Analog Encoders

Analog Encoders offer the functionality of a PC controller (such as a joystick or gamepad) hack in an easy-to-use form.

They offer several benefits including ease in connecting controls and time savings.

Potentiometer controls such as analog joysticks, 270 degree steering wheels, analog pedals. Star Wars yokes, or Lunar Lander thrusters need an analog encoder.

A-PAC

Older-style A-PAC Photo © Ultimarc.com, Used with permission.

The A-PAC is an analog/digital interface which emulates two gamepads. It can be used for buttons only, or various combinations of buttons and analog potentiometer (pot) devices. It can be used in any of these configurations::

32 Buttons One analog axis and 30 buttons Two analog axes and 28 buttons Three analog axes and 26 buttons Four analog axes and 24 buttons

Inputs auto-detect whether pots or buttons.are connected. One button on each side of the board is a shift button which enables another set of shifted buttons. This gives a maximum of 62 logical buttons.

Relevant Link: Ultimarc's A-PAC Page

KADE

The KADESTICK spinoff of the KADE series of Open Source/Open Hardware encoders is a USB HID analog joystick with up to 12 buttons. (2- and 4-axis firmwares available)

Future versions of KADE encoders are scheduled to include analog options, but the atmega32u2 AVR used in miniArcade and microArcade can not handle analog inputs.

U-HID

Ultimarc's U-HID allows users to assign a variety of input and output functions to desired pins.

Input devices/types:

• Microswitch buttons/joysticks
• Optical (spinner/trackball/mouse/360 degree steering wheel)
• Analog (potentiometer joystick/pedal/270 degree steering wheel)

Outputs:

• Keyboard
• Gamepad (including analog and digital controls)
• Mouse and mouse buttons
• LED outputs

Total 50 connection pins:

• Max 8 analog axes on 50 possible pins (Windows limitation)
• Max 32 Gamepad buttons on 50 possible pins (Windows limitation)
• Max 8 Quadrature mouse devices on 16 possible pins out of the 50.
• Max 3 Quadrature mouse axes (X, Y and Z, Windows limitation)
• Max 50 keyboard keys on 50 possible pins.
• Max 16 LEDs in any combination of PC or U-HID controlled. (USB 500 mA current limitation).
• Max 50 low-current output drivers.

U-HID-G

The U-HID-G is similar to the U-HID, but with only 8 input pins and a three-axis accelerometer for sensing gravity and motion acceleration.

U-HID Nano

The U-HID Nano is similar to the U-HID, but with only 8 input pins.