Closer To The Final Replacement Of Stick

[FluffyPanda]

Yeah, I think it's the actual construction of the pad that would require licensing. Buying replacement parts made by nintendo should be fine.

Patents can be a pain in the arse, software patents even more so. Microsoft actually holds patents on double clicking and task grouping on the taskbar, amongst others. It's their next great tool in the FUD war against linux.

 

[scorpio]

(via wikipedia)

US Patent entry

I'm not even remotely awake enough to try and decipher the legalese surrounding this, and the images are only partially visible for me, but it looks like the patent is for any (physically) 4-way multi-directional control pad formed as a single unit, using conductive rubber, dome-sprung contact pads, for the purpose of controlling game characters.

There are specifics in that the shape of control surface is a plus, and that it's concave rather than flat, which is probably one of the things that is held to be important in the design.

I think it might be fair to say that Nintendo see the 'plus-sign' as their signature mark, and as long as nobody steps on this, nothing will be said. h34r:

 

[DaveC]

(via wikipedia)

US Patent entry

I'm not even remotely awake enough to try and decipher the legalese surrounding this, and the images are only partially visible for me, but it looks like the patent is for any (physically) 4-way multi-directional control pad formed as a single unit, using conductive rubber, dome-sprung contact pads, for the purpose of controlling game characters.

There are specifics in that the shape of control surface is a plus, and that it's concave rather than flat, which is probably one of the things that is held to be important in the design.

I think it might be fair to say that Nintendo see the 'plus-sign' as their signature mark, and as long as nobody steps on this, nothing will be said. h34r:

Yes it is that "plus" shape that we cannot use. That is why Sony has the separated pad, and others have a plus raised on top of a round pad.

If someone sells mods using that plus shape for non-Nintendo systems they could be sued. Will they go after such small game? Who knows. They might just send you a scary letter with lots of Latin in it to make you stop before it even gets to court. They can bankrupt many companies, even if they don't win.

 

[Series-8]

Simple; you don't sell the mod with a '+' Dpad.

Then the user rips one out of whatever they can get and uses that instead.

Modding a mod.

Otherwise those Nasty Nintendo Ninja's will get us h34r: h34r: h34r:

 

[jmetal88]

Umm... Dreamcast uses a + shape exactly like Nintendo's. You sure it's still under patent protection?

 

[Radek]

Small update but important one.

Had not time to clean the PCB properly and really didn't care as it had only to fit. And it does so GP2x can be closed without problems!

To appreciate the size constrains you have to see the blue line:

It was after few tries and was getting me frustrated enough to consider some other option (the µC from Microchip actually). Had coded for it and I have the chips for that (the 16F627A) but the cmos 4067 has to many advantages to just resign.

So... I finally managed to do it. It fits and GP2x can be closed. One thing less to worry about and it's great that such "old" chip is doing the work fine. Really good news.

 

[grahf]

Thats looking great Radek.

 

[Hanz™]

Thats looking great Radek.

 

[nubie]

Bump,

But seriously, more info please.

That is looking great, if firmware 2.0 and that mod become available I am going to have to get together the money and buy another GP2X.

I would like some pics of how the stick d-pad looks, if you can't show because you are planning on selling it I understand ; )

 

[Radek]

Bump,

But seriously, more info please.

Tomorrow I'm going to send pcb design to some other company so it will be nice one with solder mask.

For any technical explanation and requirements you can find them in this topic.
But in short:

- replacacement has two parts: converter and dpad
- it's powered directly from 2xAA batteries
- it's power consumption is low (no measurable effect)
- there isn't any soldering involved - I'm using special connectors on the PCB for that
- mounting dpad require enlarging existing stick's hole and removing upper part of built in stick
- the dpad is from Nokia N-Gage QD
- full compatibility inlcuding support for center push
- price around 25-35$
- you are going to void your warranty installing it

That's all.

Basically the design is complete and I have to arrange manufacturing now.

I really wished to make everything sooner. Unfortunately this all was completely new feat for me (hadn't make any such things before) so I had to learn some.

 

[minkster]

Radek, you are really doing an excellent job with this. Congrats on having it all manufactured..I'm really excited to see the final product.

 

[Hanz™]

Bump,

But seriously, more info please.

Tomorrow I'm going to send pcb design to some other company so it will be nice one with solder mask.

For any technical explanation and requirements you can find them in this topic.
But in short:

- replacacement has two parts: converter and dpad
- it's powered directly from 2xAA batteries
- it's power consumption is low (no measurable effect)
- there isn't any soldering involved - I'm using special connectors on the PCB for that
- mounting dpad require enlarging existing stick's hole and removing upper part of built in stick
- the dpad is from Nokia N-Gage QD
- full compatibility inlcuding support for center push
- price around 25-35$
- you are going to void your warranty installing it

That's all.

Basically the design is complete and I have to arrange manufacturing now.

I really wished to make everything sooner. Unfortunately this all was completely new feat for me (hadn't make any such things before) so I had to learn some.

Sweet. Congratulations on making this, I am definitely gonna have to buy one. I love the fact that there is full compatibility and that it doesn't need any soldering. And looks nice!

 

[second exodous]

Will you have a pre-order? I'd sign up for one of the fist ones.

Thanx,
Stan

 

[saboteur]

*bump*

Any news Radek ?? In view of the rotated fix in the MK2, I want your solution.

Cheers

 

[FluffyPanda]

Perhaps a private message to Radek would have been better than bumping a topic that nobody has posted in for two weeks?

A new topic at least?

Ah well, may as well add me to the list of curious folk that want to know how things are going on with the stick replacement project.

 

[saboteur]

Fluffy Panda : Yeah you're probably right that a PM would've been better, but in my defense another topic about the 45 degree angle change pointed here and I thought i'd post out of mounting excitement

Sorry, < get's coat > <leaves>

 

[Radek]

The first batch of PCBs:

Notice the small difference.

The company what I shipped for PCBs proved to be alright. That was taking most of my time lately - to found a good source. Now as I have one the things should go fast.

For a shipping in EU the EvilDragon will handle that. For the rest of world I will do it myself.
(thought I'd prefer to let it do someone else)

If you are wondering what the smaller chip is... it's an µC. Yeah - I was working at it simultaneously with 4067 just in case it'd not fit. I will offer the 4067 too but some of you might be interested at writing your own routines but I doubt you will beat my actual code for this PIC.
(the circuit allows ISP programming and there are two free pins (one in and one in/out) as well.

I will assemble an unit as fast as possible and give you full coverage.
(tested it already on the universal PCB)

I had to say I have some problems with making mounting base for dpad's PCB. But this will be remedied soon and you should be impressed by simplicity of my design.

So just little more patience please...

edit:

This is what I will try to mount into my GP2x tommorow:
(have to play some games again...)

These are all the parts needed for complete mod!

How the µC circuit looks like in GP2x?

 

[Epicenter]

That's a very impressive little kit you've got there. Should you start selling them, put me down as a buyer. A D-Pad is the only thing the '2x needs to be the perfect gaming / game development machine for me-- my annoyances with the stick are about all that really remain as I am quite satisfied with the battery life, display quality and (most importantly) processing power of the GP2X.

What sort of cutting into the faceplate or other modification of the '2x aside from placing the PCB into the unit pressed against the relevant contacts? I would assume a circular cut the shape and size of the D-Pad itself for it to poke through?

 

[Radek]

That's a very impressive little kit you've got there. Should you start selling them, put me down as a buyer. A D-Pad is the only thing the '2x needs to be the perfect gaming / game development machine for me-- my annoyances with the stick are about all that really remain as I am quite satisfied with the battery life, display quality and (most importantly) processing power of the GP2X.

What sort of cutting into the faceplate or other modification of the '2x aside from placing the PCB into the unit pressed against the relevant contacts? I would assume a circular cut the shape and size of the D-Pad itself for it to poke through?

Except that you will need to lower (by sanding) the bottom part of GP2x's stick by 0.5mm. I will try to minimize that using for the contact pads' PCB as thin as possible.
It is easier to do than drilling the bigger hole in GP2x's front panel anyway. And making a hole in GP2x's front panel isn't hard either - you need triangle based increasing in size chisel and some patience.
(pushing it too hard might crack the front panel)

The QD dpad needs ~1.5mm shim for its spring action. With added 1mm of PCB with contact pads the GP2x's case can not be closed fully. As I said by around 0.5mm.

Imho it's still the simplest mod to do - look at number of needed parts. Just 5 of them for complete solution.

And remember that with µC version you will have two free pins to other uses as well.
Current drain for the PIC what I'm using is 12µA at polling freqency over 1.5KHz.
(and it starts working from just 2V)

If someone have other ideas of dpad then I will happily provide just logic converter as well.

For this first batch of PCBs I wasn't going a "full scale". It was a test run to check quality of manufacturer what I'm dealing with. The last week I was spending my time on searching for such company.
(had really enough of babbling in enchant and hoping that ironing thermotransfer will go right this time)

And I will admit that I have some problems with casting the plugs what are used for mounting base for dpad. But it should be fixed soon.

 

[Epicenter]

Wait; how could this D-Pad sit on top of the stick? Is this just a pad that physically rests on the OUTSIDE of the '2x? Wouldn't that be rather ugly and a little cumbersome next to say, an integrated pad? .. In what ways would this be a superior solution to the method Bacteria preaches of mounting a GBA or NGC D-Pad into the machine with leads soldered to the board?