DE3816488C2 - - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a computer according to the preamble of claim 1.

Today's computers, especially home Computers and personal computers can be common with the most diverse programs to control one or several peripheral devices and in particular also for Control of screen games are operated in which the operator by means of a manual control device, especially joy stick or mouse or Control keys of the computer the movements of one or several playing figures within a stationary or can control the variable playing field. There are numerous games, the hurdles, labyrinth passes u. Like. simulate, it being based on the skill the player arrives, the built-in during the game Obstacles to circumvent or overcome or even in the To compete faster with another character, to achieve more hits od. Like.

A computer according to features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE-Z. "Elektor" June 1980, Pages 6-28 through 6-31. It is a computer which already has two inputs to connect Joy sticks. There are games available in which every joy stick  a game character is assigned and one of two Players can be controlled. Also computer with three joy Stick connections have already become known. The following explained invention can be useful but also on computers with only one joystick port for another manual control device apply.

In the known computers with different Joy embroidery Inputs of the computer are internally by a Processor manages, so that according to the control actions the player's incoming data to one with an address exactly specified location of the Computers are stored and then during the course of the program serve to further control the same.

The prior art is also referred to EP 00 59 779 A2, according to which it is known in a video game machine that this is provided with four manual control devices (see in particular Figure 1 with accompanying description). As with the other known computers with several joysticks, only one of the number of game sticks corresponding to the number of joystick ports can be controlled, ie four game sticks with four joysticks.

The present invention is based on the object at a computer of the type in question technical arrangements to meet the design possibilities of the Sequence of by means of manual control devices programs and, in particular, each Stick input of the computer (or per input for a other manual control device) more than one To control the character.  

Starting from a computer initially assumed to be known Art is the solution of this problem in claim 1 characterized. Claim 2 identifies the execution of the Computer with individual joy sticks as manual control devices.

Such a computer is characterized by that the single joy-stick input of the computer (resp. Input for another manual control device) for Connection of two or more joy sticks or other Manual control devices can be used, by means of which each independently in the program flow can be intervened and by means of which in particular different Game figures can be controlled each for themselves. The invention is also characterized essentially by the fact that with simple and inexpensive hardware an effective and versatile control of program sequences and in particular computer games with a larger number allowed by playing pieces.

The prior art is also referred to DE-34 00 921 A1, which discloses a switching device. In one first operating state are with the operating unit Instructions entered into a display control input unit and via a display device computer in the operating memory the operating instructions in the form of telegrams saved. For this purpose, the memory via a switch, which is closed in the first operating state, to the display computer connected. In a second operating state is a switch, which in the first switching position the Input unit connects to the display computer, in the second position, so that the output signals of the operating memory can be supplied to the visual computer. The former switch is open in this mode.

This particular circuit has not given any suggestions to solve the underlying problems of the present invention.

Finally, the state of the art is still the DE-34 32 169 A1 to mention. It is a video Game device operating between a single-player mode and a two-player mode can be switched. In the single-player mode, only the output signal that control device of the main unit of video Supplied game device whose start button is pressed. If a two-player mode is selected, then the output will be the game device of the main unit fed, the start button is pressed. This will do that Game initiated. As the game progresses take turns the output signals of the first and second Control device applied to the main unit. At this Game facility requires it at each of the different Players associated control devices in addition to the joy sticks or the like. A selection key to select either a one-player mode or a two player Operating mode and the start button, whereby the single-player Operating mode or the two-player mode in a special register to store and an extensive Circuit and buffer arrangement ensures that the one or the other player gets the right, the control device to operate and the change of the screen for the other Player is performed. Also this known game device has no suggestions for solving the present Invention underlying task given.

In the dependent claims are advantageous embodiments of Invention characterized according to the main claim.

Of particular advantage is the design  according to claim 4, which allows a single Management of the already existing printer output for the Switching between different, to a single Joy embroidery Input of the computer connected joy stick to use. Also in this arrangement it is ensured that Only one joystick is activated at a time can. Here, too, the number of times via a joy embroidery Connecting the computer to double controllable game pieces or at higher processing speeds of a computer.

Due to the switching device according to the invention is on each of the individual joy-stick inputs in at any time well-defined way the signal of one of the two or several connected to this joy stick connection Joy stick created, and that now makes it possible in the Program sequence corresponding to more different control pulses to be provided, d. H. to let more players act.

For example, if the computer has two joystick inputs, then the computer can in arrangement of the invention Select switching device which two of the four straight joysticks are currently active. Of these Two he gets the data, processes it in the program and then switch to the other two joy sticks.

With the ones communicated to him by the different joy sticks The calculator proceeds the same way as above.

Switching and processing the data is so fast that the human reaction time is far below (about 200 Hz sampling frequency). So it can easily four players at the same time, without the clear Separation of the computer in the different joy sticks entered information would be compromised.  

Claim 5 indicates an expedient embodiment, in the components of the switching device in a separate, Housing connectable to the computer housing are housed.  

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to a drawing. This shows:
Partial representations and schematic part-switching and block images of a computer with a switching device for connecting multiple joy sticks.

The figure schematically shows a part of a computer 11 with two joy stick inputs A and B and a printer output 13 . It is also the memory 15 of the computer indicated, and therein via the joy stick input A addressable addresses I and II and via the joy stick input B addressable addresses III and IV.

About a still to be described switching device 17 are on the joy stick input A alternately a joy stick 1 or a joy stick 2 and the joy stick input B a joy stick 3 or a joy stick 4 to the Computer connected. In a manner to be described in more detail, the aforementioned joy stick inputs can alternately be activated or deactivated in order to address the addresses I or II or III or IV alternately. The switching signal is given via the alternately fed with plus 5 volts and 0 volts line 19 of the printer output 13 .

The computer 11 is a commercially available home computer or personal computer of the kind that can handle manually variable control programs (joy stick, mouse, key input device) programs with variable program flow, in particular computer games in the competition or with mutual influence controlled game characters.

A suitable computer is for example

Trade name: ATARI ST Construction year: 1987 memory capacity: 512 KB Main processor: Motorola 68000

The aforementioned main processor is fast enough (Clock frequency eg 8 MHz).

In a manner to be described in more detail are suitable for the Purpose of the present invention especially now newly released 16-bit computer, which has a polling frequency of 200 Hz.

All joy sticks are suitable for the purpose of the present Invention: All joy sticks, mice, paddles and rollerballs with Sub-D 9-pin female connector

A joy stick is generally a manual control device, by means of the cursor on the screen solely by reciprocating the universally mounted Joy sticks can be quickly moved to any position can, whereupon by means of a provided on the joy stick  Schalters program sequences can be triggered. To Such a joy stick generally has a 9-pin female connector.

In the same way as with a joy stick can be Game programs of the type in question also by means of a so-called mouse control, so a manual control device, which can be moved on a table or a plate is moving while a rolling body whose movements in corresponding cursor movements are implemented on the screen become. As is known, computer games can be in question type but also simply by keying actuate devices.

The technique of joy stick controllers for computer games u. The like. Has been in the previously known computers by using a joy stick connector with a single joy stick for arranging two joy stick inputs further developed, to each of which a single joystick connected and game programs have been developed which two players compete with each other and with mutual influence by means of their associated Joy Sticks game characters od. Like. Control can. A well-known Program of this kind, which can be controlled by means of two joy sticks is that ever for a joystick input of the computer connected, is the program

Title: Time Bandits
Manufacturer: Midtron / Microdeal
Year of publication: 1986/1988

As already mentioned above, contrary to this state of the art in the present invention, it is now provided that each of the two joy stick inputs A and B is not connected to a single joy stick, but in each case two joy sticks, and the invention can also be extended to the use of several joy sticks.

The already mentioned switching device 17 may be arranged in a separate housing from the computer housing and contains as essential components two individual switches 21 and 23 , one of which via a connecting line 25 to the one joy stick input A and the other via a connecting line 27th connected to the other joystick input B. Each of the two switches 21 and 23 has two changeover contacts 29/31 and 33/35, wherein the change-over contact 29 via a line 37 with the joystick 1, the change-over contact 31 via a line 39 with the joystick 2, the Changeover contact 33 is connected via a line 41 to the joy stick 3 and the changeover contact 35 via a line 43 to the joy stick 4 .

The change-over contacts are 29 for the exchange or switching - 35 connected to the aforementioned line 19, which is fed through the printer output of the computer 13 alternately with a signal from plus 5 or 0 volts. Here are the joy sticks 1 and 3 associated changeover contacts 29 and 33 by means of lines 45 and 47 and the line 19 connected directly to the printer output, while the joy sticks 2 and 4 associated changeover contacts 31 and 35 to the line 19 and the Printer output 13 via lines 49 and 51 with the interposition of an inverter 53 are connected.

Due to the described structure, the computer can now select which of the four connected joy sticks are currently active. From these two he gets the data, processes it in the program and then switches to the other two joy sticks. With the information arriving there, the computer then proceeds in the usual way. to control the program flow. The switching between the joy sticks and the processing of the data is so fast that the human reaction time is far below, (about 200 Hz sampling frequency). By means of the hardware described (switching device 17 ), the described switching can be realized in a simple manner. Internally, the circuit is supervised by the computer, which processes the data coming from it. A suitable soft-ware works with the following steps:

• 1. Switch to joystick 1 and 3 (signal to the hardware).
• 2. Process data from Joy-Stick 1 by sending it to address I.
• 3. Process data from Joy-Stick 3 by sending it to address III.
• 4. Switch to joystick 2 and 4 (signal to the hardware).
• 5. Process data from Joy-Stick 2 by sending it to address II.
• 6. Process data from Joy-Stick 4 by sending it to address IV.
• 7. Repeat from 1st to.

This program should preferably be in the programming language Written "assembler" (because of the speed.)

The explained switching device is also a Protective device that plays pirated copies of Thwart programs with the aforementioned program flow can. Who a pirated copy of a so constructed program on a computer equipped with two joystick inputs can not do that if he does not want to play has described switching device available.

As mentioned, the present invention is not limited to four Joy Stick participants, but the number of participants can be increased accordingly, if the processing speed the computer is big enough. On Team games in the area of Possibility.  

Below is an example of the pin assignment of Printer ports played on the Atari ST computer:

About one of the eight data lines is the switching signal sent for the hardware. This serves as the previous one mentioned line of the block diagram.

Also by way of example, the pinout of a standard Sub-9-Pol-Joy-Stick connector is reproduced below, as shown on the Joy Stick inputs A and B of the computer 11 and on each of the joy sticks 1, 2, 3 and 4 is present:

The block diagram shows for simplicity the Schaltvor device 17 for the alternate connection of the individual joy sticks to the computer only schematically. However, the switching device includes the necessary connections to connect each joy stick 1, 2, 3 or 4 with all its terminals 1-9 to the corresponding terminals 1-9 of the joy stick terminals A and B.

Below is a concrete example of a simple computer game specified in which by means of the switching device 4 players with four joy sticks can participate, although the computer has only two joystick ports:
Four players compete against each other for the race. A forward movement of each character is possible only by a certain rhythmic movement of the associated joy stick. Since all four characters must act simultaneously by movements of the joy sticks, all joystick inputs must be available practically at the same time. Whoever comes first to the finish has won.

Since the dates of the actual activity of the Players must appear randomly distributed, must be programmatically be provided for such a game that every time of the game all four players assigned addresses I, II, III or IV in constant repetition be activated one after the other in the sequence and thus, if a player is watching one Joy stick pressed, available.

Because both the soft-ware-like change from one Address to the next as well as the switching operations from one joy stick to the next through the switching device each at time intervals below the human reaction time and joy stick operation time is done at any time of the game for the Player ensures that a player is pressing his  Joy sticks also address its assigned address can.

With the above-mentioned program steps can be ensured that in the context of human reaction time synchronization of switching to a specific joy stick (ie its activation) is given with the processing of the entered data from this joy stick, and it can thus be excluded in that, for example, the data of the joy sticks 1 and 2 , which are both connected to the joy stick input A via the switching device, get confused.

It is clear that by means of the switching device according to the invention also much more complicated gameplay with four or more players are controllable, although the Computer z. B. has only two joystick ports.

Claims (5)

1. A computer having at least one input for a manual control device for processing programs with variable according to the manually input control pulses variable program flow, in particular for controlling computer games with competitively controlled or interacting game characters, characterized by a to the input (a; B) to one input (a; B), wherein for the at least two manual control devices (1; computer connectable switching device (17) comprising at least two manual control devices (1; 2) (4 3) 2 ) (3; 4) each have a single switch (21; 23) consisting of alternating switching elements (29; 31) (33; 35) for each manual control device for alternating activation and deactivation of the respective manual control device is provided and the individual switches for alternately actuating via a circuit ( 45, 47, 53, 49, 51 ) to Ans teuerung the individual changeover elements are connected to a welchseldes output signal leading line ( 19 ) of the computer. 2. Computer according to claim 1, characterized in that the manual control devices of individual joy sticks ( 1 , 2 ) ( 3 , 4 ) are formed. 3. Computer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the single joy stick input (A ; B) is used to connect two or more joy sticks. 4. Computer according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the alternating output leading line ( 19 ) is a single line of the printer output ( 13 ), wherein the activation and deactivation of a joy stick ( 1 , 3 ) provided switch a change-over contact ( 29 ; 33 ) with direct connection to the line ( 19 ) and the activation and deactivation of the other joy stick ( 2 ; 4 ) provided switch is a changeover contact ( 31 ; 35 ) which is connected to the line ( 19 ) is connected via an inverter ( 53 ). 5. Switching device for a computer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components of the switching device ( 17 ) are housed in a separate, connectable to the computer housing.