A PERIPHERAL-COMPUTER INTERFACING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for communicating peripheral input information through a game adapter interface to a personal computer processor. A controller reads switch signals output from one ore more switch arrays to detect switch activity. The controller conditions and outputs digital switch activity signals representative of the detected switch activity. A multiplexer multiplexes the digital switch activity signals output from the controller to obtain a corresponding analog switch activity signal. The type of switch activity detected by the controller can include the first switch to be activated among contending slammers and/or the current activation state of an array of selector switches. The controller includes a signal conditioner which asserts digital switch activity signals for a predetermined duration to enable a steady-state analog switch signal to be polled by a personal computer processor. In this way, even rapid, momentary peripheral inputs through the switches are detected by a heavily-loaded PC processor through the game adapter interface. The controller further outputs a digital report signal such as a semaphore indicating either an active multiplexing condition or a calibration period. During calibration, the controller outputs a sequence of digital signals having different binary values such that a respective multiplexer outputs a profile of analog values covering the range of different switch activities.