DE9414207U1 - Joystick interfaces and their variants of computers and consoles and a remote control system receiver connected to them - Google Patents

Description

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Lothar Pantel, Saarstr.73, 69151 Neckargemünd

Joystick interfaces and their variants of computers and consoles and the connected receiver of a remote control system.

The invention relates to computers or consoles and a receiver connected thereto of a remote control system, in particular a radio remote control system, for land, water or aircraft models.

Computer games that simulate driving cars or flying airplanes or other objects are well known for computers and consoles. They consist of a program stored on a diskette or other suitable data storage device, which is processed on the computer during the game. A moving image is shown on the computer screen in an artificial environment. The player can influence the image in the spirit of the game, usually with a keyboard connected to the computer, a mouse; but preferably with a joystick and its variants such as control pad, game pad or others. The connections for joysticks, control pads, game pads and others are standardized and usually in the form of a multi-pin plug.

Remote control systems for land, water or aircraft models are known, particularly in the form of radio remote control systems, which include a transmitter with manually operated control elements and a receiver carried by the model. The receiver has poles for connecting one or more electrical and/or electronic operating controllers, servos or similar. Servos are units consisting of electronics and an electric servo motor that act on actuators that influence the movement of the model. For example, in motor-driven vehicle models, the driving speed and direction of travel are controlled with electronic speed controllers or servos. In aircraft models, the ailerons, rudder, elevator and engine throttle can be servo-controlled.

The company lntertronics offered a model flight simulation game for computers called AEROCHOPPER, which is normally controlled using a joystick control panel. The control panel is connected to a serial or parallel interface on the computer using an adapter card supplied with the game program. It was also possible to run the simulation game using the player's own radio remote control system. To do this, the radio remote control system is retrofitted with a remote control adapter, which provides analog control of the adapter card in the joystick control panel. The remote control signals are therefore converted for the parallel or serial interface and can then only be processed by a special, associated program.

Even when using the utility model G 9319040.9 (Lothar Pantel), an associated, special program is required which evaluates the directly fed-in receiver signals.

The disadvantage of these designs is that only programs specifically developed for this purpose can be used.

The object of the invention is to create a simple signal converter between a computer and a receiver of a remote control system for land, water or aircraft models, which makes it possible to control any program that has a joystick control for gaming, testing and simulation purposes.

This task is solved by a signal converter between the operating controller or servo poles of the receiver and the joystick inputs of the computer (game ports), by converting the pulsed, pulse-width-controlled DC voltage of the receiver into digital or analog signals for the joystick interface of the computer; one of the following signal conversions is required for each transmitter channel (i.e. per servo connection):

a) Electromechanically, this can be done, for example, via the actuator (2) of a servo (1), which mechanically controls a potentiometer tap (6); (Fig.1) this potentiometer can thus take over the function of the potentiometer working in the analog joystick. (Fig.2) - For digital joysticks, instead of the potentiometer tap, e.g. 2 miniature switches (7) are mechanically operated in such a way that they make contact in the extreme positions of the actuator; (Fig.3) these miniature switches thus replace the function of the miniature switches working in the digital joystick. (Fig.4)

b) Electronically, an analog joystick can be replaced, for example, by the circuit of an electronic speed controller by replacing its output stage with suitable driver components (IC 2) that provide compatible signal levels to the joystick interface of the computer. (Fig.6)

For digital joysticks, for example, an electronic 2-channel switch is used, which with its switching function replaces the miniature switches working in the digital joystick.

In order not to lose any essential information of the proportional remote control signals during the conversion into simple digital LO,HI signals, the conversion into corresponding, proportional, digital pulse lengths can be carried out as a joystick signal.

The existing joystick can also be retained if suitable selection electronics switch the joystick and signal converter signals into one and the same joystick interface, e.g. for teacher-student operation. (Fig.5)

The signal converter preferably has a standardized multi-pin plug for connection to the joystick interface (8) of the computer. (Fig.7 and 8)

To connect to the receiver, the signal converter can be provided with free cable ends or plugs or sockets that fit the servo poles. (4)

For the electrical power supply of the receiver and the signal converter, a standard battery operation is possible. However, the receiver and the signal converter can also be powered electrically from the joystick interface of the computer and for this purpose be provided with an electrical supply line. (13)

It is possible to connect several receivers of remote control systems to one and the same joystick interface or to one joystick interface of a computer, in particular to simulate the control of several objects at the same time and/or to give several people the opportunity to play a sport at the same time. For the same purpose, several receivers can be connected to the interfaces of network-connected computers using signal converters.

Finally, there is also the possibility of a simultaneous signal converter connection of an RC model and computer to a receiver in order to operate them simultaneously with parallel or serial distribution of the receiver signals via the signal converter connection. This opens up the possibility of carrying out control movements on the RC model and simulating them on the computer at the same time, e.g. as part of a learning program or for documenting and evaluating the movements of a real model.

Remote control systems are characterized by a wireless connection between transmitter and receiver. The primary aim of the invention is to communicate wirelessly with the remote control system receiver, which is connected to a computer, using the transmitter, in particular via radio. However, if there are concerns about radio licensing, a shielded signal line connection can also be established between the transmitter and the receiver of the remote control system, e.g. using a coaxial cable.

The invention is explained in more detail below using some embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it:

Electro-mechanical version for analog joysticks: (PC)

Fig1: Mechanical structure for one remote control channel; required twice.

Fig2: Corresponding circuit for connection to 2 remote control channels;

Replaces a joystick cross stick (x-y).

The fire buttons can also be operated via 2 separate buttons.

Electro-mechanical version for digital joysticks: (C64/Amiga)
Fäg3: Mechanical structure for a remote control channel; required twice.
Fig4: Corresponding circuit for connection to 2 remote control channels;

Replaces a joystick cross stick (x-y).

The fire button should be connected via an additional joystick

triggered (Fig5).
Fig5: Simultaneous operation of a joystick and a remote control system on a

Joystick connection.

Electronic version for analog joysticks: (PC)

Fig6: Circuit for a remote control channel; is required twice to replace a joystick cross stick (x-y). Fire buttons can be designed as in Fig.2, for example.

Fig7: Pin assignment game port, analog (PC) Fig8: Pin assignment joystick port, digital (C64)

List of reference symbols:

(1) Servo

(2) Actuator

(3) Servo electronics

(4) from the receiver (1 channel)

(5) Bracket

(6) Potentiometer

(7) Miniature switches

(8) to the joystick interface, pin assignment see Fig.7 or 8.

(9) Servo lever

(10) Signal converter, electro-mechanical design for digital joystick ports

(11) Additional connection option for the existing joystick

(12) Separate fire buttons (e.g. on signal converter housing)

(13) Power supply from joystick interface

1C1 e.g. IC NE 544 (servo IC)

IC2 optocoupler (galvanic isolation)

Claims (11)

Lothar Pantel, Saarstr.73, 69151 Neckargemünd Joystick interfaces and their variants of computers and consoles and the receiver of a remote control system connected to them. Claims 1. Computers or consoles with a digital or analog joystick interface, or variants thereof (control pad/game pad or the like), and receiver of a remote control system, in particular a radio remote control system, for land, water or aircraft models, which has poles for the connection of one or more electrical and/or electronic operating controllers, servos or the like, to which a pulsed, pulse-width-controlled direct voltage is applied, characterized by a signal converter (interface) between the poles and the joystick interface for the direct control of conventional game and simulation programs that support a joystick. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a signal converter (interface) for electromechanical or electronic conversion of the signals from the remote control channels into joystick signals including the signals from the fire buttons. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fire buttons supported by the joystick interface are mounted separately on the housing of the signal converter or the fire buttons of the joystick can be retained by a parallel connection of the joystick to the signal converter. 4. Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by a simultaneous operation of a joystick and a radio control system on one and the same joystick interface with optional, priority or equal-ranking connection of the signals. • · ·#**· its* 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a refinement of the control properties of a digital joystick (e.g. in simulation programs) is achieved by converting the proportional remote control signals into slowly pulsed, pulse width controlled digital joystick signals. 6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the signal converter has a joystick multi-pin plug for connection to the joystick interface. 7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the signal converter has free cable ends, plugs or sockets for connection to the receiver. 8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the signal converter and the receiver are electrically fed from the joystick interface. 9. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, (^characterized by a signal converter connection of several receivers to one and the same or one joystick interface each of the computer or the joystick interfaces of several computers connected in a network. 10. Device according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized by an additional connection of an RC model to a receiver for simultaneous operation with a computer program. 11. Device according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized by a shielded signal line connection between the transmitter and the receiver of the remote control system.