Electronics 2000

Hi, I do quite a lot of work with the Max/MSP music audio software and I have been happily using various sensors connected to the analogue ins of a Make Controller for various projects. But now I'd like to do some wireless stuff. I tried working with xbees, but couldn't really get any joy out of them. However I have just started using an Xbox controller connected to a USB port on a PC - I can then use this with Max/MSP because it has a Human Interface object which makes it really easy to set up.

The Xbox controller comes equipped with lots of switches and 2 joysticks and I don't have to worry about debouncing etc. My understanding of electronics is somewhat basic, but as I understand it each of the joysticks comprise of two 5K pots for the X and Y axis. If I wanted to replace one of the pots say with an LDR in the 5K range (if such a thing exists) then presumably I could hack in to the Xbox and substitute the 5k pot for the ldr and then light falling on this LDR substitutes for the movement of the X axis for example.

However, what if I wanted to substitute the joystick pot with a sensor which produced a variable voltage like a hall effect sensor. How could I trick the Xbox controller in to thinking that the hall effect sensor was behaving like a variable resistor instead ? Once I crack this with the cheap second hand wired controllers I would feel happier about modding the wireless ones.

Thanks ,

Des

look at the signal change between the two and make a circuit to make the change difference im surprised the use pots in it i bet its non liner it be random 5k eg not follow resistance to angle turned to act like a didital signal and these changes are read as movement and turned into a bcd output now a hall sensor is all ready a didital out put so u just have to match its levels i sagest looking on google fo its model and notes from others because these comon things arre hacked moded to death all so datasheet arcive is a componet code data sheet finder it will give u ideal cct and all specs fo each chip and id allso look at geting a cracked thing of multisim or other such spice program this is a development software for electronics or buy it id look at using mi self a cordless phone set take the radio modgle out a old ball mouse usb and maybe a old mother board off a computer to get usb data chip ball mouse has the x y axis position thing in it just need to turn it into a joy stick and ur cordless phone has the wifi radio gear and added bones 3.6 v batt and put that to gether

id also look at the old sound card joystick interface this is premo fo this sort of stuff go reseach its pinout

@Weazel thanks for the reply - er did you say the xbox controller probably uses a non linear 5k random bcd ? Could you explain this in a bit more detail ? - like I said I am an electronicsnoob- my hall effect sensor is analogue because it produces a different voltageaccording to how far away it is from the magnet.

Des

ok id wiki veriable resistors the data resistor is random resistance at any point within a given range and a chip detects this id just use the sound card joystick port i think if u want to do this kind of thing id read a ful electronics book from libary its about 1000 pages id read ur pasive componets and transistors and logic basicaly if u want to do somtink learn the princple idea be4 u add the numbers in then start working with values to make circuits doesnt take a genous its just weve learnt basics or know wat to read wen we need it id also datasheet ur chips in it this will set u 80% on ur way knowing wat ur dealing with heaps alot if u can send pics of board up close chip numbers and exactly were ur wanting to head and end with this i mite be able to help

oh and ur hall sensor is prob not producing different voltagezs its producing a square wave that changes in frequncy i very knowing on them comon in fisher pikel washers i have engeneers manual fo 1990 to 1999