LEPMIS PS3 Switch Access Pod information video

This is the LEPMIS Playstation 3 Switch Access Pod. This video shows some of the ways you can use this interface to allow a disabled person or persons to access the SONY Playstation3 console with just switches or a combination of switches and resistors etc. (although for the latter you would need a "techy" to set it up for you).

Using this device a disabled person can access all 17 switch functions and both analogue joystick functions of the Playstation 3 handset.

The switch access pod uses a circuit board taken from a genuine SONY PS3 handset, this guarantees 100% compatibility with other genuine SONY hardware and software products.

The switch access pod does not contain an internal battery and so needs to be plugged into the USB port of the PS3 console. This is exactly the same procedure as would be used to charge a normal handset, and for initial handset configuration.

For added convenience to the person setting up the game, the System buttons have been implemented as discrete switches. Start and select are on the back of the unit. The PS button is placed prominently on the top of the unit, and glows with a soft blue light to show that the unit is powered up.

In all respects these system buttons work in exactly the same way as the do on an ordinary PS3 handset.

The electrical connections to the SONY circuit board are achieved using impedance matching techniques and are optically isolated from the rest of the Switch Access Pod electronics and the client side circuits. A DC-DC converter provides an electrically isolated 5 volt supply for the switch access pod electronics, and this is derived from the incoming USB connection.

The client side switch connections use optically coupled semi-conductor relays with a switch line current of 3mA. This provides a low impedance circuit which eliminates ghosting between switch lines and allows the use of long switch cables for user convenience. Any kind of switch can be used, disabled people often have very specific needs with regard to their switching.

In order to use the D pad functions, just plug a switch into the relevant socket and away you go.

It is the same for the Shape buttons, the Shoulder switches and all of the other switch functions found on the normal PS3 handset.

All of the switch inputs have a common ground reference and this allows daisy chaining of multiple switch operations from the one switch by using inexpensive stereo adapters. Using this technique you can achieve multiple button presses from just one switch.

The analogue joystick ports use a buffered potentiometric configuration so that any potentiometer can be applied across the three terminals of the port, with the no movement point being mid rail at 2.5v.

This configuration allows the use of ordinary switches directly across the connections of the analogue joystick port. The electrical design of the port prevents any damage to itself in the event of a short circuit between hi and lo reference outputs. In this way, switch users can now access games which demanded the use of the analogue joystick.

For instance, the throttle of a car racing game can be set to a slow speed using a slide pot, and the steering can be achieved using one switch to steer left and one switch to steer right. For some users, this is all they can manage.

A combination of switches and potentiometers can be used to achieve a desired joystick deflection with just the press of the switch.

The analogue joystick port also provides a regulated 5v supply for powering additional external circuits. For example a commercial industrial joystick from a wheelchair controller can be connected almost directly to the analogue joystick input, but the one in the video requires one channel to be inverted. Easily achieved using an op amp and some vero board. This also provides an opportunity to buffer the joystick output at the source. The DC-DC converter can provide a maximum of 400mA and is internally short circuit protected.

The possible combinations and styles of switches is far to great to go into here. If you have a specific problem, drop me an e-mail and I will advise you as best I can.

Geoff.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• LEPMIS
• disability
• PS3
• switch
• access
• game
• console
• adapted
• disabled
• SONY
• gaming
• computer
• Playstation
• Joystick
• Replacement
• Alternative
• CP
• Cerebral
• Palsy
• MND
• Video
• Xbox
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• Xbox360
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• Video Game

[MechaBlazeEagle]

Awesome! God bless you for the efforts your making for disabled gamers! It's VERY much welcomed & appreciated!

You rock dude!!

[LEPMISGeoff]

Thanks MechaBlazeEagle.

There is a short video posted by Bill Donegan from a charity called SpecialEffect. It shows the PS3-SAP in use with a custom game console that I also make. This particular console has two analogue wheelchair type joysticks.

type in oBoJXad33bs into the search box on YouTube, you should find it.

Geoff

LEPMIS

[stelstargirl]

@LEPMISGeoff I have been looking for something like this everywhere! I live in Ontario Canada and would like very much to have something like this for my PS3. I don't know though, what to buy to plug into it -- I simply need high sensitivity buttons. I have good dexterity but poor muscle strength. Any advice? It would be much appreciated!

[LEPMISGeoff]

HI Stelstargirl

I sent you an e-mail. Hope you got it.

Thanks for the interest.

Geoff.

[bjorngsr]

fantastic i want on in australia

[MechaBlazeEagle]

Your quite welcome! Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out!