Joypad circuit for playing PC games

• US 5,734,376 A
• Filed: 12/27/1995
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ming-Kun Hsien
• Original Assignee: Ming-Kun Hsien
• Inventors: Hsien, Ming-kun
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VUI
• Application Number:
  US08/578,075
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/172, 345/204, 345/902, 345/168, 345/184, 463/29, 463/37
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 13/40 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: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A joypad circuit for playing PC games includes a switching circuit connected between a PC and a keyboard, a microprocessor connected to the switching circuit for blocking signals from the keyboard and controlling the operation of the PC, a memory connected to the microprocessor for storing data from the keyboard during a setting mode, a plurality of switches for a user to select a desired function, a button processing circuit connected to the microprocessor for selecting a plurality of data stored in the memory in response to the user'"'"'s selection to the switches, a special control circuit for performing special control of the PC when the number of the switches is not enough to control the PC, and a mode selecting circuit connecting with the microprocessor for selecting a desired operation mode.

Claims

1. A joypad circuit for playing PC games comprising:

a switching circuit connected between a PC and a keyboard;

a microprocessor connected to the switching circuit for blocking signals from the keyboard and controlling the operation of the PC;

a memory connected to the microprocessor for storing data from the keyboard during a setting mode;

a plurality of switches for a user to select a desired function;

a button processing circuit connected to the microprocessor for selecting a plurality of data stored in the memory in response to the user'"'"'s selection to the switches;

a special control circuit for performing special control to the PC when the number of the switches is not enough to control the PC; and

a mode selecting circuit connecting with the microprocessor for selecting a desired operation mode.

2. A joypad circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor each having a collector and an emitter respectively connected to a corresponding data pin and clock pin of the microprocessor and a base connected to a control pin of the microprocessor.

3. A joypad circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mode selecting circuit includes a three-position selector switch having a first contact connected to a first address pin, a second contact connected to a second address pin as to alter the address signal of the microprocessor, and a third contact, a direction switch for determining whether the joypad is operating in four directions or in eight directions, and a setting switch SW3.

4. A joypad circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said button processing circuit having a clock pin, an enable pin, and a data input pin respectively coupled with a control clock pin, an enable pin, and a data input pin of the microprocessor.

5. A joypad circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said special control circuit having a first exclusive OR gate having an input terminal and an output terminal, a second exclusive OR gate having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the first exclusive OR gate and an output terminal connected to a common contact of the switches, a third exclusive OR gate having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the first exclusive OR gate and an output terminal connected to the third contact of the selector switch, and a special control switch connected to an input of the first exclusive OR gate.