I can't wait to mess around with the programming.

Oh, for what it's worth I have 68? resistors and it works in every computer I've tried so far (~5). I'm going to try and pick up some 300s just in case though.

I AGREE, CAN WE PURCHASE ONE OF THESE OFF YOU?

Simply brilliant!!

:OD
I want mine!! can someone sell one on ebay??

Are the resistors necessary?

Ive got it just wired up to a USB port and... Nothing

I dont have the resistors.

I dont check here often, so if you could email me plz...

Nice. Wonder how hard it would be to adapt for a PIC? (I have no Amtel experience)

I have a question on the source code. I've been playing around with it and modified buildReport as follows.

static void buildReport(void)
{
uchar mod = 0;
uchar key = 0;
KeyPress = rand() % 2;

if(reportCount == 0 && KeyPress == 0){
mod = 0;
key = 0x04;}

if(reportCount == 0 && KeyPress == 1){
mod = 0xE1;
key = 0x04;}

reportCount++;
reportBuffer[0] = mod; /* modifiers */
reportBuffer[1] = key;}

If I use 0xE2 as a mod key I can simulate an Alt-Tab, but if I use E1 or E5 to try and simulate the shift key nothing happens. Is there any particular reason it wouldn't work?

How do you set the fuse bits in WinAVR?

I got it working!!!!

Big Thanks to JT!

I successfully made a DIP circuit using an ATTINY85-20PU.

The hardest part was figuring out the fuses with avrdude.

but, the avr calculator helped me out.

http://palmavr.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/fc.cgi?P_PREV=ATtiny85&P=ATtiny85...

anyway... I figured out the fuses. (thanks to JT's suggestion to "disable the Clock Division by 8 feature)

The correct values are:

avrdude -c usbtiny -p t85 -U lfuse:w:0xc1:m -U hfuse:w:0xDF:m -U efuse:w:0xFF:m

-Andrew
(keen101)

I really loved the term "stumblepede" :)

Googled for it, and seems like you just migth be the inventor of a new word...

i have a little problem, the device is not recognised when plugged before the PC is powered, it goes into a loop of connect and disconect.
I think it is because it does not manage the suspend mode ...

lol, see, don't ask him to make the Alt-F4 or app closing etc etc, just program it urself ^_^ its not that hard ppl

nice project indeed. I don't know well the AVR familly, but how do you connect to the USB with a uC which does not include a USB transceiver ?

Hello. I made the device, as described in your article. Payment is not made. All posted on the circuit board.

My device:

http://radikal.ru/F/i017.radikal.ru/0805/d3/3a167d8628f9.jpg.html

http://radikal.ru/F/i008.radikal.ru/0805/ad/0d10bec5203e.jpg.html

Uploaded firmware in Microcontroller. Insert the device in a computer's USB port. And the device is not defined. I even tried to change Microcontroller - that does not work. Errors in the scheme no. All collected as you. HEX file downloaded to your page. I do AVR microcontrollers already 3 years. But only write in Assembly, so check your code I can not. I hope for your help.

Write to me mura-vey@mail.ru

Hehe,
This is awesome!
Hows about Ctrl + Alt + Del,
or Alt + Tab,
Or anything!!!

I am confused as to how you program the chip. Is it possable that you can put up some detailed instructions??

If you are using avrdude, and a USBtiny programmer to program your chip, then this is how you set the fuse bits.

avrdude -c usbtiny -p t85 -U lfuse:w:0xc1:m -U hfuse:w:0xDF:m -U efuse:w:0xFF:m

http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/

http://www.ladyada.net/learn/avr/avrdude.html

Could you please post the schematics for the adapter? Also are we allowed to make and sell these? (do you require a cut of the profits or something if we do?)

I don't have a schematic for the adapter...basically, it's a USB connector to provide ISP power and ground and two other pins. The remaining two pins are connected with test clips, or feel free to figure out some other neat solution.I don't care if someone wants to make and sell this...the code is mostly not mine anyway. Maybe in a month or two I'll refine the design and code and put some up for sale :)

Hello,

i thought of soo many kewl and fun tricks i could do with this device, so i bought all of the parts needed to through it together and i have made the device, i ordered the programmer and got it, now... how do i hook this to the programmer to program it? im pretty new to this(first time) and i really have no clue. if someone could help me out with how to get the programming done i would greatly appreciate it and possibly pay you for your time. feel free to email me at rubymaster3000+had@gmail.com i am a programmer and i know many languages from basic - asm. i just dont know much about compiling and putting the code onto the chip.

thanks
frank

pretty much i dont know what pins on the chip goto what pins on the programmer....

hmmm i was just wondering would either of these work? if not why is it that they wont? im just trying to learn all that i can. thanks
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk140/franklinjlj/work.jpg

Reminds me of an old Amiga program I wrote that hooked into the global input handler and would gradually start eating mouse-right and mouse-down events, to simulate the way a dirty mouse ball would tend to move more in one direction than the other. It was infuriating.

If your computer's USB cannot handle the 5V on the data lines, you can use an LED between the power line and the power pin. This works well on my laptop and is easier to implement than 2 diodes.

When i print this with eagle...do i select to mirror it?

This is a cool project.
It does not work with my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T60). Damn IBM.
Works great with my desktop.

Unfortunately, all of my nearby co-workers use these laptops.

I successfully built the project! Thanks a lot!

I was thinking of changing the key from capslock to using the windows-key + L to lock a windows pc. Any thoughts on how to change the code to be able to use a combination of keys? (also useful for people wanting to create the ALT+F4 or CTRL+ALT+DEL versions)

Heh, Reminds me of a prank I pulled one time. I was working as a debug tech, and I had a bench back to back with another tech, I reached under the bench and plugged a USB keyboard and mouse into his PC. I started hitting random keystrokes every now and again when I heard him typing, Then when he'd turn his back I'd hit the windows key or alt+F4. When he was trying to use his mouse I'd move mine around slightly to give him a case of "Drunk Mouse" He got really upset. But it was all in good fun. After a while he thought it was a pretty good prank.

I'd also like to mention I'd love to buy a couple of these if the price was right.

I have just rebuilt this with a PIC10F200... It only sticks out of the USB port by 8mm !!

I have also added a buzzer to the circuit, so i can randomly make it go beep. lol

Thanks for the idea! ;)

I did it!

Boy did I lEARN A LOT ... haha! that was the device turning on the caps lock.

Anyway, I copied everything that I could make out from your images. I made my boards from your image, used the SMD components and even figured out how to make your target board.

Now I'm beginning to learn avrdude... the fuses scare me but that link to the AVR Fuse Calculator is excellent.

ThANKS AGAIN! -- hehe, yeah, the device again.

Device Not recongized

When I plug this into my desktop, I getting the "USB Device Not recongized" popup warning. Any Ideas ... I'm running XP

Thanks, for the ideas... can someone send me there fuse setting

CKSEL0 -1
CKSEL1 -0
CKSEL2 -0
CKSEL3 -0
SUT0 -1
SUTO1 -0
CKDIV8 -1

Hi guys. I have problem with this device. It works fine (ATtinny85-20, zene diodes are placed), but after reseting (powerup too) my computer Windows XP does not recognized CAPSLOCKER. I do same test on three different systems, but result is same.
Any ideas?

Great idea.
Got it to work after a couple days.
I recommend changing your parts list that people are buying parts from because the 68 ohm resistors dont quite cut it on a lot of computers.
I'm using some 470s I had laying around and they've worked on every computer I've tried it on so far.

If any of you successfully built this project, then i am going to bet you are going to love this project which is basically the same code and same parts list. But, you put it inside an old NES or SNES controller. I was surprised that the same exact parts (and code practically) were used in a SNES to USB converter. Awesome!!

http://hobbyelektronik.org/wiki/index.php?title=SNES-Joypad

it's in German though. I successfully used Google translate to dis-cipher enough to build it. http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fhobbyelektronik.org...

can this be used as a 1 key keyboard with the f8 code of keboard entered and activated with a external switch

how about setting it so it does windows key + m to minimise all open programs, that would anoy the hel out of me.

Thanks for the idea, working great today ;-)

Did you ever get to the point of selling these? I'm just not a builder with really small stuff. What a riot.

Thanks for the info on this. It got me into building circuit so I could build it.

Hi all,

I've built a CapsLocker too, and would like to have it send a sequence of keystrokes instead of just one single key.
No matter what I try I end up having the device send at most a combination of two simultaneous keystrokes..
I'm a total noob with C, but can write code in python and basic. ;)

What is needed to have this marvelous little toy send, say, "hello world" instead of just "nothing+capsLock"?

Any help appreciated.