Speed-compensated joystick

• US 6,317,119 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: Wakeland, Carl, Gek, Hoon Quat, Fuller, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/191,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 345/162, 710/46, 710/73, 463/38, 744/71.XY
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A method for determining a position of a joystick in data communication with a processor and having an initial state that includes steps of varying the initial state in response to a signal from the processor; returning the joystick to the initial state after a duration of time, with the duration of time being dependent upon the position amongst a plurality of positions. A plurality of poll operations of the joystick are executed to sense the returning step. Each of the polling operations results in a data signal being transferred from the joystick indicating the state of the same, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval and consecutive data signals operations being separated by a time period, defining a second interval. The second interval is increased to be greater than the first interval, the duration of time is measured by determining a number of data signals received by the processor between the varying step and the returning step. Thereafter, the spatial position of the joystick is determined.

Claims

1. A method for determining a position of a joystick in data communication with a processor and having an initial state, said method comprising steps of:

varying said initial state in response to a signal from said processor;

returning said joystick to said initial state after a duration of time, with said duration of time being dependent upon said position amongst a plurality of positions;

executing a plurality of poll operations of said joystick to sense said returning step, each of which results in a data signal being transferred from said joystick indicating the state of said same, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval;

transferring said data signals to said processor, with consecutive data signals operations being separated by a time period, defining a second interval;

increasing said second interval to be greater than said first interval; and

measuring said duration of time by determining a number of data signals received by said processor between said varying step and said returning step wherein increasing step increases said second interval to be the range of 3.75×

10−

7 to 10.00×

10−

7 seconds, inclusive.

2. A method for determining a position of a joystick in data communication with a processor and having an initial state, said method comprising steps of:

varying said initial state in response to a signal from said processor;

returning said joystick to said initial state after a duration of time, with said duration of time being dependent upon said position amongst a plurality of positions;

executing a plurality of poll operations of said joystick to sense said returning step, each of which results in a data signal being transferred from said joystick indicating the state of said same, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval;

transferring said data signals to said processor, with consecutive data signals operations being separated by a time period, defining a second interval;

increasing said second interval to be greater than said first interval; and

measuring said duration of time by determining a number of data signals received by said processor between said varying step and said returning step wherein consecutive poll operations of said plurality of poll operations are separated by 1.50×

10<sup>−

8</sup> to 9.00×

10<sup>−

8</sup> seconds.

3. A method for determining a position of a joystick in data communication with a processor and having an initial state, said method comprising steps of:

varying said initial state in response to a signal from said processor;

returning said joystick to said initial state after a duration of time, with said duration of time being dependent upon said position amongst a plurality of positions;

executing a plurality of poll operations of said joystick to sense said returning step, each of which results in a data signal being transferred from said joystick indicating the state of said same, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval;

transferring said data signals to said processor, with consecutive data signals operations being separated by a time period, defining a second interval;

increasing said second interval to be greater than said first interval; and

measuring said duration of time by determining a number of data signals received by said processor between said varying step and said returning step wherein said increasing step increases said second interval to be approximately 7.60×

10<sup>−

7</sup> seconds.

4. A method for determining a position of a joystick in data communication with a processor and having an initial state, said method comprising steps of:

varying said initial state in response to a signal from said processor;

returning said joystick to said initial state after a duration of time, with said duration of time being dependent upon said position amongst a plurality of positions;

executing a plurality of poll operations of said joystick to each of which results in a data signal being transferred to said processor indicating the state of said joystick, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval in the range of 1.50×

10<sup>−

8</sup> to 9.00×

10<sup>−

8</sup> seconds, inclusive;

transferring said data signals to said processor, with consecutive data signals operations being separated by a time period, defining a second interval;

increasing said second interval to be in the range of 3.75×

10<sup>−

7</sup> to 10.00×

10<sup>−

7</sup> seconds, inclusive;

measuring said duration of time by determining a number of data signals transmitted to said processor between said varying step and said returning step, defining a measurement; and

determining from said measurement, a spatial position of said joystick.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said joystick includes a timer circuit having a capacitor wherein said initial state said capacitor has no charge and said varying step includes charging said capacitor and said returning step includes discharging said capacitor.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said joystick includes a potentiometer connected to a timer circuit having a capacitor wherein said duration of time is a function of a resistance of said potentiometer.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said increasing step increase said second interval to be approximately 7.60×

10<sup>−

7</sup> seconds.

8. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a joystick having an initial state, with said processor, said memory and said joystick all being in data communication via a bus system having a first access rate associated therewith, and said memory retaining information corresponding to a computer program including a first subroutine to be operated on by said processor to vary said initial state, a second subroutine to be operated on by said processor to execute a plurality of poll operations, each of which results in a data signal being transferred to said processor indicating the state of the joystick, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval, and consecutive data signals being separated by a time period, defining a second interval which is in the range of 3.75×

10<sup>−

7</sup> to 10.00×

10<sup>−

7</sup>, inclusive, and a third subroutine to be operated on by said processor to measure a duration of time by counting a number of data signals transmitted to said processor between varying said initial state and said return to said initial state, with said third subroutine adapted to measure a predetermined number of data signals, defining a second access rate, with said first access rate being greater than said second access rate; and

a delay buffer coupled between said joystick and said memory with said delay buffer adapted to ensure that said plurality of data signals are no greater than said predetermined number.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said joystick includes a multi-state vibrator having an output with said initial state including said output having a logical zero thereat.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said joystick includes a timer circuit having a capacitor wherein said initial state said capacitor has no charge and said varying step includes charging said capacitor and said returning step includes discharging said capacitor.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said joystick includes a potentiometer connected to a timer circuit having a capacitor wherein said duration of time is a function of a resistance of said potentiometer.

12. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a joystick having an initial state, with said processor, said memory and said joystick all being in data communication via a bus system having a first access rate associated therewith, and said memory retaining information corresponding to a computer program including a first subroutine to be operated on by said processor to vary said initial state, a second subroutine to be operated on by said processor to execute a plurality of poll operations, each of which results in a data signal being transferred to said processor indicating the state of the joystick, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval, and consecutive data signals being separated by a time period, defining a second interval, said second interval being approximately 7.60×

10<sup>−

7</sup> seconds and a third subroutine to be operated on by said processor to measure a duration of time by counting a number of data signals transmitted to said processor between varying said initial state and said return to said initial state, with said third subroutine adapted to measure a predetermined number of data signals, defining a second access rate, with said first access rate being greater than said second access rate; and

a delay buffer coupled between said joystick and said memory with said delay buffer adapted to ensure that said plurality of data signals are no greater than said predetermined number.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a joystick having an initial state, with said processor, said memory and said joystick all being in data communication via a bus system having a first access rate associated therewith, and said memory retaining information corresponding to a computer program including a first subroutine to be operated on by said processor to vary said initial state, a second subroutine to be operated on by said processor to execute a plurality of poll operations, each of which results in a data signal being transferred to said processor indicating the state of the joystick, with consecutive poll operations being separated by a predetermined segment of time, defining a first interval, said first interval being approximately 1.50×

10<sup>−

8</sup> to 9.00×

10<sup>−

8</sup> seconds and consecutive data signals being separated by a time period, defining a second interval, and a third subroutine to be operated on by said processor to measure a duration of time by counting a number of data signals transmitted to said processor between varying said initial state and said return to said initial state, with said third subroutine adapted to measure a predetermined number of data signals, defining a second access rate, with said first access rate being greater than said second access rate; and

a delay buffer coupled between said joystick and said memory with said delay buffer adapted to ensure that said plurality of data signals are no greater than said predetermined number.