System for peripheral identification obtained by calculation and manipulation data collecting for determining communication mode and collecting data from first terminal contacts

• US 5,872,999 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Koizumi, Masahiro, Kawase, Yasuhisa, Ikebe, Hamjime, Niizuma, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Anderson I.
• Application Number:
  US08/663,215
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 395/828, 395/893, 364/410, 364/284, 364/240.1, 364/242.1, 463/1
• US Class Current: 710/72
• 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 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• 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 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• 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 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 game apparatus comprising:

a main CPU;

a sub-CPU functionally connected with said main CPU;

a peripheral device which supplies various data including manipulation data;

an I/O interface connected to said peripheral device, said interface including a plurality of first lines, a second line and a third line;

said sub-CPU comprising;

identification data collection means for collecting a data set on said first lines when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to said peripheral device via said second line while the third line is maintained to "1";

peripheral device identification means for identifying the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula;

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1") or (data U when TH is "2")} is 4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein data R, L, D and U represents data collected on each of said first lines, respectively, data TH represents the first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number when "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively; and

manipulation data collecting means formed so as to communicate with a peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes, said manipulation data collecting means comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first lines with one of the communication modes determined when said sub-CPU supplies a second control signal via said second line.

5. The peripheral device of any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the peripheral device comprises a plurality of switching keys disposed thereon to be manually operated by a player.

2. A peripheral device for use with a game system comprising a peripheral port with a port connector for receiving a connector of the peripheral device, said port connector having a plurality of first terminal contacts, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, an identification data collector configured to collect a data set on said first terminal contacts when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", a peripheral device processor configured to identify the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula:

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1") or (data U when TH is "1")}×

4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein R, L, D and U data represents data collected on each of the first terminal contacts, respectively, data TH represents a first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number, and a manipulation data collector configured to communicate with the peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes, said manipulation data collector comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes in response to a second control signal supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively, said peripheral device comprising;

a data generator that supplies said game device via said plurality of first terminal contacts with a data combination representing the communication mode of the peripheral device in response to a control signal supplied from said game device via said second and third terminal contacts.

3. A peripheral device for use with a game system comprising a peripheral port with a port connector for receiving a connector of the peripheral device, said port connector having a plurality of first terminal contacts, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, an identification data collector configured to collect a data set on said first terminal contacts when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", a peripheral device processor configured to identify the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula:

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1") or (data U when TH is "1")}×

4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein R, L, D and U data represents data collected on each of the first terminal contacts, respectively, data TH represents a first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number, and a manipulation data collector configured to communicate with the peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes, said manipulation data collector comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes in response to a second control signal supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively, said peripheral device comprising;

a data generator which supplies said game device via said plurality of first terminal contacts with a data combination which causes said formula to be a calculation result of Bh in response to a control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied from said game device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1".

4. A peripheral device according to claim 3, wherein the peripheral device comprises a plurality of key switches to be manually operated, said data generator supplying said game device via four of said first terminal contacts with:

a first data combination of data representing one of the key switches, "1", "0", and "0" in response to a control signal of TH="1" via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1",

a second data combination of data representing a "RIGHT" key switch, a "LEFT" key switch, a "DOWN" key switch, and a "UP" key switch in response to a control signal of TH="0" via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", and

a third and a fourth data combinations of data representing remaining ones of said plurality of key switches other than said one of the key switches, and said "RIGHT", "LEFT", "DOWN" and "UP" key switches in response to a third control signal of TH="1" and a fourth control signal of TH="0" via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "0".

6. A peripheral device for use with a game system comprising a peripheral port with a port connector for receiving a connector of the peripheral device, said port connector having a plurality of first terminal contacts, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, an identification data collector configured to collect a data set on said first terminal contacts when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", a peripheral device processor configured to identify the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula:

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1") or (data U when TH is "1")}×

4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein R, L, D and U data represents data collected on each of the first terminal contacts, respectively, data TH represents a first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number, and a manipulation data collector configured to communicate with the peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes, said manipulation data collector comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes in response to a second control signal supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively, said peripheral device comprising;

a data generator which supplies said game device via said plurality of first terminal contacts with a data combination which causes said formula to be a calculation result of 5h in response to a control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied from said game device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1".

7. The peripheral device according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of key switches to be manually operated, said data generator supplying said game device with:

a first data combination of "0", "0", "0" and "1" via four of said first terminal contacts in response to a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied from said game device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1",

a second data combination representing said plurality of key switches via four of said first terminal contacts in response to a second control signal including a peripheral selection signal TH="0" supplied via said second terminal contact and a data request signal TR supplied via said third terminal contact, and

an acknowledgment signal TL via a fourth terminal contact of said port connector in response to said second control signal.

8. The peripheral device according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of key switches to be manually operated, said data generator supplying said game device with:

a first data combination of "0", "0", "1" and "1" via four of said first terminal contacts in response to a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied from said game device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", and

a second data combination representing said plurality of key switches via four of said first terminal contacts in response to a second control signal including a peripheral selection signal TH="0" supplied via said second terminal contact and a clock signal TR supplied via said third terminal contact.

9. The peripheral device according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of key switches to be manually operated, said data generator supplying said game device with:

a first data combination of "0", "0", "1" and "0" via four of said first terminal contacts in response to a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied from said game device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", and

a second data combination representing said plurality of key switches via one of said first terminal contacts in response to a second control signal including a peripheral selection signal TH="0" supplied via said second terminal contact and a clock signal TR supplied via said third terminal contact.

10. A game system comprising:

a peripheral device; and

a game device, comprising;

a peripheral port with a port connector for receiving a connector of the peripheral device, said port connector having a plurality of first terminal contacts, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact;

identification data collection means for collecting a data set of said first terminal contacts when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1";

peripheral device identification means for identifying the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula;

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1" or (Data U when TH is "1")}×

4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein R, L, D and U data represents data collected on each of the first terminal contacts, respectively, data TH represents a first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number; and

manipulation data collecting means formed so as to communicate with the peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes, said manipulation data collecting means comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes in response to a second control signal supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact;

wherein "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively.

11. A game system according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral device comprises:

peripheral identification data supplying means for supplying said game device via said first terminal contacts with a data combination of R, L, D and U data so as to cause said formula to be Bh in response to said first control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1".

12. A game system according to claim 11, wherein the peripheral device further comprises:

a plurality of key switches disposed thereon to be manually operated;

said data combination of R, L, D and U being formed so as to include a first combination of data representing one of said plurality of key switches, "1", "0" and "0" in response to said first control signal of TH="1" and a second combination of data representing direction data for a right key switch, left key switch, down key switch, and up key switch of said plurality of key switches in response to said first control signal of TH="0".

13. A game system according to claim 12, wherein the peripheral device further comprises:

manipulation data supplying means including means for further supplying said game device via said first terminal contacts with a third and a fourth data combination of R, L, D and U data representing remaining ones of said plurality of key switches other than the right, left, down and up key switches in response to a second control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "0".

14. A game system according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral device comprises:

peripheral identification data supplying means for supplying said game device via said first terminal contacts with a data combination of R, L, D and U data so as to cause said formula to be 5h in response to said first control signal of TH="1" and "0" supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1".

15. A game system according to claim 14, wherein said data combination of R, L, D and U data is of "0", "0" "0" and "1", and the peripheral device further comprises:

a plurality of key switches disposed thereon to be manually operated;

manipulation data supplying means for supplying said game device via said first terminal contacts in parallel with various sets of data including data indicative of status of the key switches in response to a second control signal including a peripheral selection signal TH="0" for selecting the peripheral device supplied via said second terminal contact and a data request signal TR supplied via said third terminal contact; and

means for supplying an acknowledgement signal TL to said game device via a fourth terminal contact of the connector in response to said second control signal.

16. A game system according to claim 14, wherein the data combination of R, L, D and U data is of "0" "0", "1" and "1", and the peripheral device further comprises:

a plurality of key switches disposed thereon to be manually operated; and

manipulation data supplying means for supplying said game device via said first terminal contacts in parallel with various sets of data including data indicative of status of the key switches in response to a second control signal including a peripheral selection signal TH="0" for selecting the peripheral device supplied via said second terminal contact and a data request signal TR supplied via said third terminal contact.

17. A game system according to claim 14, wherein the data combination of R, L, D and U data is of "0", "0", and "1" and "0", and the peripheral device further comprises:

a plurality of key switches disposed thereon to be manually operated; and

manipulation data supplying means for supplying said game device via one of said first terminal contacts in serial with various sets of data including data indicative of status of the key switches in response to a second control signal including a peripheral selection signal TH="0" for selecting the peripheral device supplied via said second terminal contact and a data request signal TR supplied via said third terminal contact.

18. A device connector for connecting a peripheral device to a game device comprising a peripheral port with a port connector for receiving a connector of the peripheral device, said port connector having a plurality of first terminal contacts, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, an identification data collector configured to collect a data set on said first terminal contacts when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", a peripheral device processor configured to identify the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula:

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1") or (data U when TH is "1")}×

4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein R, L, D and U data represents data collected on each of the first terminal contacts, respectively, data TH represents a first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number and a manipulation data collector configured to communicate with the peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes, said manipulation data collector comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes in response to a second control signal supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively, said device connector comprising;

a plug connector detachably connectable to said port connector, said plug connector comprising a plurality of elongated terminal contacts disposed parallely in a row.

19. A device connector for connecting a peripheral device to a game device comprising a peripheral port with a port connector for receiving a connector of the peripheral device, said port connector having a plurality of first terminal contacts, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, an identification data collector configured to collect a data set on said first terminal contacts when a first control signal of TH="1" and "0" is supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact while the third terminal contact is maintained to "1", a peripheral device processor configured to identify the type of the peripheral device based on the identification data obtained by calculation with the following formula:

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

8h+{(data D when TH is "1") or (data U when TH is "1")}×

4h+{(data R when TH is "0") or (data L when TH is "0")}×

2h+{(data D when TH is "0") or (data U when TH is "0")}×

1h

wherein R, L, D and U data represents data collected on each of the first terminal contacts, respectively, data TH represents a first control signal, and the suffix h represents a hexadecimal number, and a manipulation data collector configured to communicate with the peripheral device in one of a plurality of communication modes said manipulation data collector comprising means for determining the communication mode of the peripheral device and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes and means for collecting manipulation data supplied from the peripheral device via at least one of said first terminal contacts with one of the communication modes in response to a second control signal supplied to the peripheral device via said second terminal contact, wherein "1" and "0" correspond to a power source and ground potentials, respectively, wherein said port connector is formed with nine of said terminal contacts, and wherein said device connector comprises;

a plug connector detachably connectable to said port connector having first to ninth terminal pins disposed correspondingly to the nine terminal contacts of said port connector, the terminal pins of the plug connector being formed with elongated contacts disposed parallely in a row;

said first and ninth terminal pins of the plug connector being respectively for connecting to a power source and ground potential supplied from said game device,

said second, third, seventh and eighth terminal pins of the plug connector being disposed correspondingly to said plurality of first terminal contacts of said port connector and conducting data signals supplied from the peripheral device which represent a communication mode of the peripheral device, and at least one of the second, third, seventh, and eighth terminal pins of the plug connector being disposed for conducting data signals representing a plurality of switching keys formed on said peripheral device, and

said fourth and fifth pins of the plug connector being disposed correspondingly to said second and third terminal contacts of said port connector and conducting control signals from the game device to the peripheral device.

20. The device connector of claim 19, wherein the sixth terminal pin is for conducting a control signal supplied from the game device, and the second, third, seventh and eighth terminal pins are for conducting data signals representing a plurality of switching keys formed on said peripheral device from the peripheral device in a three-wire handshake communication mode.

21. The device connector of claim 19, comprising means for short-circuiting the fifth and sixth terminal pins of the plug connector together, said second, third, seventh and eighth terminal pins of the plug connector being disposed for conducting data signals representing a plurality of switching keys formed on said peripheral device from the peripheral device in a clocked parallel communication mode.

22. The device connector of claim 19, comprising means for short-circuiting the first and second terminal pins of the plug connector together and means for short-circuiting the sixth through ninth terminal pins of the plug connector together, said third terminal pin of the plug connector being disposed for conducting data signals representing a plurality of switching keys formed on said peripheral device from the peripheral device in a clocked serial communication mode.

23. The device connector of claim 19, characterized in that the fourth and fifth terminal pins are for conducting 2 bit data selecting signals supplied to the peripheral device from the processing apparatus.

24. The devise connector of claim 19, characterized in that a control signal is supplied through the fourth and fifth pins of the plug connector from the processing apparatus to the peripheral device.