Analog input device, computing system and method for receiving and processing analog input

A computing system for receiving and processing analog input, the computing system comprising:

• a host processor;
• and
• an input device comprising:
• at least one mounting panel;
• a matrix of analog push button assemblies mounted to the at least one mounting panel, wherein each analog push button assembly outputs an analog signal as a measure of an amount of depression of said analog push button assembly when pressed by a user's finger;
• a multiplexer including an input side and an output side, wherein the input side is coupled to output terminals of the matrix of analog push button assemblies;
• an analog-to-digital converter which is coupled to the output side of the multiplexer, wherein the analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal from a corresponding push button assembly pressed by the user's finger into a digital-step-value;
• a processor which is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and which is configured to output a data packet including a button identity (ID) of the corresponding push button assembly pressed by the user's finger and the digital-step-value converted from the analog signal of the corresponding push button assembly by the analog-to-digital converter, the data packet being for transmitting to a host computing device;
• and
• a communication interface configured to transmit the data packet to the host computing device,
• wherein the input device is connected to the host processor via the communication interface,
• wherein the host processor is configured to receive the data packet from the input device, to determine an amount of depression of the corresponding push button assembly based on the digital-step-value of the data packet, and to generate a corresponding predetermined application event in an application based on the determined amount of depression of the corresponding push button assembly and an input setting for the application.

A method of processing analog input for a computing system comprising a host processor and an input device connected to the host processor via a communication interface, wherein the input device comprises:

• at least one mounting panel;
• a matrix of analog push button assemblies mounted to the at least one mounting panel, wherein each analog push button assembly outputs an analog signal as a measure of an amount of depression of said analog push button assembly when pressed by a user's finger;
• a multiplexer including an input side and an output side, wherein the input side is coupled to output terminals of the matrix of analog push button assemblies;
• an analog-to-digital converter which is coupled to the output side of the multiplexer, wherein the analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal from a corresponding push button assembly pressed by the user's finger into a digital-step-value;
• a processor which is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and which is configured to output a data packet including a button identity (ID) of the corresponding push button assembly pressed by the user's finger and the digital-step-value converted from the analog signal of the corresponding push button assembly by the analog-to-digital converter, the data packet being for transmitting to a host computing device;
• and
• the communication interface configured to transmit the data packet to the host computing device,
• the method comprising:
• generating, via a pressure reception arrangement, the analog signal corresponding to the amount of light measured as a measure of the pressure exerted on the pressure reception arrangement when the corresponding push button assembly is pressed by a user's finger;
• digitizing, via the analog-to-digital converter, the analog signal into a digital-step-value;
• outputting, via the processor, the data packet including button identity (ID) of the corresponding push button assembly pressed by the user's finger and the digital-step-value converted from the analog signal of the corresponding push button assembly by the analog-to-digital converter;
• transmitting, via the communication interface, the data packet from the processor of the input device to the host processor of the computing system;
• determining, via the host processor, the amount of depression of the corresponding push button assembly based on the digital-step-value from the data packet received;
• and
• generating, via the host processor, a corresponding predetermined application event in the application based on the determined amount of depression of the corresponding push button assembly and an input setting for the application.