The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 24, 1997
Mark K Svancarek, Redmond, WA (US);
Jeffrey S Hanson, Redmond, WA (US);
Toshiyuki Minami, Sagamihara, JP;
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
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.