Mike:
I do have 2 column drivers still on single duty. But this morning I broke out the magnifier and soldered cat whiskers onto the ssot6 device. Replaced the 2n3906 and used a 1k gate resistor after the 1/4 voltage divider and it works great. Zero leakage.
Mike if this project is successful I may very well license it....and so I have to limit disclosure. I have nearly maxed out the 16f886, there are no free pins, 75% of code space used, 98% of eeprom used, 85% of GPR.
However, I have gone from zero MCU ability 4 months ago to this level with the help of this forum, mainly you. In return wherever I can I will extract working parts of the design to help others here. As i have done with the PWM code snippet and the debounce code for short press, long press, trigger on make and trigger on break, 8 switch, parallel debounce. Your core code sample formed the basis of that work.
I am trying to get funding to launch an innovation incubator in my tiny 3rd world country. Engineers here tend to operate on a buy imported equipment, put down a factory/industry and then do maintenance. Very little local innovation. I hope to make a dent in that and start training graduate engineers to think differently. Your help and that of this forum might just yield life changing results for some folks down here.
thanks again!