Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Mark K Svancarek

Hajime Suzuki

Manolito E Adan

Michael W Van Flandern

Russell Irvin Sanchez

Mike M Paull

Tetsuji Aoyagi

Steven Nabil Bathiche

Aditha May Adams

Toru Suzuki

Thomas W Brooks

Melissa S Jacobson

Wolfgang Adam Mack, Jr

Gary L Gordon

Matthew J Stipes

John Graham Pierce

Jeffrey S Hanson

Richard Bruce Kash

Takeshi Miura

Toshiyuki Minami

Hiroyuki Bonde

A hand held computer input device includes a first housing portion having at least one user actuable input device. A first extending handle is coupled to, and extends away from, the first housing portion. A second handle is also coupled to, and extends away from, the first housing portion. An orientation sensor is coupled to the first housing and is configured to sense a physical orientation of the first housing portion. The orientation sensor provides an orientation signal indicative of the physical orientation sensed.

Two-handed computer input device with orientation sensor

A computer input device includes a user manipulable portion having a first primary axis of motion. An inclination sensor has a first sensing axis. The inclination sensor is coupled to the user manipulable portion such that the first sensing axis is disposed at a first offset angle relative to the first primary access of motion. An output component is coupled to the inclination sensor and provides output information indicative of sensed inclination.

Computer input device with inclination sensors

The wireless computer input system uses a pen-type input device and a receiver. The pen-type input device includes an LED, at least one switch, a rechargeable battery, and a control circuit. The control circuit provides signals to the LED upon activation of the switch, and provides for power management functions allowing the pen to conserve power during idle periods. The receiver includes one or more light-detecting elements connected to position computation circuitry. The light-detecting element or elements are either a two-dimensional PSD, two one-dimensional PSDs or a four division photodiode. Optional lenses, optical filters, and apertured plates are positioned before the light-detecting element(s), improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the system. The computation circuitry receives the signals from the light-detecting element(s), digitizes them, and computes the coordinates of the pen which are output to a host computer. A recharging circuit, connected to the computation circuit, allows the pen to be recharged within the receiver or connected by a cord when the battery lacks sufficient power.

Wireless input device, for use with a computer, employing a movable

An adapter or converter for coupling an external device to a universal serial bus (USB) port. An adapter is disclosed for use in connecting a joystick to the USB port of a computer. The adapter includes a receptacle for coupling with a game port plug on the joystick. The receptacle is connected to a USB plug, which can be mated with the USB port on a hub or a computer. Within the joystick, a programmed microcontroller unit (MCU) responds to an indication of whether the joystick is connected to the adapter and if so, operates the joystick in a USB communication mode, providing the required digital data packets formatted in accordance with the USB specification. Otherwise, the joystick operates in a game port mode to communicate with a conventional game port. A broader aspect of the present invention is directed to a converter that enables an external device normally connected to a computer through a non-USB port to communicate with the computer via a USB port. The converter includes a data acquisition interface, a microcontroller, a USB engine, and a USB transceiver. Signals from the peripheral device are converted to the appropriate format for input through the USB port, and any signals transmitted to the peripheral device from the USB port are converted to the format it requires by the data acquisition interface.

Method and apparatus for adaptively coupling an external peripheral

A digital joystick operates in a digital mode or an analog emulation mode. In the digital mode, the joystick generates digital data indicating the position of a control stick and the status of buttons and transmits the digital data to the computer. The joystick may be coupled to the computer through a game port or a conventional interface port. Computer software operating within the computer can receive digital data directly from the joystick if it is operating in the digital mode. When in the analog emulation modes the joystick emulates resistances related to the position of the control stick. The emulated resistance data emulates the value of corresponding resistances in a conventional joystick. The resistance values may be derived from a programmable resistor, a programmable impedance, or a programmable current source. Multiplexers may also be used to couple the appropriate resistance value to the conventional game port input.

System and method for the software emulation of a computer joystick

A digital joystick coupled to a conventional computer game port tests for the presence of electrical circuitry to support two joysticks and dynamically configures the digital data for transmission to button inputs for either one or two joysticks in the game port. The digital joystick configures the data for transmission to three or more button input lines on the game ports if it detects the second joystick circuitry, and configures the data for transmission to only two button inputs corresponding to the first joystick if it does not detect the second joystick circuitry. The digital joystick generates a clock which is coupled to one button input in the game port. The remaining button inputs are used to transfer data. Within the computer, the system determines the presence of electrical circuitry for the second joystick and is configured to accept data from both joystick inputs that are active. The computer is configured to accept data from only the first joystick if the second joystick input is not active. The system automatically configures the data to correspond with the electrical circuitry present within the game port without any intervention by the user.

System and method for dynamic data packet configuration

A user input system for inputting computer signals, such as a joystick, has an elongated member or handle that is movably received by a housing. The handle is capable of moving in at least three perpendicular directions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axes, and is capable of being rotated about at least one of the three axes. In a first embodiment, a pair of light emitting diodes ('LEDs') are mounted at an end of the handle and oriented toward the interior of the housing. The LEDs are strobed to alternately project light downward into the housing. A light detecting element, such as a two-dimensional position sensing device ('PSD'), two one-dimension PSDs, or a four quadrant photodiode, is positioned opposite the LEDs, and mounted to the housing to receive the light from the LEDs to produce signals. The signals are converted from analog to digital and input to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, employing trigonometric methods, calculates the position and orientation (i.e., rotation) of the handle and outputs the coordinates to a host computer. The joystick preferably includes switches that produce signals and a slidable member that produces a variable signal, all of which are also output to the computer. In a second embodiment, the LEDs are mounted to the housing to project the light upward and the light detecting unit is mounted at the end of the handle.

Input device for providing multi-dimensional position coordinate signals

A game port interface is disclosed which permits bidirectional communication between a game port and a peripheral device. In one embodiment, the peripheral device is a digital joystick and the game port sends commands to the digital joystick. The game port interface includes one or more timers whose inputs are coupled to resistances within the joystick. Also coupled to the timer inputs are capacitors such that the resistors in the joystick form a charging network with the capacitors in the game port interface. When an output instruction to the game port is executed, the capacitors coupled to the timer inputs are charged to a predetermined voltage. The timer input is also coupled to an inverter within the joystick. The output of the inverter switches to a low logic level when the timer input is charged above a logic threshold. The output of the inverter is coupled to an interrupt input on a microprocessor within the joystick. The microprocessor interprets one or more interrupts as commands and takes appropriate action. In one embodiment, the first interrupt causes the digital joystick to transmit data corresponding to the position of the joystick. If a second interrupt is transmitted to the joystick while the first interrupt is being processed, the second interrupt is interpreted as a second command. Each interrupt transmitted to the joystick while the joystick is processing the previous interrupt is interpreted as a new command. For example, if the joystick is processing the second interrupt, and a third interrupt request is detected at the interrupt input, this is interpreted as a third command. The digital joystick of the present invention is also capable of operating in an analog emulation mode. The game port can send similar commands using the interrupt circuitry described above to the joystick while in the analog emulation mode.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Mark K Svancarek