I am new to PCB Design and wanted to create my own Macro Keyboard. Everything in the ERC is fixed and good to go. But my issue is showing up in the DRC between a connection point of some kind from 2 different route tracks. I updated my clearances for my grounding planes and thought that may fix it but no luck. Thought it could be a grounding island type deal. But I am seeing my symbols being named the same thing in the column vs the individual key switch names from the schematic.
Could someone possibly take a look? I’m sure it is something simple that I am just missing being a newbie. Thank you very much for any input!
Your schematic probably does not work as intended. MX1, MX5, MX8, MX11 and MX14 are all shorted to each other, and the same for the other columns of your “matrix”. I am guessing that you did not draw these shorts on the PCB, and that KiCad is therefore complaining about this mismatch. A keyboard matrix normally works differently, and both the rows and the columns are connected to the uC, which then “scans the matrix”. This way you need much less pins so you can use the rest for other functions.
Another option is to use an IC like the Holtek 16k33. This is an IC that can drive an LED matrix and do keyboard scanning at the same time, and is connected by I2C to your uC. There are also chinese clones of these chips which you can find on various cheap chinese led display boards. But (some of?) those clones may (or may not) have omitted the keyboard scan part.
From how you have drawn it, it looks that you wanted to have matrix keyboard, but at the same time…
It looks that you want all switches to be connected one end to GND (what is contrary to the idea of ​​a matrix keyboard) so there is no idea to draw them 45° inclined between row and column wires. You can draw all them in one row with bottom pins being connected to GND.
You can do an internet search for “matrix keyboard arduino” and see even ready made projects. This forum is for questions and discussion about KiCad.
I think it’s a good idea to start by reading and understanding several examples of systems that have already been designed by someone and are being used by many people.
For example, here you can easily find examples designed with KiCAD.
I entered the search term “keyboard matrix” and searched in order of the number of stars, and found a good-looking example in just 2 seconds.
I think if you start by looking at things like this, you’ll no longer be a beginner.
Thank you for these references @tama these will help me with my future endeavors! I stumbled across a different way for the matrix and no more issues! Thank you everyone for the replies and help.
