System and method for determining peripheral's communication mode over row of pins disposed in a socket connector

• US 5,630,170 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Ikebe, Hajime, Koizumi, Masahiro, Niizuma, Naoki, Kawase, Yasuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, D.
• Application Number:
  US08/445,108
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 439/43, 439/189, 439/604, 439/45, 439/44, 439/46, 439/47, 439/49, 439/79, 439/95, 439/119, 439/221, 439/362, 439/369, 439/133, 395/834, 395/835, 395/831, 395/836, 395/893, 273/143 B, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/40, 345/161, 345/168
• US Class Current: 710/12
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• 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 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus. The apparatus has a peripheral port with a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row. The first pin is assigned for one of a power source and the ground potential, the ninth pin for the other of the power source and the ground potential, the second, third, seventh and eighth pins for transmitting data signals, and the fourth to sixth pins for transmitting control signals. The apparatus has an element for selecting the communication mode of the peripheral device connected to the peripheral port, based on the data signals transmitted from the second, third, seventh and eighth pins. The peripheral device comprises a plug connector detachably connected to the peripheral port, the plug connector having a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row, a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the terminal pins of the plug connector with terminals on an internal printed circuit board, and an element for transmitting data signals including identification data representing the communication mode via at least one of the second, third, seventh and eighth pins in synchronization with a clock signal supplied from the apparatus.

Claims

1. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means including a socket connector with a set of socket pins, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having a set of plug pins disposed in a row and corresponding to the socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins for connecting to fixed potentials, a plurality of second pins for conducting data signals, and a pair of third pins for receiving a control signal;

means for configuring said plurality of second pins to be indicative of a communication mode of the peripheral device; and

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

said configuration means comprising means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said plurality of second pins in response to a first control signal supplied via said pair of third pins from said apparatus for requesting the identification data; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said plurality of second pins in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via at least one of said pair of third pins.

2. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a socket connector with a set of socket pins, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having a set of plug pins disposed in a row and corresponding to the socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins for connecting to fixed potentials, a plurality of second pins for conducting data signals, and at least one of third pins for receiving a control signal;

means for configuring said set of plug pins to be indicative of a communication mode of the peripheral device, said configuring means including means for short-circuiting selected ones of said plug pins; and

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device, said configuration means further comprising means for supplying data signals including data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said plurality of second pins in response to a control signal supplied via at least one of said third pins from said apparatus.

3. The peripheral device of claim 2, wherein said plurality of second plug pins are no. 2, no. 3, no. 7 and no. 8 pins selected from no. 1 to no. 9 pins disposed in order in the row and said short-circuiting means is a means that short-circuits not only the no. 2 pin with the no. 1 pin composing one of the pair of first pins but also the no. 7 and no. 8 pins with the no. 9 pin composing a remaining one of the pair of first pins, the no. 1 and no. 9 pin receiving a power source and a ground potential as the fixed potentials, respectively.

4. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus, said apparatus having a peripheral port with a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row, said first pin for conducting one of power source and ground potential, said ninth pin for conducting the other of the power source and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth pins for conducting data signals, said fourth and fifth pins for conducting control signals, said apparatus having means for determining a communication mode for communicating with a peripheral device connected to the peripheral port based on the data signals received on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins, said peripheral device comprising;

a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row correspondingly to said first to ninth pins of the peripheral port;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal pins of said plug connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for supplying a data signal including data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins in response to a control signal supplied via said fourth and fifth pins from said apparatus;

means for short-circuiting said second pin with said first pin of said plug connector;

means for short-circuiting said sixth to eighth pins with said ninth pin of said plug connector; and

means for supplying a serial data signal to the apparatus via said third pin of said plug connector in synchronism with a clock signal supplied via the fifth pin while receiving a signal for selecting the peripheral device via the fourth pin.

5. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having an interface means with a peripheral port for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a set of terminal pins including first to ninth pins disposed in a row, said first pin for conducting one of a power source and ground potential, said ninth pin for conducting the other of the power source and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth pins for conducting data signals, said fourth and fifth pins for receiving control signals;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the terminal pins of said plug connector with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device to the apparatus on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins in response to a control signal supplied from said apparatus for collecting the identification data via the fourth and fifth pins; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said second, third, seventh and eighth pins in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via at least one of said fourth and fifth pins.

6. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus, said apparatus having a peripheral port with a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row, said first pin for conducting one of a power source and ground potential, said ninth pin for conducting the other of the power source and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth pins for conducting data signals, said fourth and fifth pins for conducting control signals, said apparatus having an interface means for communicating with said peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type and for determining which one of the communication modes to use for communicating with said peripheral device connected to the peripheral port based on the data signals received on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins, said peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row correspondingly to said first to ninth pins of the peripheral port;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal pins of said plug connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins in response to a first control signal supplied from said apparatus for requesting the identification data via the fourth and fifth pins; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said second, third, seventh and eighth pins in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via at least one of said fourth and fifth pins.

7. The peripheral device of claim 6, wherein said second control signal supplied via said fourth pin includes a signal for selecting the peripheral device, and wherein said peripheral device further comprises means for transmitting an acknowledgment signal to the apparatus via said sixth pin of said plug connector and means for supplying the manipulation data signal to the apparatus via said second, third, seventh and eighth pins of said plug connector while receiving the signal for selecting the peripheral device.

8. The peripheral device of claim 6, wherein said second Control signal supplied via said fourth and fifth pins includes a signal for selecting the peripheral device and a clock signal, and wherein said peripheral device further comprises means for short-circuiting said sixth pin with said fifth pin of said plug connector and means for supplying the manipulation data signal to the apparatus in parallel via said second, third, seventh and eighth pins of said plug connector in synchronism with the clock signal while receiving the signal for selecting the peripheral device.

9. The peripheral device of claim 6, wherein said interface means includes means for having parallel access to the identification data provided on the second, third, seventh and eighth pins of the peripheral port.

10. A peripheral device for a game apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a socket connector with a set of nine (9) socket pins, said peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having a set of nine (9) plug pins disposed in a row from first to ninth plug pins corresponding to said socket pins;

means for receiving via the first and the ninth plug pins a power source potential and ground potential, respectively;

means for supplying the game apparatus with a data signal including identification data representing a three-wire handshake type communication mode in response to a first control signal including a first control data combination of "1" to the fourth plug pin and "1" to the fifth plug pin and a second control data combination of "0" to the fourth plug pin and "1" to the fifth plug pin supplied from the game apparatus, said identification data including a data combination of "0" to the seventh plug pin, "0" to the eighth plug pin, "0" to the second plug pin and "1" to the third plug pin, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the game apparatus determines that the peripheral device connected to the socket connector employs the three-wire handshake type communication mode; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a three-wire handshake type data signal via said seventh, eighth, second and third pins in response to a second control signal including a peripheral device selection signal via said fourth pin.

11. A peripheral device for a game apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a socket connector with a set of nine (9) socket pins, said peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having a set of nine (9) plug pins disposed in a row from first to ninth plug pins in correspondence to said socket pins;

means for receiving via the first and the ninth plug pins a power source potential, and ground potential, respectively;

means for connecting the fifth plug pin with the sixth plug pin;

means for supplying the game apparatus with a data signal including identification data representing a clocked parallel type communication mode in response to a first control signal including a first control data combination of "1" to the fourth plug pin and "1" to the fifth plug pin and a second control data combination of "0" to the fourth plug pin and "1" to the fifth plug pin supplied from the game apparatus, said identification data including a data combination of "0" to the seventh plug pin, "0" to the eighth plug pin, "1" to the second plug pin, and "1" to the third plug pin, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the game apparatus determines that the peripheral device connected to the socket connector employs the clocked parallel type communication mode; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a clocked parallel data signal via said seventh, eighth, second and third pins in response to a second control signal including a peripheral device selection signal via said fourth pin and a clock signal via said fifth pin.

12. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means including a socket connector with nine socket pins, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said socket connector, said plug connector having nine plug pins disposed correspondingly to the socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins for connecting to fixed potentials, four second pins for conducting data signals, a pair of third pins for receiving control signals and a fourth pin which is disposed adjacent to one of said pair of third pins;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins of said plug connector with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for short-circuiting said fourth pin with one of said pair of third pins adjacently disposed to said fourth pin;

means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing a clocked parallel communication mode of said peripheral device on said second pins in response to a first control signal for requesting the identification data from said apparatus to said peripheral device via said pair of third pins; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a parallel data signal including manipulation data via said four second pins in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via said pair of third pins.

13. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a socket connector with nine socket pins, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said socket connector, said plug connector having nine plug pins disposed correspondingly to the socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins for connecting to fixed potentials, four second pins for conducting data signals, a pair of third pins for receiving a control signal and a fourth pin which is disposed adjacent to one of said pair of third pins;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins of said plug connector with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

short-circuiting means for short-circuiting said fourth pin with one of said pair of third pins within said plug connector; and

means for providing data signals including identification data representing a clocked parallel communication mode of said peripheral device on said second pins in response to the control signal for collecting the identification data from said apparatus to said peripheral device via said third pins.

14. The peripheral device of claim 13, wherein the wires of said cable are fewer in number than said socket pins.

15. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means including a socket connector with nine socket pins, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said socket connector, said plug connector having nine plug pins disposed correspondingly to the socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins for connecting to fixed potentials, a plurality of second pins for conducting data signals, and two third pins for conducting control signals;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins of said plug connector with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for short-circuiting remaining plug pins other than said first pins, one of said plurality of second pins and said two third pins to at least one of said first pins; and

means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device on said plurality of second pins in response to a first control signal for requesting the identification data from said apparatus to said peripheral device via said third pins; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a serial data signal including manipulation data via said one second pin not short-circuited by said short-circuiting means in response to a second control signal supplied via said pair of third pins from said apparatus.

16. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a socket connector with nine socket pins, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said socket connector, said plug connector having nine plug pins disposed correspondingly to the socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins for connecting to fixed potentials, a plurality of second pins for conducting data signals, and two third pins for conducting control signals;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins of said plug connector with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

short-circuiting means for short-circuiting remaining plug pins other than said first pins, one of said plurality of second pins and said two third pins to at least one of said first pins in said plug connector; and

means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device on said plurality of second pins in response to a control signal for requesting identification data from said apparatus to said peripheral device via said third pins.

17. The peripheral device of claim 16, wherein the wires in said cable are fewer in number than said socket pins.

18. A game apparatus, comprising:

a data processing apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a peripheral port with a plurality of terminal pins disposed in a row, said plurality of terminal pins in said row including a pair of first pins, one of said first pins for conducting one of a power source and ground potential and the other of said first pins for conducting the other of the power source and the ground potential, a plurality of second pins for conducting data signals, a pair of third pins for conducting control signals, said data processing apparatus further having means of determining which one of the communication modes to use based on the data signals on said plurality of second pins, means for conducting a first control signal for requesting identification data via said pair of third pins and a second control signal including a signal for selecting a peripheral device via one of said pair of third pins, and means for communicating in the determined communication mode; and

a peripheral device having a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a plurality of plug pins identical in number and disposed in a row in correspondence to the terminal pins of said peripheral port, said peripheral device further having a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins of said plug connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device and means for supplying the data signals including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said plurality of second pins in response to the first control signal supplied from said apparatus, and

means for supplying said data processing apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said plurality of second pins in response to the second control signal supplied from said apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said peripheral port comprises four of said second pins, said second and third pins being disposed between said pair of first pins.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said plug connector comprises a pair of first pins, four of second pins and a pair of third pins, each being disposed correspondingly to a respective pin in said peripheral port.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, said second control signal further comprising a clock signal conducted via the other of said third pins, said plurality of terminal pins further comprising a fourth pin, and said peripheral device further comprising means for transmitting an acknowledgment signal to the data processing apparatus via said fourth pin in said peripheral port and means for transmitting the data signals via said four second pins.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, said second control signal further comprising a clock signal conducted via the other of said third pins, said plurality of terminal pins further comprising a fourth pin, said peripheral device further comprising means for short-circuiting said fourth pin with the other of said third pins, and means for conducting parallel data signals via said four second pins.

23. The game apparatus of claim 18, wherein said data processing apparatus includes means for having parallel access to the data rendered on the second, third, seventh and eighth pins of the peripheral port.

24. A game apparatus, comprising:

a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port with a plurality of terminal pins disposed in a row, said plurality of terminal pins in said row including a pair of first pins, one of said first pins for conducting one of a power source and ground potential and the other of said first pins for conducting the other of the power source and the ground potential, four second pins for conducting data signals, three third pins, said second and third pins being disposed between said pair of first pins, said data processing apparatus further having means for determining a communication mode based on the data signals on said four second pins, means for conducting a control signal for requesting identification data via at least one of said third pins, and means for communication in the determined communication mode; and

a peripheral device having a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a plurality of plug pins identical in number and disposed in a row in correspondence to the terminal pins of said peripheral port, said peripheral device further having a cable including a plurality of wires connecting the plug pins with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device and means for supplying data signals including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said four second pins in response to the control signal supplied from said apparatus,

said data processing apparatus further comprising means for transmitting a signal for selecting said peripheral device via one of said third pins in the peripheral port and a clock signal via another of said third pins, and

said peripheral device further comprising means for transmitting serial data signals via one of the second pins to said apparatus and means for selectively short-circuiting a remaining one of the third pins and a remaining three of the second pins with said first pins.

25. A game apparatus, comprising:

data processing apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a socket connector with a set of socket pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row, said first pin for connecting to one of a power source and ground potential, said ninth pin for connecting to the other of the power source and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth pins for conducting data signals, said fourth and fifth pins for conducting control signals,

said data processing apparatus further comprising first means for supplying to said fourth pin an identification data requesting signal and a peripheral device selecting signal, second means for reading data signals on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins, third means for determining a communication mode based on the data signals read by said second means, fourth means for transmitting a clock signal to said fifth pin, and fifth means for communicating in the determined communication mode;

a peripheral device having a plug connector detachably connected to said socket connector, said plug connector having a set of plug pins consisting of first to ninth plug pins disposed in a row in correspondence to said first to ninth socket pins,

said peripheral device further comprising a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the plug pins with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device, sixth means for supplying data signals including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth plug pins in response to said identification data requesting signal supplied by said data processing apparatus for requesting identification data, and seventh means for supplying said data processing apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said second, third, seventh and eighth plug pins while receiving said peripheral device selecting signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, said peripheral device further comprising eighth means for transmitting an acknowledgment signal to said data processing apparatus via the sixth plug pin.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, said peripheral device further comprising eighth means for short-circuiting said sixth plug pin with said fifth plug pin, and wherein said seventh means is constructed to supply parallel data signals via said second, third, seventh and eighth plug pins.

28. A game apparatus, comprising:

data processing apparatus having a socket connector with a set of socket pins consisting of first to ninth pins disposed in a row said first pin for connecting to one of a power source and ground potential, said ninth pin for connecting to the other of the power source and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth pins for conducting data signals, said fourth and fifth pins for conducting control signals,

said data processing apparatus further comprising first means for supplying to said fourth pin an identification data requesting signal and a peripheral device selecting signal, second means for reading data signals on said second, third, seventh and eighth pins, third means for determining a communication mode based on the data signals read by said second;

means, fourth means for transmitting a clock signal to said fifth pin, and fifth means for communicating in the determined communication mode;

a peripheral device having a plug connector detachably connected to said socket connector, said plug connector having a set of plug pins consisting of first to ninth plug pins disposed in a row in correspondence to said first to ninth socket pins,

said peripheral device further comprising a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the plug pins with terminals on a printed circuit board of said peripheral device, sixth means for supplying data signals including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth plug pins in response to said identification data requesting signal, seventh means for transmitting serial data signals via said third plug pin, eighth means for short-circuiting said second plug pin with said first plug pin, and ninth means for short-circuiting said sixth to eighth plug pins with said ninth plug pin.

29. A peripheral device for use with an information processing apparatus, said apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a peripheral port with a set of terminal pins consisting of first to ninth terminal pins disposed in a row in the order of the first to the ninth terminal pins, said apparatus having means for conducting one of a power source and a ground potential via said first terminal pin, means for conducting the other of the power source and the ground potential to said ninth terminal pin, means for determining which one of the communication modes to use for communicating with the peripheral device connected to the peripheral port based on data signals on said second, third, seventh and eighth terminal pins, said peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a set of plug pins consisting of first to ninth plug pins disposed in a row in correspondence to said first to ninth terminal pins of the peripheral port;

means for supplying a data signal including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth plug pins in response to a first control signal supplied from said apparatus via the fourth and fifth pins for requesting the identification data; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said second, third, seventh and eighth pins in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via at least one of said fourth and fifth pins.

30. A peripheral device for use an information processing apparatus having a socket connector with a set of socket pins, said peripheral device comprising:

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data in a communication mode selected from communication modes of a clocked parallel type, clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and TH/TR selection type;

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having a set of plug pins disposed in a row in correspondence to the set of socket pins, said plug pins including a pair of first pins, a plurality of second pins, and a plurality of third pins;

means for receiving fixed potentials via said pair of first pins from the apparatus;

means for configuring said set of plug pins to represent the communication mode of the peripheral device;

said configuration means comprising means for supplying data signals including identification data representing the communication mode of said peripheral device on said plurality of second pins in response to a first control signal for requesting the identification data supplied via two of said third pins from said apparatus; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including the manipulation data via at least one of said second pins in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via at least one of said third pins.

31. A peripheral device for use with a game apparatus having a peripheral port with a socket connector which comprises first to ninth terminal contacts disposed in a single row, means for supplying the power source potential and the ground potential to a peripheral device via the first and ninth contacts, respectively, the peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said plug connector having a set of terminal contacts disposed in a single row correspondingly to said first to ninth terminal contacts of the socket connector;

a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said plug connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device; and

data supplying means for supplying data signals of a data combination to the game apparatus via said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts in response to receipt from said game apparatus of the control signal of a first signal combination in which the fourth contact conducts "1" and the fifth contact conducts "1", and of a second signal combination in which the fourth contact conducts "0" and the fifth contact conducts "1", wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, said data signals of the data combination being selected so as to comply with the following formulas;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(data R in TH="1") or (data L in TH="1")="1",

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(data D in TH="1") or (data U in TH="1")="0",

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(data R in TH="0") or (data L in TH="0")="1" and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(data D in TH="0") or (data U in TH="0")="1",

wherein the data R is a data supplied on the seventh contact, the data L on the eighth contact, the data D on the second contact and the data U on the third contact, and TH is the control signal of said first or second signal combination supplied on the fourth contact;

thereby enabling the game apparatus to determine a communication mode of the peripheral device based upon the data from the seventh, the eighth, the second and the third contacts.

32. A peripheral device according to claim 31, further comprising a plurality of key switches which are manually manipulated by a player, wherein the data signals supplied from said data supplying means in response to the control signal of said first and second data combinations include signals indicative of some of said key switches, and wherein said data supplying means further comprises means for supplying data signals indicative of the key switches other than said some of the key switches via said seventh, eighth, second and third contacts to the game apparatus in response to receipt from said game apparatus of the control signal of a third signal combination in which the fourth contact conducts "1" and the fifth contact conducts "0", and of a fourth signal combination in which the fourth contact conducts "0" and the fifth contact conducts "0."

33. A peripheral device according to claim 32, wherein said data supplying means is constructed so as to supply data signals indicative of the key switches of "RIGHT", "LEFT", "DOWN" and "UP" via said seventh, eighth, second and third contacts in response to the control signal of said second signal combination.

34. A peripheral device according to claim 32, further comprising means for maintaining the sixth contact to the potential of "1" while said peripheral device receives the control signals of the first to fourth signal combinations.

35. A peripheral device for a game apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a connector port and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and control signals through said connector port, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the connector port, said plug connector having a set of nine (9) plug pins disposed in a row from first to ninth plug pins;

means for receiving via the first and the ninth plug pins the power source potential and the ground potential, respectively

means for connecting the fifth plug pin with the sixth plug pin; and

means, activated after the receipt of the power source potential and the ground potential, for supplying the game apparatus with a data signal including identification data indicative of the clocked parallel type communication mode in response to a first control signal from the game apparatus for requesting identification data, said identification data including a data combination of "0" to the seventh plug pin, "0" to the eighth plug pin, "1" to the second plug pin and "1" to the third plug pin, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the game apparatus determines that the peripheral device connected to the connector port employs the clocked parallel type communication mode; and

means for supplying said apparatus with the clocked parallel signal via said seventh, eighth, second and third pins in response to a second control signal including a peripheral device selection signal via said fourth pin and a clock signal via said fifth pin.

36. A peripheral device for a game apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a connector port and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and control signals through said connector port, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the connector port, said plug connector having a set of (9) plug pins disposed in a row from first to ninth plug pins;

means for receiving via the first and the ninth plug pins the power source potential and the ground potential, respectively

means, activated after the receipt of the power source potential and the ground potential, for supplying the game apparatus with a data signal including identification data indicative of a clocked serial type communication mode in response to a first control signal from the game apparatus for requesting identification data, said identification data including a data combination of "0" to the seventh plug pin, "0" to the eighth plug pin, "1" to the second plug pin and "0" to the third plug pin, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively,

means for connecting the second plug pin with the first plug pin so as to provide the data signal of "1" to the second plug pin; and

means for connecting the sixth, the seventh and the eighth plug pins with the ninth plug pin so as to provide the data signal of "0" to the seventh and the eighth plug pins, respectively;

whereby the game apparatus determines that the peripheral device connected to the connector port employs the clocked serial type communication mode; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a clocked serial data signal via said third pin in response to a second control signal including a peripheral device selection signal via said fourth pin and a clock signal via said fifth pin.

37. A peripheral device for use with a game apparatus having a socket connector and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said socket connector, said peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having nine (9) connector pins disposed in a row corresponding to socket pins of the socket connector, said connector pins including a first pin, a second pin, a third pin, a fourth pin, a fifth pin, a sixth pin, a seventh pin, an eighth pin, and a ninth pin;

means for receiving the power source potential and the ground potential from said game apparatus via said first and ninth pins, respectively;

a plurality of key switches formed on the peripheral device to be manually operated by a player; and

data supplying means, when said peripheral device is activated after receipt of the power source potential and the ground potential, for supplying said game apparatus with data signals via the seventh pin, the eighth pin, the second pin and the third pin in response to the control signal from said game apparatus so that said data signals comprises a first data combination of "1", "0" and "0" respectively supplied to the eighth, second and third pins in response to the control signal of a first control signal combination in which the fourth pin becomes "1" and the fifth pin becomes "1" and a second data combination indicative of a selected four of said key switches in response to the control signal of a second control signal combination in which the fourth pin becomes "0" and the fifth pin becomes "1", wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, said second data combination, together with said first data combination, being selected so as to represent a peripheral ID as well as a TH/TR communication mode of said peripheral device.

38. A peripheral device for a game apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said peripheral device is constructed such that, in response to the control signal of a third and a fourth control signal combination supplied via said fourth and fifth pins from said game apparatus, the peripheral device transmits signals indicative of ones of said key switches other than said selected four of the key switches to said game apparatus via said seventh pin, eighth pin, second pin and third pin.

39. A peripheral device for a game apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said second data combination comprises data indicative of the key switches of "RIGHT", "LEFT", "DOWN" and "UP" in a data combination complying with the formulas of {(data R in TH="0") or (data L in TH="0")}="1" and {(data D in TH="0") or (data U in TH="0")}="1" wherein the data R is a data supplied on the seventh pin, the data L on the eighth pin, the data D on the second pin and the data U on the third pin and TH is a data supplied on the fourth pin.

40. A peripheral device for a game apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said data supplying means supplies the seventh pin with a data of "RIGHT", the eighth pin with a data of "LEFT", the second pin with a data of "DOWN" and the third pin with a data of "UP".

41. A peripheral device for a game apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said data combination further includes a datum indicative of one of said key switches other than said selected four of the key switches supplied via the seventh pin, wherein said data signals further include a third and a fourth data combination associated with remaining ones of the key switches supplied in response to the control signal of a third control signal combination in which the fourth pin becomes "1" and the fifth pin becomes "0" and of a fourth control signal combination in which the fourth pin becomes "0" and the fifth pin becomes "0", respectively.

42. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port, means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, and an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with a communication mode of any a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type or a TH/TR selection type and for determining which one of the communication modes to use for communicating with a peripheral device connected to the peripheral port based on data signals supplied from the peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts for transmitting data signals, and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means, when said peripheral device is activated by the power source potential and the ground potential supplied through the peripheral port, for supplying a data signal including identification data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts in response to a first control signal supplied from said apparatus for requesting the identification data; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a data signal including manipulation data via at least one of said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts in response to a second control signal supplied from said apparatus via at least one of said fourth and fifth contacts.

43. The peripheral device of claim 42, further comprising means for transmitting an acknowledgment signal to the data processing apparatus via the sixth contact.

44. The peripheral device of claim 42, wherein said second control signal includes a signal for selecting the peripheral device supplied via said fourth contact, wherein said peripheral device further comprises means for transmitting an acknowledgment signal via the sixth contact, and means for supplying the data signal including manipulating data via said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts.

45. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts for conducting data signals, and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for supplying data signals including identification data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device on said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts in response to a control signal supplied from said apparatus for requesting the identification data; and

means for short-circuiting selected ones of said contacts.

46. The peripheral device of claim 45, wherein said fourth and fifth contacts are for receiving a signal for enabling the peripheral device and for receiving a clock signal, respectively, and said short-circuiting means comprises means for short-circuiting said sixth contact with said fifth contact of said connector, and wherein said peripheral device further comprises means for transmitting parallel data signals to the apparatus via said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts of said connector in synchronism with the clock signal.

47. The peripheral device of claim 45, wherein said fourth and fifth contacts are for transmitting a signal for enabling the peripheral device and for transmitting a clock signal, respectively, and said short-circuiting means comprises means for short-circuiting said second contact with said first contact of said connector, and means for short-circuiting said eighth contact with said ninth contact of said connector, and wherein said peripheral device further comprises means for transmitting serial data signals to the apparatus via said third contact of said connector in synchronism with the clock signal.

48. The peripheral device of claim 45, wherein said short-circuiting means is within said connector.

49. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts for conducting data signals, and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device, the wires of said cable being fewer in number than said terminal contacts; and

means for supplying the data signals including identification data representing a communication mode of said peripheral device to the apparatus via said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts in response to a control signal supplied from said apparatus for requesting the identification data.

50. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh, and eighth contacts for conducting data signals, and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device; and

means for supplying the data processing apparatus with data signals including identification data representing a three-wire handshake type communication mode, including means, in response to a control signal of "1" to the fourth contact and "1" to the fifth contact and a control signal of "0" to the fourth contact and "1" to the fifth contact supplied from the data processing apparatus, for supplying a data signal of "0" to the seventh contact, "0" to the eighth contact, "0" to the second contact and "1" to the third contact, respectively, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the data processing apparatus determines that the peripheral device employs the three-wire handshake type communication mode.

51. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port, and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts for conducting data signals, and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device; and

means for supplying the data processing apparatus with the data signals indicative of a three-wire handshake type communication mode, including means for supplying a data signal of "0" to the seventh, the eighth and the second contacts, respectively, and "1" to the third contact in response to the control signal from the data processing apparatus, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the data processing apparatus determines that the peripheral device employs the three-wire handshake type communication mode.

52. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port, and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts for conducting data signals, and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

means for supplying the fifth contact and the sixth contact with the same potential; and

means for supplying the data processing apparatus with the data signals indicative of a clocked parallel type communication mode, including means for supplying a data signal of "0" to the seventh contact, a data signal of "0" to the eighth contact, a data signal of "1" to the second contact and "1" to the third contact in response to the control signal from the data processing apparatus, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the data processing apparatus determines that the peripheral device employs the clocked parallel type communication mode.

53. The peripheral device of claim 52, wherein said means for supplying data signals indicative of the clocked parallel type communication mode further comprises means, in response to a control signal of "1" to the fourth contact and "1" to the fifth contact and a control signal of "0" to the fourth contact and "1" to the fifth contact supplied from the data processing apparatus, for supplying a data signal of "0" to the seventh contact, "0" to the eighth contact, "1" to the second contact, and "1" to the third contact, respectively, so that the data processing apparatus determines that the peripheral device employs the clocked parallel type communication mode.

54. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port, and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and control signals through said peripheral port, comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential, said third contact for transmitting data signals and said fourth and fifth contacts for receiving the control signal;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device;

a plurality of key switches disposed on the peripheral device;

means for supplying the data processing apparatus with data signals indicative of a clocked serial type communication mode, including means for supplying the second contact with the same signal potential as that of the first contact so as to supply a data signal of "1" to the second contact, means for supplying the sixth, the seventh and eighth contacts with the same signal potential as that of the ninth contact so as to supply a data signal of "0" to the sixth, seventh and eighth contacts, respectively, and means for supplying a data signal of "0" to the third contact in response to a control signal from the data processing apparatus, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the data processing apparatus determines that the peripheral device employs the clocked serial type communication mode; and

means for supplying the apparatus with clocked serial data including data indicative of the key switches in response to a peripheral device selection signal supplied via said fourth contact and the clock signal supplied via said fifth contact.

55. The peripheral device of claim 54, wherein said means for supplying the data signals indicative of the clocked serial type communication mode further comprises means, in response to a control signal of "1" to the fourth contact and "1" to the fifth contact and a control signal of "0" to the fourth contact and "1" to the fifth contact supplied from the data processing apparatus, for supplying a data signal of "0" to the seventh contact, "0" to the eighth contact, "1" to the second contact, and "0" to the third contact, respectively, so that the data processing apparatus determines that the peripheral device employs the clocked serial type communication mode.

56. A peripheral device for use with a data processing apparatus having a peripheral port, means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and a control signal through said peripheral port, the peripheral device comprising:

a connector detachably connectable to said peripheral port, said connector having a set of terminal contacts including first to ninth contacts disposed in a row, said first contact for connecting to one of the power source potential and the ground potential, said ninth contact for connecting to the other of the power source potential and the ground potential;

a cable including a plurality of wires connecting ones of the terminal contacts of said connector with a printed circuit board of said peripheral device; and

means for supplying data signals of a predetermined data combination to the apparatus via said second, third, seventh and eighth contacts in response to receipt from said data processing apparatus of the control signal in a first signal combination in which the fourth contact conducts "1" and the fifth contact conducts "1", and in a second signal combination in which the fourth contact conducts "0" and the fifth contact conducts "1", wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, said data signal of the predetermined data combination being selected so as to comply with the following formulas;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">{(data R in TH="1") or (data L in TH="1")}×

8h+{(data D in TH="1") or (data U in TH="1")}×

4h+{(data R in TH="0") or (data L in TH="0")}×

2h+{(data D in TH="0") or (data U in TH="0")}×

1h=Bh

wherein the data R is a data supplied on the seventh pin, the data L on the eighth pin, data D on the second pin and the data U on the third pin, and TH is the control signal in said first or second signal combination supplied on the fourth pin,

thereby enabling the data processing apparatus to determine a TH/TR communication mode based upon the data from the seventh contact, the eighth contact, the second contact, and the third contact.

57. A peripheral device for a data processing apparatus according to claim 56, said peripheral device comprising a control pad with a plurality of keys disposed thereon to be manually operated by an operator.

58. A peripheral device for a data processing apparatus according to claim 57, wherein, when said data processing apparatus supplies the control signal of said first control signal combination on the fourth and fifth contacts, the control pad transmits data back to said data processing apparatus assigning the seventh contact as a signal path to one of said plurality of keys, the eighth contact "1", the second contact "0", and the third contact "0", and when said data processing apparatus supplies the control signal of the second control signal combination, of a third control signal combination of "1" and "0", and of a fourth signal combination of "0" and "0" on the fourth and fifth contacts, respectively, the control pad transmits data back to said data processing apparatus such that signals on the seventh contact, eighth contact, the second contact, and the third contact are respectively associated with ones of said plurality of keys other than said one of the plurality of keys.

59. A peripheral device for a data processing apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said peripheral device is constructed such that, in response to the control signal of various signal combinations supplied to said control pad via said fourth and fifth contacts from said data processing apparatus, the control pad transmits signals representative of ones of said plurality of keys as 4-bit data groups, respectively, to said data processing apparatus via said seventh contact, eighth contact, second contact and third contact.

60. A peripheral device for a game apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a socket connector with a set of nine (9) socket pins, said peripheral device comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the socket connector, said plug connector having a set of nine (9) plug pins disposed in a row from first to ninth plug pins corresponding to said socket pins;

means for receiving via the first and the ninth plug pins a power source potential and ground potential, respectively;

means for supplying the game apparatus with a data signal including identification data representing the clocked serial type communication mode in response to a first control signal including a first control data combination of "1" to the fourth plug pin and "1" to the fifth plug pin and a second control data combination of "0" to the fourth plug pin and "1" to the fifth plug pin supplied from the game apparatus, said identification data including a data combination of "0" to the seventh plug pin, "0" to the eighth plug pin, "1" to the second plug pin and "0" to the third plug pin, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively;

means for connecting the second plug pin with the first pin so as to supply the data signal of "1" to the second plug pin; and

means for connecting the sixth, the seventh and the eighth plug pins with the ninth plug pin so as to supply the data signal of "0" to the seventh and the eighth plug pins, respectively;

whereby the game apparatus determines that the peripheral device connected to the socket connector employs the clocked serial type communication mode; and

means for supplying said apparatus with a clocked serial data signal via said third pin in response to a second control signal including a peripheral device selection signal via said fourth pin and a clock signal via said fifth pin.

61. A peripheral device for a game apparatus having an interface means for communicating with a peripheral device with any of communication modes of a clocked parallel type, a clocked serial type, a three-wire handshake type and a TH/TR selection type, said interface means having a connector port and means for supplying a power source potential, a ground potential, and control signals through said connector port, comprising:

a plug connector detachably connectable to the connector port, said plug connector having a set of nine (9) plug pins disposed in a row from first to ninth plug pins;

means for receiving via the first and the ninth plug pins the power source potential and the ground potential, respectively

means, activated after the receipt of the power source potential and the ground potential, for supplying the game apparatus with a data signal including identification data indicative of a three-wire handshake type communication mode and including a data combination of "0" to the seventh, eighth and second plug pins, respectively, and "1" to the third plug pin in response to a first control signal from the game apparatus for requesting identification data, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to the power source and ground potentials, respectively, so that the game apparatus determines that the peripheral device connected to the connector port employs the three-wire handshake type communication mode; and

means for supplying said apparatus with the three-wire handshake type data signal via said seventh, eighth, second and third pins in response to a second control signal including a peripheral device selection signal via said fourth pin.