Digital joystick control interface system for video games and the like

• US 4,142,180 A
• Filed: 04/06/1977
• Issued: 02/27/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Burson, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall
• Application Number:
  US05/785,145
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 340/324 AD, 340/365 S, 273/85 G, 273/DIG. 28, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04707 with ball joint
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04748 Position sensor for rotary movement, e.g. potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/037 using the raster scan of a cathode-ray tube [CRT] for detecting the position of the member, e.g. light pens cooperating with CRT monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/024 using colour registers, e.g. to control background, foreground, surface filling G09G5/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital joystock is interfaced to a video game by utilizing diodes for isolation and providing means for strobing the digital joystick. In this manner, the number of conductors required in the cable coupling the digital joystick to the video game circuitry is significantly reduced. In one embodiment, a matrix-type keyboard is included in the remote control unit without adding a significant number of additional conductors. Furthermore, the multiplexer ordinarily required to couple the conductors from the digital joystick and the matrix keyboard is eliminated by this technique.

Claims

1. A digital joystick control interface system comprising:

(a) at least one digital joystick control having a shaft member which is moveable in any direction in an X-Y plane to selected points in said plane, said joystick control including;

(i) first and second sets of switch means controlled by said shaft member, said first set of switch means for generating a digital-coded signal representative of the X coordinate of said shaft member in said X-Y plane, and said second set of switches for generating a digital-coded signal representative of the Y coordinate of said shaft member in said X-Y plane,

(ii) means coupling one terminal of each switch in said first set to a first common terminal, and

(iii) means coupling a second terminal of each switch in said second set to a second common terminal;

(b) a digital processor having a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of output terminals;

(c) a common data bus having a plurality of conductors respectively coupled to the input terminals of said digital processor;

(d) a first set of P-N junction devices respectively coupling second terminals of each switch in said first set to a respective conductor of said common data bus;

(c) a second set of P-N junction devices respectively coupling second terminals of each switch in said second set to a respective conductor of said data bus in common with said first set;

(f) means coupling said first common terminal to a first output terminal of said digital processor; and

(g) means coupling said second common terminal to a second output terminal of said digital processor; and

(h) said digital processor including means for selectively strobing said first and second output terminals whereby the X and Y coordinate data is separately received at the input terminals of said digit processor via said common data bus.

2. The interface system according to claim 1 including:

(a) a keyboard matrix having first and second sets of terminals wherein closure of a key of said keyboard completes a conductive path between a terminal of said first set and a terminal of said second set;

(b) means coupling said first set of terminals of said keyboard to other output terminals of said digital processor; and

(c) a plurality of P-N junction devices coupling respective ones of said second set of terminals of said keyboard to respective conductors of said common data bus in common with said first and second sets of switches, said digital processor including means for selectively strobing said other output terminals wherein keyboard information is selectively received at said input terminals via said common data bus.

3. The interface system according to claim 1 including a video display device coupled to further output terminals of said digital processor wherein the image generated by said video display device is controlled by said digital processor in accordance with the relative X and Y coordinates of said shaft member as received over said common data bus.

4. The interface system according to claim 2, wherein said digital joystick and keyboard are located in a remote unit from said digital processor.

5. The interface system according to claim 2 including pull-up resistor means coupling said common data bus conductors to said digital processor means to cause said conductors to go to a "high" logic level wherein a strobe signal on the output terminal of said digital processor transmitted via a switch of one of said first or second sets or said keyboard causes the respective line of said data bus to go to a "low" logic level.

6. A digital joystick control interface system comprising:

(a) first and second remote control units each including;

(i) a digital joystick control having a shaft member which is moveable in any direction in an X-Y plane to selected points in said plane, said joystick control including first and second sets of switch means controlled by said shaft member, said first set of switch means for generating a digital-coded signal representative of the X coordinate of said shaft member in said X-Y plane, and said second set of switches for generating a digital-coded signal representative of the Y coordinate of said shaft member in said X-Y plane, means coupling one terminal of each switch in said first set to a first common terminal, and means coupling a second terminal of each switch in said second set to a second common terminal,

(ii) a common data bus having a plurality of conductors,

(iii) a first set of P-N junction devices respectively coupling second terminals of each switch in said first set to a respective conductor of said common data bus;

(iv) a second set of P-N junction devices respectively coupling second terminals of each switch in said second set to a respective conductor of said data bus in common with said first set;

(b) a digital processor having a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of output terminals;

(c) a multiplexer circuit controllably coupling the common data busses of said first and second remote control units to the input terminals of said digital processor;

(d) means coupling said first common terminals of each of said joystick controls to a first output terminal of said digital processor; and

(e) means coupling said second common terminals of each of said joystick controls to a second output terminal of said digital processor; and

(f) said digital processor including means for selectively strobing said first and second output terminals and for selectively controlling said multiplexer circuit whereby the X and Y coordinate data of each of said remote control units is separately received at the input terminals of said digital processor.

7. The interface system according to claim 6, wherein each of said remote control units further includes a keyboard matrix having first and second sets of terminals wherein closure of a key of said keyboard comletes a conductive path between a terminal of said first set and a terminal of said second set;

and a plurality of P-N junction devices coupling respective ones of said second set of terminals of said keyboard to respective conductors of said common data bus of the respective remote control unit in common with said first and second sets of switches thereof, wherein means is provide coupling the first set of terminals of said keyboard to other output terminals of said digital processor, said digital processors include means for selectively strobing said other output terminals wherein keyboard information is selectively received at said input terminals via said multiplexer circuit.

8. The interface system according to claim 6 including a video display device coupled to further output terminals of said digital processor wherein the image generated by said video display device is controlled by said digital processor in accordance with the relative X and Y coordinates of the joystick controls of each of said remote control units as received via said multiplexer circuit.