Playstation Interfaces/Encoders

[Infrasonic]

I'm starting to make MAME-style encoders/interfaces for use with the Sony Playstation consoles.  

I have 2 on Ebay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21184&item=3056583011

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21184&item=3056583648


These have 16 screw terminals:  4 for the joystick, 10 for the buttons, and 2 common ground connections (same signal).

These also include a fuse on them for added protection.

These are functionally equivalent to the Standard/Digital-Only gamepads.

Comments and constructive critisism welcome.

[Edgedamage]

Hey looks great good idea. Wait you only ship to USA hmmm don't like that action.  

[Infrasonic]

You're not the first to ask about that, there is no conceivable reason that I can think of not to export except for one:  A formal technology export license issued by the US State Department, I am not sure if it is explicitly required but I don't want to get in trouble...  

I would like to investigate exportation, but I feel that can wait 'till I sell a few first.

[sush1a]

do you supply the documentation of which connector is for which button, also does this work with ps-usb adapters?  Thanks.

[Infrasonic]

These current boards have board terminals which are almost identical to the ones found on certain car amplifiers for inserting bare wires.

I am including instructions with them that shows which connector corresponds to what button.

As far as compatibility with psx-usb, or any adapters is concerned:  I simply do not know, I have not tested these with any adapters.  I believe that they would work, I see no reason why they wouldn't.  

I have been hot-plugging these a lot and I have not experienced any problems.

The recommended voltage range on the encoders is about 2.9v - 5.3v.  Playstation voltage: 3.50volts.

Encoder's current draw from positive input:  approx. 0.9-1.3 milliamps.  Dual shock's: approx. 3-15 milliamps.

Contains on-board error detection.

[Infrasonic]

I've recently received feedack from a customer who tested this out on a PS2 with no problems.

Now classified as PS1 and PS2 compatible.  

[Donger]

Any special instructions on wiring Perfect 360 joysticks?  Are they compatible?

Thanks.

[ashardin]

Any reason why these encoders would not work with this adapter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3059349484&category=41053

To give you the ability to swap your control panel between a PS1, PS2, and Dreamcast?

[Infrasonic]

I can't imagine any reason why they wouldn't work on a dreamcast adapter, but they are yet to be tested.

Regarding the perfect 360 joysticks:
I have been wanting to get one of these for a while now but I don't have one yet so I don't know  much about them.   I know that they require electricity -possibly as much as 5 volts - for them to operate.  I don't know the on/off states of the perf360 either.  The adapter that I made is designed for simple switches.  When the switch is open the voltage on that signal is equal to pos power from the playstation, when the switch is closed it causes the voltage level on that signal to go to ground.

Use of a perf360 on this present adapter model will require special techniques that I have no knowledge of.
You could post or look for a Msg posting regarding p360s and hacked gamepads.

[eightbit]

I can't imagine any reason why they wouldn't work on a dreamcast adapter, but they are yet to be tested.

Regarding the perfect 360 joysticks:
I have been wanting to get one of these for a while now but I don't have one yet so I don't know  much about them.   I know that they require electricity -possibly as much as 5 volts - for them to operate.  I don't know the on/off states of the perf360 either.  The adapter that I made is designed for simple switches.  When the switch is open the voltage on that signal is equal to pos power from the playstation, when the switch is closed it causes the voltage level on that signal to go to ground.

Use of a perf360 on this present adapter model will require special techniques that I have no knowledge of.
You could post or look for a Msg posting regarding p360s and hacked gamepads.

If the interface uses a common ground for all the switches and has +5v available on it then you should be able to use it for a p360. You can't get the +5 volts from a different source becuase it has to have the same ground as the switches are grounded.

[armad1ll0]

Xbox and Gamecube adaptors are very finicky often requiring a Dualshock equivalent to work.

Did you build your own encoder chip or did you get an existing one?

Those cables aren't form common stock but taken from existing controllers?

[Infrasonic]

The dualshock compatibility issue is on the backburner right now.  The funny thing is is that when a dual shock is in green mode, after about 2 seconds or so after it is hot plugged or turned on it functions in identically the same manner as a digital.

As far as cables are concerned, I use whatever I can get.

All electronics are designed, built, and tested by me.  This current series is very stable, and is designed to automatically correct a malfunctioning condition within approx 1ms if it ever occurs, if you have ever used an encoder that you had to unplug and plug back in you will appreciate this even though I have never observed this feature even needed.  I have tested the device to be stable with hot plugging.  Unit contains a fuse for protection.  

I need to sell about 500 or so units before I can justify producing a custom cable for the device.