Method and apparatus for adaptively coupling an external peripheral device to either a universal serial bus port on a computer or hub or a game port on a computer

A converter for enabling an external computer peripheral device that is designed to connect to a computer via a cable and a plug attached to the cable, for data transfer through a non-universal serial bus port, to instead transfer data through a universal serial bus port on a hub or on a computer, comprising:

• (a) a receptacle adapted to mate with the plug on the cable attached to the peripheral device;
• (b) a lead that is attached to a universal serial bus plug adapted to mate with the universal serial bus port;
• (c) a universal serial bus transceiver for sending and receiving data respectively to and from the universal serial bus port;
• (d) data interface means for changing a format of data produced by the peripheral device to a format readable by and compatible with the universal serial bus port and for modifying data received from the universal serial bus port to a format that is readable by and compatible with the peripheral device;
• and
• (e) a programmed controller coupled to the universal serial bus transceiver and to the data interface means, for controlling the exchange of data between the peripheral device and the universal serial bus port.

A system for automatically adaptively coupling a game control in data communication with a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer or on a hub, or with a game port on the computer, comprising:

• (a) a lead connected to the game control, said lead including a plurality of conductors that are terminated in a connector configured and adapted to electrically couple in data communication with one of a USB port and a game port;
• (b) an adapter including a receptacle configured to electrically couple with said connector and having a plug configured and adapted to electrically couple with the other of the USB port and the game port;
• (c) a terminal within the game control that is connected to one of the conductors within the lead, said terminal having a voltage level that varies as a function of whether one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled with:
• (i) the USB port, or
• (ii) the game port;
• and
• (d) a programmed controller coupled to the terminal and responsive to the voltage thereon, said programmed controller being programmed to transmit and receive data formatted for the USB port over the lead if the voltage on the terminal indicates that one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled to the USB port and otherwise, to transmit and receive data formatted for the game port.

A system for automatically adaptively coupling a game control in data communication with a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer or on a hub, or with a game port on the computer, comprising:

• (a) a lead connected to the game control, said lead including a plurality of conductors that are terminated in a connector configured and adapted to electrically couple in data communication with one of a USB port and a game port;
• (b) an adapter including a receptacle configured to electrically couple with said connector and having a plug configured and adapted to electrically couple with the other of the USB port and the game port;
• (c) a plurality of terminals within the game control that are connected to a corresponding plurality of the conductors within the lead, said plurality of terminals receiving signals from one of the USB port and the game port when one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled thereto;
• and
• (d) a programmed controller coupled to the plurality of terminals and responsive to a type of a signal first received thereon, said programmed controller being programmed to subsequently operate in a USB mode in which it exchanges data with the USB port over the lead if the type of the signal first received indicates that said one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled to the USB port and otherwise, to subsequently operate in a game port mode in which it exchanges data with the game port.

A method for automatically adaptively coupling a game control in data communication with a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer or on a hub, or with a game port on the computer, through a lead that is terminated in a connector that is adapted to couple with one of the game port and the USB port, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an adapter including a receptacle configured to electrically couple with said connector and a plug configured and adapted to electrically couple with the other of the game port and the USB port;
• (b) sensing a voltage level that varies as a function of whether said one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled:
• (i) with the USB port, or
• (ii) with the game port;
• and
• (c) exchanging data formatted for the USB port between the game control and the USB port, if the voltage indicates that said one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled to the USB port, and otherwise, exchanging data formatted for the game port between the game control and the game port.

A method for automatically adaptively coupling a game control in data communication with a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer or on a hub, or with a game port on the computer, through a lead that is terminated in a connector adapted to couple with one of the USB port and the game port, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an adapter including a receptacle configured to electrically couple with said connector and having a plug configured and adapted to electrically couple with the other of the USB port and the game port;
• (b) receiving signals from one of the USB port and the game port, at the game control, when said one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled thereto;
• and
• (c) responding to a type of a signal first received from said one of the USB port and the game port, said game control subsequently operating in a USB mode for exchanging data with the USB port if the type of the signal first received indicates that said one of the plug and the connector is electrically coupled to the USB port, and otherwise, subsequently operating in a game port mode for exchanging data with the game port.