US5459487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video game/flight simulator controller with single analog input to multiple discrete inputs
Assignee: GUILLEMOT Corp A FRENCH SA
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Filing: 1994-11-15
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2014-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A video game controller, for inputting command signals to a game port having a finite number of discrete and analog signal inputs, provides a plurality of additional discrete outputs multiplexed on one of the analog outputs. This controller has a plurality of parallel switches each coupled to the one analog output via a different value resistance. Circuitry in the game board in combination with programming in the video game or simulation software recognizes discrete voltage levels input from the controller via the one analog port as different discrete commands. This enables the range of commands that can be input from a video game controller to be substantially increased without making any change to the base computer hardware.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank M. Bouton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:17
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/23; A63F13/24; A63F13/245; A63F13/40; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/06; G06F12/0646; G06F12/0653; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0334; G06F3/038; A63F13/22; A63F13/80; A63F13/803; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1018; A63F2300/1025; A63F2300/1062; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8017; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04774
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A controller for a personal computer having a game board with a finite number of inputs for receiving and inputting to the computer a first limited number of analog input signals and a second limited number of discrete input signals, the controller comprising: a number of analog output signal lines not exceeding said first number and a number of discrete output signal lines not exceeding said second number; a game board connector coupled to the analog and discrete output signal lines for inputting controller signals to the game board inputs; a plurality of switches all coupled to a common input voltage node; and circuit means coupling all of the plurality of switches to one of the analog output signal lines through a different resistance so as to produce a different discrete level of signal on said one analog output signal line uniquely corresponding to actuation of each of the switches; thereby enabling input of different controller signals from said plurality of switches to the computer through the game board connector by use of only said one analog signal line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A controller for a personal computer having a game board with a finite number of inputs for receiving and inputting to the computer a first limited number of analog input signals and a second limited number of discrete input signals, the controller comprising: a number of analog output signal lines not exceeding said first number and a number of discrete output signal lines not exceeding said second number; a game board connector coupled to the analog and discrete output signal lines for inputting controller signals to the game board inputs; a plurality of switches all coupled to a common input voltage node; and circuit means coupling all of the plurality of switches to one of the analog output signal lines through a different resistance so as to produce a different discrete level of signal on said one analog output signal line uniquely corresponding to actuation of each of the switches; thereby enabling input of different controller signals from said plurality of switches to the computer through the game board connector by use of only said one analog signal line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A video game/simulator controller according to claim 1 in which the circuit means is arranged so that each switch is connected in series with a resistor to form a single switching subcircuit and all of the switching subcircuits are connected between the common input voltage node and a single output node coupled to said one analog output signal line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A video game/simulator controller according to claim 2 in which each resistor has a different value of resistance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A video game/simulator controller according to claim 1 in which the circuit means is arranged in a ladder circuit with the switches connected between the common input node and a series of output nodes coupled in series by separate resistors to a single output node coupled to said one analog output signal line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A video game/simulator controller according to claim 4 in which each resistor has the same value of resistance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A video game/simulator controller according to claim 1 in which the plurality of switches are formed in a multi-position switch including an actuation member having at least four actuation positions and at least four switch elements, one at each actuation position, so movement of the actuation member to each actuation position uniquely actuates one of said switch elements.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
253 words
A system comprising: a personal computer having a microprocessor, a display, and an input/output bus for connecting peripheral input and output devices to the microprocessor; a computer program executed by said microprocessor, said program having a plurality of user-controlled functions; a game board coupled to the input/output bus, the game board having an analog signal input for receiving and inputting to the microprocessor an analog input signal and a timer for converting the analog input signal level to a digital signal having a pulse width proportional to the level of the analog input signal; a controller having an analog output signal line coupled to the game board analog signal input; a plurality of discrete switches mounted on said controller, each discrete switch corresponding to a user-controlled function; a resistor network coupled between the plurality of discrete switches and the analog output signal line so as to produce a unique level of signal on said analog output signal line when a corresponding one of said switches is actuated, so that the timer produces unique digital signals each having a unique pulse width respectively corresponding to each of the actuated switches; and computer software executed by said microprocessor which measures the pulse width of each timer unique digital signal, associates the unique pulse width of the timer digital signal with the corresponding discrete switch, and indicates to the video game/simulator program that the corresponding discrete switch has been actuated, wherein the computer program executes one of the user-controlled functions corresponding to the indicated discrete switch.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
253 words
A system comprising: a personal computer having a microprocessor, a display, and an input/output bus for connecting peripheral input and output devices to the microprocessor; a computer program executed by said microprocessor, said program having a plurality of user-controlled functions; a game board coupled to the input/output bus, the game board having an analog signal input for receiving and inputting to the microprocessor an analog input signal and a timer for converting the analog input signal level to a digital signal having a pulse width proportional to the level of the analog input signal; a controller having an analog output signal line coupled to the game board analog signal input; a plurality of discrete switches mounted on said controller, each discrete switch corresponding to a user-controlled function; a resistor network coupled between the plurality of discrete switches and the analog output signal line so as to produce a unique level of signal on said analog output signal line when a corresponding one of said switches is actuated, so that the timer produces unique digital signals each having a unique pulse width respectively corresponding to each of the actuated switches; and computer software executed by said microprocessor which measures the pulse width of each timer unique digital signal, associates the unique pulse width of the timer digital signal with the corresponding discrete switch, and indicates to the video game/simulator program that the corresponding discrete switch has been actuated, wherein the computer program executes one of the user-controlled functions corresponding to the indicated discrete switch.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of controlling a computer system having a plurality of user-controlled functions, the system including a personal computer having a game board coupled to the input/output bus, the game board having an analog signal input for receiving and inputting to the microprocessor an analog input signal and a timer for converting the signal level of the analog input signal to a digital signal having a pulse width proportional to the level of the analog input signal, the method comprising: providing a controller having an analog output signal line and a plurality of discrete switches, each switch corresponding to a user-controlled function; connecting the controller analog output signal line to the game board analog signal input; connecting all of the plurality of discrete switches to the analog output signal line through a different impedance so as to produce a unique level of signal on said analog output signal line when a corresponding one of said switches is actuated, so that the timer produces unique digital signals each having a unique pulse width respectively corresponding to each of the actuated switches; and measuring the pulse width of each timer digital signal; associating the measured pulse width of the timer digital signals with the corresponding discrete switch; and executing the user-controlled function corresponding to the discrete switch associated with the measured pulse width.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of controlling a computer system having a plurality of user-controlled functions, the system including a personal computer having a game board coupled to the input/output bus, the game board having an analog signal input for receiving and inputting to the microprocessor an analog input signal and a timer for converting the signal level of the analog input signal to a digital signal having a pulse width proportional to the level of the analog input signal, the method comprising: providing a controller having an analog output signal line and a plurality of discrete switches, each switch corresponding to a user-controlled function; connecting the controller analog output signal line to the game board analog signal input; connecting all of the plurality of discrete switches to the analog output signal line through a different impedance so as to produce a unique level of signal on said analog output signal line when a corresponding one of said switches is actuated, so that the timer produces unique digital signals each having a unique pulse width respectively corresponding to each of the actuated switches; and measuring the pulse width of each timer digital signal; associating the measured pulse width of the timer digital signals with the corresponding discrete switch; and executing the user-controlled function corresponding to the discrete switch associated with the measured pulse width.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |