Reconfigurable joystick controller recalibration

• US 5,610,631 A
• Filed: 06/12/1996
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: U.S. Bancorp Republic Commercial Finance, Inc. (US Bancorp)
• Original Assignee: ThrustMaster, Inc. (Guillemot Corporation SA)
• Inventors: Kimmell, Rodney W., Bouton, Frank M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/662,844
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 273/148 B, 273/438
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• 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 12/0653 with centralised address assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0334 Foot operated pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

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.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator on a personal computer having a calibration mode and a functional mode, the controller including a position-detecting input device and a multiposition switch having a calibration position and at least one functional control position, the method comprising:

setting the controller in the calibration mode;

positioning the position-detecting input device into a first position wherein the position-detecting input device generates a first output signal corresponding to the first position;

sampling the first output signal;

assigning one or more keycodes to the first sampled signal;

positioning the position-detecting input device into a second position wherein the position-detecting input device generates a second output signal corresponding to the second position;

sampling the second output signal;

assigning one or more keycodes to the second sampled signal; and

switching the controller switch to the functional control position to place the controller in a functional mode responsive to the functional control position;

the keycodes assigned to the first sampled signal being transmitted to the personal computer during the functional mode when the position-detecting input device is positioned in the first position, and the keycodes assigned to the second sampled signal being transmitted to the personal computer during the functional mode when the position-detecting input device is positioned in the second position.

2. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator according to claim 1 wherein the step of setting the controller in the calibration mode includes:

switching the controller switch to the calibration position; and

detecting the switch position to place the controller in a calibration mode responsive to the calibration position of the switch.

3. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator according to claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the position-detecting input device into a first position includes positioning the position-detecting input device in a full forward position, and wherein the step of positioning the position-detecting input device into a second position includes positioning the position-detecting input device in a full off position.

4. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator according to claim 3 further including:

positioning the position-detecting input device into a plurality of intermediate positions between the first and second positions wherein the position-detecting input device generates a corresponding plurality of intermediate output signals corresponding to the intermediate positions;

sampling the plurality of intermediate output signals; and

assigning one or more keycodes to each intermediate sampled signal;

the keycodes assigned to each intermediate sampled signal being transmitted to the personal computer during the functional mode when the position-detecting input device is positioned in the corresponding intermediate position.

5. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator according to claim 1 wherein the step of sampling the first output signal includes:

sampling a first analog voltage signal corresponding to the first position the position-detecting input device; and

converting the first sampled analog voltage signal to a digital calibration value; and

wherein the step of sampling the second output signal includes;

sampling a second analog voltage signal corresponding to the second position the position-detecting input device; and

converting the second sampled analog voltage signal to a digital calibration value.

6. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator according to claim 5 further including:

determining a calibration range between the calibration values;

subdividing the calibration range into a plurality of sub-domains; and

assigning one or more keycodes to each sub-domain, wherein the corresponding assigned keycodes are transmitted to the personal computer responsive to detecting an output signal from the position-detecting input device within the corresponding sub-domain.

7. A method of calibrating a controller in a video game/simulator according to claim 6 wherein the step of subdividing the calibration range into a plurality of sub-domains includes subdividing the calibration range into a user-defined number of sub-domains.

8. A video game/simulator system comprising:

a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, an input/output bus for connecting peripheral input and output devices to the microprocessor, and a keyboard interface port;

a game board coupled to the input/output bus having a first number of analog inputs and a second number of discrete inputs;

a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by operating the video game/simulator program;

a video game/simulator controller including;

a user actuated rheostat having an output for producing an output signal,

a keyboard input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port,

first means for transmitting the rheostat output signal as an analog signal to one of the game board analog inputs,

second means for transmitting a digital keycode via the keyboard interface port responsive to the rheostat output signal, and

a switch coupling the rheostat output signal selectively to the first and second transmitting means to operate the rheostat in an analog mode or a digital mode.

9. A video game/simulator system according to claim 8 wherein the second transmitting means includes:

a microcontroller having an analog-to-digital input, and a input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port;

a memory coupled to the microcontroller for storing digital keycodes; and

a resistor coupled between the microcontroller analog-to-digital input and a common supply voltage;

the microcontroller being operable to transmit a digital keycode via the keyboard interface port responsive to the rheostat output signal when the switch is in the digital mode.

10. A video game/simulator system according to claim 8 wherein the rheostat includes a plurality of parallel discrete resistors coupled between corresponding user-actuated discrete switches and the rheostat output for producing a plurality of discrete rheostat output signals.

11. A video game/simulator system according to claim 10 wherein the microcontroller transmits a digital keycode via the keyboard interface port responsive to each of the rheostat output signals.

12. A video game/simulator system according to claim 9 wherein the video game/simulator controller includes a throttle handle coupled to the rheostat such that the rheostat produces an continuously variable output signal responsive to translational movement of the throttle handle between a first position and a second position when the switch is in the analog mode.