Apparatus for converting game input port signals from a game controller into universal serial bus port signals

• US 6,098,130 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jen-Che Wang
• Original Assignee: Jen-Che Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Jen-Che
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US09/162,884
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 710/3, 710/15, 710/30, 710/63, 710/65, 710/72, 709/301, 463/36-38, 348/14, 348/552, 379/93.13, 455/6.3, 341/155
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for converting game port input signals from a game controller into universal serial bus (USB) port signals. The apparatus includes an input unit adapted to be connected to the game controller so as to receive the game port input signals therefrom, an analog-to-digital converter for receiving analog axis signals of the game port input signals from the input unit and for converting the analog axis signals into digital axis signals in a USB interface standard-compliant format, a key signal converter for receiving key switch signals of the game port input signals from the input unit and for converting the key switch signals into digital key switch signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format, a USB driver for receiving the digital axis signals and the digital key switch signals and for generating the USB port signals, and an output unit connected to the USB driver and adapted to provide the USB signals to a USB port.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting game port input signals from a game controller into universal serial bus (USB) port signals, said apparatus comprising:

an input unit adapted to be connected to the game controller so as to receive the game port input signals therefrom;

analog-to-digital converter means, connected to said input unit, for receiving analog axis signals of the game port input signals from said input unit and for converting the analog axis signals into digital axis signals in a USB interface standard-compliant format;

key signal converter means, connected to said input unit, for receiving key switch signals of the game port input signals from said input unit and for converting the key switch signals into digital key switch signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format;

a USB driver, connected to said analog-to-digital converter means and said key signal converter means, for receiving said digital axis signals and said digital key switch signals and for generating the USB port signals; and

an output unit connected to said USB driver and adapted to provide the USB signals to a USB port.

2. An apparatus for converting game port input signals from a game controller into universal serial bus (USB) port signals, the game controller being one of a first type having the game port input signals that consist of key switch signals and analog axis signals, and a second type having the game port input signals that consist of key switch signals, analog axis signals and viewing angle control signals, said apparatus comprising:

an input unit adapted to be connected to the game controller so as to receive the game port input signals therefrom;

a first analog-to-digital converter, connected to said input unit, for receiving the analog axis signals of the game port input signals from said input unit and for converting the analog axis signals into digital axis signals in a USB interface standard-compliant format;

a select switch connected to said input unit and operable in a first switch position when the game controller of the first type is connected to said input unit, and in a second switch position when the game controller of the second type is connected to said input unit;

a first key signal converter connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the first switch position, said first key signal converter receiving the key switch signals of the game controller of the first type from said input unit and converting the key switch signals of the game controller of the first type into digital key switch signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format;

key switch and control signal converting means connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the second switch position, said key switch and signal converting means receiving the key switch signals and the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the second type from said input unit and converting the key switch signals and the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the second type into digital key switch signals and digital viewing angle select signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format;

a USB driver, connected to said first analog-to-digital converter, said first key signal converter, and said key switch and control signal converting means, for receiving said digital axis signals, said digital key switch signals, and said digital viewing angle select signals and for generating the USB port signals; and

an output unit connected to said USB driver and adapted to provide the USB signals to a USB port.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said key switch and control signal converting means comprises:

a logic decoder, connected to said select switch, for converting the key switch signals and the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the second type into decoded key switch signals and decoded viewing angle select signals; and

a USB signal converter, interconnecting said logic decoder and said USB driver, for converting the decoded key switch signals and the decoded viewing angle select signals from said logic decoder into the digital key switch signals and the digital viewing angle select signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said key switch and control signal converting means comprises:

a second analog-to-digital converter connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the second switch position, said second analog-to-digital converter receiving the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the second type from said input unit and converting the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the second type into digitized viewing angle control signals;

a logic decoder, connected to said second analog-to-digital converter, for converting the digitized viewing angle control signals into decoded viewing angle select signals;

a USB signal converter, interconnecting said logic decoder and said USP driver, for converting the decoded viewing angle select signals into the digital viewing angle select signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format; and

a second key signal converter connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the second switch position, said second key signal converter being further connected to said USB driver and receiving the key switch signals of the game controller of the second type from said input unit and converting the key switch signals of the game controller of the second type into the digital key switch signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format.

5. An apparatus for converting game port input signals from a game controller into universal serial bus (USB) port signals, the game controller being one of a first type having the game port input signals that consist of key switch signals and analog axis signals, a second type having the game port input signals that consist of key switch signals, analog axis signals and digital viewing angle control signals, and a third type having the game port input signals that consist of key switch signals, analog axis signals and analog viewing angle control signals, said apparatus comprising:

an input unit adapted to be connected to the game controller so as to receive the game port input signals therefrom;

a first analog-to-digital converter, connected to said input unit, for receiving the analog axis signals of the game port input signals from said input unit and for converting the analog axis signals into digital axis signals in a USB interface standard-compliant format;

a select switch connected to said input unit and operable in a first switch position when the game controller of the first type is connected to said input unit, a second switch position when the game controller of the second type is connected to said input unit, and a third switch position when the game controller of the third type is connected to said input unit;

a first key signal converter connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the first switch position, said first key signal converter receiving the key switch signals of the game controller of the first type from said input unit and converting the key switch signals of the game controller of the first type into digital key switch signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format;

a first logic decoder connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the second switch position, said first logic decoder converting the key switch signals and the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the second type into decoded key switch signals and decoded viewing angle select signals;

a second analog-to-digital converter connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the third switch position, said second analog-to-digital converter receiving the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the third type from said input unit and converting the viewing angle control signals of the game controller of the third type into digitized viewing angle control signals;

a second logic decoder, connected to said second analog-to-digital converter, for converting the digitized viewing angle control signals into decoded viewing angle select signals;

a second key signal converter connected by said select switch to said input unit when said select switch is operated in the third switch position, said second key signal converter receiving the key switch signals of the game controller of the third type from said input unit and converting the key switch signals of the game controller of the third type into digital key switch signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format;

a USB signal converter, connected to said first and second logic decoders, for converting the decoded key switch signals and the decoded viewing angle select signals from said first logic decoder into digital key switch signals and digital viewing angle select signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format, and for converting the decoded viewing angle select signals from said second logic decoder into digital viewing angle select signals in the USB interface standard-compliant format;

a USB driver, connected to said first analog-to-digital converter, said first key signal converter, said second key signal converter and said USB signal converter, for receiving said digital axis signals, said digital key switch signals and said digital viewing angle select signals and for generating the USB port signals; and

an output unit connected to said USB driver and adapted to provide the USB signals to a USB port.