Emulation circuit for interfacing joystick to ROM cartridge slot of computer

• US 4,868,780 A
• Filed: 07/27/1987
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ambrosia Microcomputer Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ambrosia Microcomputer Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Stern, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Jr., Archie E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrews, Malcolm G.
• Application Number:
  US07/078,213
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/709, 340/798, 340/706, 340/825.19, 273/148 B, 273/85 G, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 200/6 A
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A circuit providing a joystick interface to a computer. The circuit plugs into the cartridge slot of the computer and receives power from the computer. The circuit includes an analog interface circuit, a read only memory (ROM) containing both a machine language program to drive the analog interface circuit, and a machine language application program. The analog interface circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter, a clock circuit, and a decoder. The circuit of the present invention also includes a tri-state bus interface circuit to communicate the state of input switches to the computer.

Claims

1. An interface circuit for use between a joystick and a computer of the type having a cartridge slot designed to access an application'"'"'s program in read only memory (ROM), said interface circuit comprising:

a read only memory, including a plurality of input circuits for connection to said computer via said cartridge slot and a plurality of output circuits for connection to said computer via said cartridge slot;

an analog interface circuit, including an analog-to-digital converter having a first plurality of input circuits for connection to said computer via said cartridge slot, a second plurality of input circuits and a plurality of output circuits for connection to said computer via said cartridge slot;

a decoder circuit, including a plurality of input circuits for connection to said computer via said cartridge slot and a plurality of output circuits connected to said second plurality of analog-to-digital converter input circuits said decoder operated to decode a plurality of additional address bits received via said input circuits in response to control bits received on said input circuits to produce a plurality of corresponding control bits coupled via said included output circuits to said analog-to-digital converter and a signal enable output circuit connected to said analog-to-digital converter and to said buffer circuit;

a clock circuit connected to said analog-to-digital converter, operated to provide periodic pulses to said analog-to-digital converter;

at least one analog control circuit, including a plurality of output circuits connected to said analog-to-digital converter;

a multistate buffer circuit, including a plurality of output circuits for connection to said computer via said cartridge slot and at least one enabling input circuit connected to one of said decoder output circuits; and

said analog control circuit, further including an additional output circuit connected to at least one additional input circuit of said multistate buffer circuit.

2. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said read only memory includes a machine language program operated to drive said analog interface circuit.

3. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said read only memory (ROM) further includes a machine language application program.

4. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said read only memory (ROM) input circuits include a plurality of address input circuits, at least a first data strobe input.

5. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said read only memory output circuits couple data output information to said computer via said cartridge slot.

6. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said analog-to-digital converter is of the eight bit type, including eight channel analog multiplex inputs and a plurality of tri-state output circuits.

7. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said analog-to-digital converter output circuits are coupled data to said computer via said cartridge slot.

8. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of output circuits further include inverter means.

9. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said clock circuit comprises a plurality of gate circuits, a pair of resistors and a capacitor operated to periodically generate output pulses for transmission to said analog-to-digital converter.

10. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said analog control circuit includes first and second potentiometers, said first potentiometer operated along a first axis, said second potentiometer operated along a second axis, both of said potentiometers operated in response to a common manual control; and

said analog control circuit further including switch means.

12. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said buffer circuit inputs included in said buffer include at least one enable circuit connected to one of said decoder output circuits.

13. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said buffer output circuits are operated to couple data information to said computer via said cartridge slot.

14. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said analog interface circuit receives operating power from said computer via said cartridge slot.

15. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said read only memory (ROM) input circuits include a plurality of address input circuits, first and second data strobe inputs and a read only memory (ROM) select input.

11. An interface circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said buffer circuit is operated to communicate the state of said switch means included in said analog control circuit via a circuit connection from said switch included in said analog control circuit connected to an input circuit included in said buffer.