Configurable keyboard to personal computer video game controller adapter

• US 5,896,125 A
• Filed: 11/06/1995
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Niedzwiecki
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Niedzwiecki
• Inventors: Niedzwiecki, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vail, Seth D.
• Application Number:
  US08/554,611
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 463/36, 463/37, 463/43, 340/407.2, 341/22, 341/26, 364/709.01, 395/173, 395/500
• 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 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• 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 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• 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

Abstract

The Adapter is coupled to a keyboard, and one or multiple video game control devices, including widely available directional game pads and joysticks designed for other video game platforms. The Adapter is in turn coupled to the keyboard port of a personal computer. During the Function mode, button presses or other input decision actions observed at the video game controller result in a key scan code being sent to the personal computer'"'"'s keyboard port based on a user-defined association list. During the Program mode, the association list is reconfigured in one of three ways, two of which are achieved automatically through a reconfiguration program running on the computer. The third way of reconfiguring the Adapter involves the user manually associating one or multiple keyboard key presses to a particular button press or other input decision action at the video game controller. Keyboard key press to button press or other input decision action associations are stored in either non-volatile memory, or in volatile memory.

Claims

1. A configurable keyboard to personal computer video game controller adapter, where such adapter is attached and sends output to a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under the control of a software program, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, and a computer keyboard, the adapter further comprising:

a means for attaching one or multiple, similar type video game controllers to the adapter for the purpose of transmitting from such controllers, to the adapter, actuation signal data corresponding to controller input decisions;

a means for coupling a computer keyboard to the adapter for the purpose of transmitting key scan codes to the adapter,

a means for coupling the adapter to a computer for the purpose of transmitting key scan codes to the computer'"'"'s keyboard port;

a means within the adapter for transmitting key scan codes to the computer;

a means within the adapter for receiving key scan codes from the computer,

a means within the adapter for transmitting key scan codes to the keyboard;

a means within the adapter for receiving key scan codes from the keyboard;

a method of transmitting key scan codes to the computer during a functional mode responsive to the actuation of input devices attached to the adapter.

3. A method of reconfiguring the adapter comprising:

a means within the adapter allowing the operator to select manually, or automatically through the use of a reconfiguration program running on a personal computer according to claim 1, either a functional or reconfiguration mode;

a means within the adapter for reconfiguring the adapter responsive to receiving reconfiguration key scan codes such that the adapter transmits a reconfiguration key scan code to an attached personal computer as in claim 1 when a corresponding input device is actuated;

a reconfiguration software program running on a personal computer according to claim 1 for the purpose of storing and transmitting to the adapter reconfiguration data;

downloading the reconfiguration key scan codes from a personal computer according to claim 1 to the adapter;

uploading the reconfiguration key scan codes from the adapter to a personal computer according to claim 1;

a memory within the adapter for storing the reconfiguration key scan code association data.

2. A technology within the adapter to emulate the method of multiplex communications used by dedicated video game platform type video game controllers, that technology comprising:

a means within the adapter to generate variable voltage signal output common to serial multiplex communications;

a means within the adapter to receive variable voltage signal input common to serial multiplex communications;

a microcontroller running a reconfigurable video game controller interface hardware emulation program.