# US 5,700,194 A · Joypad circuit for playing PC games

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- Number: US 5,700,194 A
- Document ID: US5700194A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/642,862
- Filed: 1996-05-06
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-06
- Inventors: Ming-kun Hsien
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700194A

## CPC

- A63F 13/22: Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
- A63F 13/23: for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
- G05G 9/047: the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)}
- G06F 3/023: Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
- A63F 2300/1018: Calibration; Key and button assignment
- A63F 2300/1025: details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
- G05G 2009/0474: {characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals}
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A programmable joypad circuit for playing PC games includes a panel having a plurality of control buttons, a directional button, a switching button, a mode selecting switch, a four/eight direction mode switch, a setting switch and a control circuit having a microprocessor, a memory, a switching circuit, and a parallel/serial conversion circuit. The microprocessor has a plurality of input and output pins respectively coupled with the control buttons, the directional button, the switching button, and mode selecting switch, and setting switch, a data input pin coupled to the PC, a clock pin coupled to the PC, a set pin coupled to said parallel/serial conversion circuit via the direction mode switch, the setting switch, and a control pin coupled to the switch circuit composed of a first transistor and a second transistor each having a collector and an emitter respectively connected to a corresponding data pin and clock pin of the microprocessor and a base connected to a control pin of the microprocessor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A programmable joypad for playing PC games comprising:
a panel having a plurality of control buttons, a directional button, a switching button, a mode selecting switch, a four/eight direction mode switch, a setting switch; and
a control circuit having a microprocessor, a memory, a switching circuit, and a parallel/serial conversion circuit, wherein
said microprocessor has a plurality of input and output pins respectively coupled with said control buttons, said directional button, said switching button, and mode selecting switch, and setting switch, a data input pin coupled to the PC, a clock pin coupled to the PC, a set pin coupled to said parallel/serial conversion circuit via the direction mode switch, the setting switch, and a control pin coupled to the switch circuit, which is composed of a first transistor having a collector connected to a clock pin of a keyboard, an emitter connected the clock pin of the microprocessor, and a base respectively connected to the control pin of the microprocessor and a clock line of the keyboard via a diode and a second transistor having a collector connected to the data line of the keyboard, a base connected to the base of the first transistor, and an emitter connected to the data pin of the microprocessor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A programmable joypad as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an oscillating circuit connected with the microprocessor for providing a clock signal thereto.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A programmable joypad as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cable having a male connector and a female connector for respectively connecting to the keyboard and the PC.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A programmable joypad as claimed in claim 3 wherein said male connector and the female connectors are respectively connected to a male connector and a female connector of another programmable joypad.