Reconfigurable video game controller with graphical reconfiguration display
First Claim
1. A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game program during a functional mode, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, a computer keyboard, and a video game/simulator controller coupled to the keyboard through a keyboard input port and coupled to the computer keyboard interface port through a controller keyboard input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:
- displaying a representation of the controller on the display including the controller input devices;
inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the controller input devices;
downloading the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller; and
reconfiguring the controller input devices responsive to downloading the reconfiguration keycodes.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video game/simulator system in a personal computer (PC) with game port and keyboard port includes a joystick includes a base and a joystick handle pivotally mounted on the base for two-dimensional movement. The joystick controller is connectable to both the game port of the personal computer and to the keyboard port via a second, throttle controller. The throttle and joystick controller inputs are reconfigurable to work with different video game/simulator programs by downloading a new set of keycodes from the personal computer via the keyboard port to a microcontroller and nonvolatile memory in the throttle controller. The throttle and joystick controller have variable inputs which can be input to the PC in either analog or digital form. The digital inputs can be calibrated by changing their corresponding keycodes. A multi-stage trigger switch is hingedly mounted on the joystick for actuation by a user'"'"'s index finger. The multi-stage trigger has a default position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position and can be configured to fire a weapon in the first position and control a camera in the second position during operation of the video game/simulator.
342 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game program during a functional mode, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, a computer keyboard, and a video game/simulator controller coupled to the keyboard through a keyboard input port and coupled to the computer keyboard interface port through a controller keyboard input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:
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displaying a representation of the controller on the display including the controller input devices; inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the controller input devices; downloading the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller; and reconfiguring the controller input devices responsive to downloading the reconfiguration keycodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A reconfigurable video game/simulator system comprising:
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a personal computer having a microprocessor; a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images; a controller having one or more input devices and being coupled to the personal computer; means within the computer for displaying an image representing the controller on the display; means within the computer for receiving reconfiguration keycodes for the input devices; means within the computer for transmitting the received reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller; means within the controller for receiving the reconfiguration keycodes transmitted from the computer; and means within the controller for reconfiguring the controller responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game program during a functional mode, the computer having a serial interface port for receiving input codes, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, and a video game/simulator controller coupled to the interface port through a controller code input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:
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displaying a representation of the controller on the display including the controller input devices; inputting reconfiguration codes into the computer, each reconfiguration code corresponding to one of the controller input devices; downloading the reconfiguration codes from the computer to the controller; and reconfiguring the controller input devices responsive to downloading the reconfiguration codes. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A reconfigurable video game/simulator system comprising:
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a personal computer having a microprocessor; a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images; a controller having one or more input devices and being coupled to the personal computer; means within the computer for displaying an image representing the controller on the display; means within the computer for receiving reconfiguration codes for the input devices; means within the computer for transmitting the received reconfiguration codes from the computer to the controller; means within the controller for receiving the reconfiguration codes transmitted from the computer; and means within the controller for reconfiguring the controller responsive to receiving the reconfiguration codes. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification