Method and apparatus for controlling a computer game
First Claim
1. A computer control interface for coupling an input device to a program interface, the computer control interface comprising:
- an input port for coupling to the input device;
a pulse position detector coupled to the input port and having a status data output coupled to the program interface, for generating status data responsive to a received pulsed control signal comprising a plurality of pulses each separated by a time duration; and
a resistance detection circuit coupled to the input port and having a status signal output coupled to the program interface, for generating a status signal responsive to a variable resistance input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer game controller system and method has a pulse position modulated (PPM) input device for encoding status information in a pulse position control signal and a bimodal interface having a first and second interface circuits, each for coupling an input device to a computer game program. The first interface circuit is a pulse position signal decoder for decoding a pulse position control signal. The second interface circuit is a capacitor charge decoding circuit for decoding a variable resistance input compatible with the IBM game port standard. When the bimodal interface is coupled to a PPM input device, the received pulse position control signal is decoded with improved accuracy and speed using the first interface (the PPM decoder). However, when the bimodal interface is coupled to a conventional input device which generates a variable resistance input conforming to the IBM game port standard, the second interface (the capacitor charging network) is used to decode the control signal.
54 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer control interface for coupling an input device to a program interface, the computer control interface comprising:
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an input port for coupling to the input device; a pulse position detector coupled to the input port and having a status data output coupled to the program interface, for generating status data responsive to a received pulsed control signal comprising a plurality of pulses each separated by a time duration; and a resistance detection circuit coupled to the input port and having a status signal output coupled to the program interface, for generating a status signal responsive to a variable resistance input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer control system for interfacing with a program interface, comprising:
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an input device comprising; an output port; a control device having a plurality of selectable states; and a pulse position generator coupled to the control device, the pulse position generator having a pulsed output coupled to the output port and having pulses occurring at time intervals corresponding to the plurality of selectable states; and a first control interface comprising; a pulse detector coupled to the pulsed output; a counter having a reset input coupled to the pulse detector, for measuring the time intervals of the pulses; and a storage device having a plurality of inputs coupled to the counter, having a plurality of outputs coupled to the program interface and having a control input coupled to the pulse detector, the storage device for storing the measured time interval and being accessible by the program interface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer controller for generating status data for a program interface, comprising:
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a control device having a plurality of selectable states and having an output node having a plurality of control states each corresponding to a selectable state; a pulse position generator coupled to the control device output node, the pulse position generator having a pulsed output, the pulsed output occurring at time intervals corresponding to one the plurality of control states of the control device output node; and a pulse position detector coupled to the pulsed output and to the program interface for measuring the pulse interval to generate status data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A user-actuated control device for interfacing to an input port of a computer game interface card, comprising:
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a user-actuated control mechanism having a plurality of user-selectable states; a variable resistance circuit coupled to the user-actuated control mechanism, having a plurality of resistance values corresponding to a plurality of the plurality of user-selectable states; and a pulse position modulation circuit coupled to the variable resistance circuit for generating a pulse position signal having a plurality of pulse frequencies corresponding to a plurality of the plurality of resistance values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for generating control data for a computer in response to a command received from a control device, the method comprising the steps of:
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encoding the command using a pulse position signal; supplying the pulse position signal to the computer; responsive to the computer having a pulse position decoding circuit, decoding the pulse position signal to generate corresponding control data; and responsive to the computer not having a pulse position decoding circuit, detecting a resistance to generate corresponding control data. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification