PR26

USB Game Controller

Version 1.0
October 2009
Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd.

Information contained in this publication regarding device applications and the like is intended through suggestion only and may be superseded by
updates. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application meets with your specifications. No representation or warranty is given and no liability is
assumed by Cytron Technologies Incorporated with respect to the accuracy or use of such information or infringement of patents or other intellectual
property rights arising from such use or otherwise. Use of Cytron Technologies’s products as critical components in life support systems is not
authorized except with express written approval by Cytron Technologies. No licenses are conveyed, implicitly or otherwise, under any intellectual
property rights.

OVERVIEW
Just connect, play and you learn - it's that simple.
This document describes the development of Cytron Schematic and source code is provided.
Technologies DIY (Do It Yourself) Project PR26. This
firmware implements a standard USB game controller
with 12 inputs (4 directional buttons and 8 general FEATURES
purpose buttons) and 4 analog inputs. There are no PIC18F2550
drivers required, since USB standard defined device - 8-bit microcontroller with 22 I/O
classes, this project using the human input device (HID) - Operate with 5V supply
which allows user to tell the computer that the - Operating speed 20MHz
connected USB device is a game controller. This - Full Speed USB 2.0 (12Mbit/s) interface
project will be using PIC18F2550, push button and Joystick
joystick to give a guideline to hobbyist on how to build - With 2-axis (x-axis and y-axis) and 1 push
a standard USB Game Controller. The performance of button
the USB Game Controller can be tested by using PC.

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

12 Push
Buttons
PIC18F2550 HID USB interface
Computer

2 Joysticks

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
More information on PIC18F2550 can visit the website
PIC18F2550 at:
Ideal for low power (nanoWatt) and connectivity http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/3
applications that benefit from the availability of three 9632D.pdf
serial ports: FS-USB (12 Mbit/s), I²C™ and SPI™ (up
to 10Mbit/s) and an asynchronous (LIN capable) serial
port (EUSART). Large amounts of RAM memory for HARDWARE
buffering and Enhanced FLASH program memory
make it ideal for embedded control and monitoring This project will require following hardware:
applications that require periodic connection with a a. 1 x PIC18F2550
(legacy free) Personal Computer via USB for data b. 1 x PR26 Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
upload/download and/or firmware updates. c. 12 x push button
d. 2 x joystick
Feature of the device: e. 1 x USB B type connector
• High-Current Sink/Source: 25 mA/25 mA f. 1 x USB cable
• Three External Interrupts g. 1 x 9V-12V power supply
• Four Timer modules (Timer0 to Timer3) h. Related electronic components
• Up to 2 Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules:
• Enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM (ECCP) Please refer to Appendix A for the board layout of
module PR26. The board layout is provided free therefore
• Enhanced USART module Cytron Technologies will not be responsible for any
• 10-bit, up to 13-channel Analog-to-Digital further modification or improvement.
Converter module (A/D) with Programmable
Acquisition Time
• Dual Analog Comparators with Input Multiplexing Interface joystick with PIC18F2550
• 100,000 Erase/Write Cycle Enhanced Flash
Program Memory typical
• 1,000,000 Erase/Write Cycle Data EEPROM
Memory typical
• Self-Programmable under Software Control
• Priority Levels for Interrupts
• 8 x 8 Single-Cycle Hardware Multiplier
• Extended Watchdog Timer (WDT)
• Programming™ (ICSP™) via two pins
- In-Circuit Debug (ICD) via two pins
- Optional dedicated ICD/ICSP port (44-pin Figure 1
devices only)
- Wide Operating Voltage Range (2.0V to 5.5V) The analog-to-digital (A/D) converter module has
inputs for the 28pins PIC18F2550. This module allows
conversion of an analog input signal to a corresponding

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved


10-bit digital number but we only use 8-bit for this
project.
The module has five registers:
• A/D Result High Register (ADRESH)
• A/D Result Low Register (ADRESL)
• A/D Control Register 0 (ADCON0)
• A/D Control Register 1 (ADCON1)
• A/D Control Register 2 (ADCON2)
Figure 2
In this PR, we have 4 analog outputs from two
joysticks (x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, z-rotation), so analog
input pin of AN0-AN3 are connected to the 4 presets
from joysticks. But make sure the ADC configuration
in the programming is correct.
Figure 3
A/D converter module is enabled, by setting bit0 of
ADCON0 as 1. Default ADCON1 as only 4 analog
pins (AN0-AN3) are used. Use left justified for A/D
Result Format Select bit by setting bit7 of ADCON2 as
1.
For ADCON2, set ADCS2:ADCS0 (A/D Conversion
Clock Select bits) as 101, while ACQT2:ACQT0 (A/D
Acquisition Time Select bits) as 110, since the
maximum device frequency that used is 20MHz.
For reduce the noise (low pass filter), a capacitor (104)
is added between the analog signal and GND for every
analog input from joystick. More information on ADC
configuration, please refer to PIC18F2550 datasheet at
http://www.microchip.com.
Interface HID Report Descriptor with
joystick
For this PR, we are going to implements a standard
USB game controller with twelve inputs (four
directional buttons and eight general purpose buttons).
Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved
ROBOT . HEAD to TOE
PR26 – USB Game Controller
Since USB standard defined device classes, this project
using the human input device (HID) which allows user
to tell the computer that the connected USB device is a
game controller and has 2 joysticks and 12 buttons.
First of all, we have to set down the data in the HID
Report Descriptor to tell the computer of what function
the device has, and how many bytes of data needed to
be sent back to the computer. For more detail about
USB, please visit www.usb.org. The information on
report descriptor will be explained more at software
part later.
Device Class Definition for Human
Interface Devices (HID)
The HID class device class uses the following standard
USB descriptors:
• Device
• Configuration
• Interface
• Endpoint
• String
USB Descriptor
Each device class includes one or more class-specific
descriptors. These descriptors differ from standard
USB descriptors. A HID class device uses the
following class-specific descriptors: HID, Report and
Physical.
• HID Descriptor
The HID descriptor identifies the length and type of
subordinate descriptors for a device.
Figure 4
• Report Descriptor
The Report descriptor is unlike other descriptors in that
it is not simply a table of values. The length and
content of a Report descriptor vary depending on the
number of data fields required for the device’s report
or reports. A Report descriptor is the complete set of
all items for a device. By looking at a Report descriptor
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PR26 – USB Game Controller

alone, an application knows how to handle incoming • Physical Descriptors

data, as well as what the data could be used for.
The Report descriptor is made up of items that provide
information about the device. The first part of an item
contains three fields: item type, item tag, and item size.
Together these fields identify the kind of information
the item provides. There are three item types: Main,
Global, and Local.
A Physical Descriptor is a data structure that provides
information about the specific part or parts of the
human body that are activating a control or controls.
For example, a physical descriptor might indicate that
the right hand thumb is used to activate button 5. An
application can use this information to assign
functionality to the controls of a device.

There are five Main item tags currently defined: Note: Physical Descriptors are entirely optional. They
• Input item tag: Refers to the data from one or add complexity and offer very little in return for most
more similar controls on a device. For devices. However, some devices, particularly those
example, variable data such as reading the with a large number of identical controls (for example,
position of a single axis or a group of levers or buttons) will find that Physical Descriptors help
array data such as one or more push buttons or different applications assign functionality to these
switches. controls in a more consistent manner.
• Output item tag: Refers to the data to one or
more similar controls on a device such as
setting the position of a single axis or a group To make a clearer picture of HID device class
of levers (variable data). Or, it can represent descriptor structure, all of these things can be
data to one or more LEDs (array data). combined as shown below. Understand the HID
• Feature item tag: Describes device input and descriptor well will help you know more about this
output not intended for consumption by the PR26.
end user —for example, a software feature or
Control Panel toggle.
• Collection item tag: A meaningful grouping
of Input, Output, and Feature items—for
example, mouse, keyboard, joystick, and
pointer.
• End Collection item tag: A terminating item
used to specify the end of a collection of items.

A Report descriptor is the complete set of all items for

a device. By looking at a Report descriptor alone, an
application knows how to handle incoming data, as
well as what the data could be used for. One or more
fields of data from controls are defined by a Main item
and further described by the preceding Global and
Local items. Local items only describe the data fields
defined by the next Main item. Global items become
the default attributes for all subsequent data fields in
that descriptor.

The Report Descriptor must include each of the

following items to describe a control’s data (all other
items are optional): Figure 5
- Input (Output or Feature)
- Usage For this PR26, we will update the particular data every
- Usage Page time reach the line “hid_report_in[ ]= ” in the main
- Logical Minimum program.
- Logical Maximum
- Report Size
- Report Count

For details about these descriptors as defined for a HID

class device, see Appendix A: Example USB Figure 6
Descriptors for HID Class Devices (Mouse). For
general information about standard USB, please refer Each data is indicated by different index. The file
to Device Class Definition for Human Interface.pdf descriptor can be summarized as the table below.
and Devices (HID) HID Usage Tables.pdf attached
together with this project.

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

Index (byte) Name Power supply for the circuit

0 x-axis
1 y-axis
2 z-axis
3 z-rotation
4 hat switch
5 button
Table 1

Total of byte needed to be sent by report descriptor to

computer is decided earlier and set in the report
descriptor (in usb_descriptor for this PR).
Figure 9
This project differs with previous PR, where it gets
power supply from computer through USB cable. From
the figure above, Pwr is green LED to indicate the
power status of the circuit. The power led that
connected between Vcc and GND will light on, if the
connection of the circuit is correct. R1 is resistor to
protect Pwr from over current which might burn Pwr.
D- pin from USB cable is connected to pin 15 of
PIC18F2550. While D+ pin from USB cable is
connected to pin 16 of PIC18F2550.

Figure 7

Then, all the collected six bytes of data (byte[0]-

byte[5]) will be sent back every time when reach the
line “lastTransmission = HIDTxP….. ” in the main Figure 10
program.
Push Button as input of PIC
Note that there is 0x06 at behind, it means the total microcontroller
byte of data sent is 6.

Figure 8

Figure above shows the data in usb_descriptor. The

description about the data is explained by the comment
beside each line in the source code given.

For more information on USB data used, please refer to

Device Class Definition for Human Interface.pdf and
HID Usage Tables.pdf attached together with this
project.
Figure 11
One I/O pin is designated for a push button as input to
PIC microcontroller. The connection of the push button
to the I/O pin is shown in figure4. The I/O pin should
be pull up to 5V using a resistor (with value range 1K-
10K) and this configuration will result an active-low
input. When the button is being pressed, reading of I/O
pin will be in logic 0, while when the button is not
pressed, reading of that I/O pin will be logic 1.

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

ICSP for programming PIC Please refer to Appendix A for the PCB layout of PR26.
microcontroller The PCB layout is provided free and therefore Cytron
Technologies will not be responsible for any further
modification or improvement.

Figure 12
MCLR, RB6 and RB7 need to be connected to the
USB In Circuit Programmer (UIC00A) to program the
PIC microcontroller. The programmer (UIC00A) is not
included in DIY project set since it can be used several
time for different project set. User can also choose
other type of PIC programmer to load the program.

For the instruction of using PIC programmer, please

refer to the particular PIC programmer user’s manual at:
http://www.cytron.com.my/listProductCategory.asp?ci
d=81

PCB circuit board

2 3
1

10 4
5 6

8 9

Figure 13
Component:

1. LED (indicate power status of circuit)

2. USB type-B connector
3. UIC00A box header (connect to UIC00A
programmer to load program).
4. Push button (1, 2, 3 and 4)
5. Start button
6. Select button
7. Analog LED (indicate the status of analog)
8. Analog switch (activated/deactivated the
analog)
9. Joystick
10. Directional push button

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

SOFTWARE The program is provided by Microchip Technology Inc.

In this project, we modify the program to use as game
Flow Chart: controller. For more information about the software for
this system, please refer to the source code provided.
The explanation of each instruction is provided in the
Start source code as the comment of each line.

The source code is provided free and Cytron

Initialize PIC Technologies will not be responsible for any further
modification or improvement.

First time YES

connected to PC? GETTING START
NO
Installation User can obtain the hardware set for this project (PR26)
either by online purchasing (www.cytron.com.my) or
purchase it in Cytron Technologies Shop.
Analog switch
pressed? 1. Once user has the hardware set, soldering
NO YES
process can be started. Please solder the
electronic components one by one according
the symbols or overlays on the Printed Circuit
Board (PCB). Ensure the component value
Analog Analog
and polarity is correctly soldered. Please refer
deactivated activated
to PCB Layout in Appendix B. Remember
there is 4 jumpers that need to be soldered.
NO
Please use the single core wire given.
Move
joystick? Caution: Make sure all the connectors (2510) are
NO Press soldered in proper side. Those electronic
directional YES
components have polarity such as capacitor,
button?
Save updated diode, PIC, PIR sensor, buzzer and LED
value should be soldered in right polarity or it may
cause the circuit board fail to work.
YES

Warning:Before the battery (Power) is plugged in,

make sure the polarity is correct to prevent the
Press
directional explosion. Wrong polarity of capacitor also
button? may cause explosion.
Save updated
value 2. Connect the USB cable to the USB type-B
YES connector.

Save updated 3. Please download the necessary files and

value document from Cytron Technologies website.
These included documentation, sample source
code, schematic, component list and software.

Push button NO
4. The next step is to install MPLAB IDE and
pressed? Microchip C18 Compiler into a computer.
The MPLAB IDE and C18 Compiler can be
downloaded from www.cytron.com.my Please
YES
refer document to install MPLAB software
Save updated and C18 compiler software.
value
5. After the installation complete, open the
project file provided using MPLAB IDE.
Send all updated Please refer Installation of C18 compiler
value to computer and open project_18F document to open
project.

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved


6. When you create project for the game
controller, create the subfolder and include the
c.file, h.file, and linker into the project.
7. To create subfolder file in Source Files, right
click on the Source Files, then click on Create
Subfolders…, diagram below shown the
example for create subfolder to Source Files.
Figure 14
8. Named the subfolder file and add file for
source file and subfolder file.
Figure 15
9. To add file in subfolder Files and Source
Files, right click on the folder Files, then click
on Add Files…,
10. User may repeat the similar steps to create
subfolder in the header file. First, right click
on the Header Files, then click on Create
Subfolder…,
11. Another file need to add is rm18f2550-HID
Bootload.lkr, which is under Linker Script.
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PR26 – USB Game Controller
12. Diagram below shown the example of file
after all necessary file added.
Figure 16
13. Build the project and load the hex file into the
PIC microcontroller using the USB In Circuit
Programmer (UIC00A). When users build the
project, MPLAB IDE will generate hex file.
The hex file generated from MPLAB IDE will
be named according to project name, not C
file name. Cytron Technologies also provide
hex file for user. Do not forget to switch ON
the power. The programmer is not included in
the hardware set but it can be found at Cytron
website. (User manual is provided at website).
14. Make sure when you load the hex file into
PIC microcontroller, USB cable is connected
to USB type-B connector and computer. It is
because power supply is gets from computer
through USB cable.
15. Test the functionality of the PCB board.
16. Have fun!
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PR26 – USB Game Controller

• Remember to unplug the programmer UIC00A

from the PCB and also the computer after the
program was loaded. If not, this might cause
error when you want to open the control panel
to test its functionality.

TEST METHOD

1. Connect the USB cable to the PC

• Power LED (Green) will turn ON.
• LED (Red) is off
• If it is the first time you plug the game
controller to your Personal Computer, the
device will install to the PC.
2. Click Control Panel from Start in your PC and
open Game Controller
Figure 17
• If the device is successfully installed,
Cytron Game Controller will appear in
the installed game controller list
Figure 19
4. When analog is deactivated
• LED is off
• X-axis and Y-axis will move if
directional button is pressed.
• Buttons on screen from 1 to 12 will light
on when button on game controller is
pressed
• There is nothing happen on screen when
joystick is moved because analog is
deactivated now.
5. When analog is activated
• LED (red) will light on
• Point of View Hat on screen will move
when directional button is pressed.
• Buttons on screen from 1 to 12 will light
on when button on game controller is
pressed.
• X-axis and Y-axis will change according
to the direction given by joystick1 when
joystick1 is moving.
• Z-axis and Z-Rotation will change when
joystick2 is moving.

If all steps mention above can be executed, your

project is done successfully. Congratulations!!

WARRANTY
No warranty will be provided as this is DIY project.
Thus, user is advice to check the polarity of each
Figure 18 electronic component before soldering it to board.

3. Double click the Cytron Game Controller,

Cytron Game Controller Properties will
appear. Click Test tab of Cytron Game
Controller properties.

Created by Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd. – All Rights Reserved

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

Appendix A

A.1 Device Descriptor:

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

A.2 Configuration Descriptor:

A.3 Interface Descriptor (Mouse):

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

A.4 HID Descriptor (Mouse):

A.5 Endpoint Descriptor (Mouse):

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

A.6 Report Descriptor (Mouse)

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

Appendix B

PCB Layout:

+
-
-
+

-
+

wire

wire
wire

wire

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

USB Wire jumper

Type-B Box
10K Header
10K 1N4148 330 C-cap 10K
Wire jumper Wire jumper C-cap
C-cap 10K 104
C-cap E-cap 104 10K
104
104 PIC18F2550 50V 1uF C-cap
Wire jumper 104
20Mhz
Crystal
C-cap
C-cap
C-cap 104
104 C-cap C-cap
C-cap 30pF 10K C-cap
10K C-cap 104 104 C-cap
104 104
104 10K 330 104
10K 10K
10K
C-cap
104
Joystick 1 C-cap Joystick 2
10K 104
10K

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PR26 – USB Game Controller

* Cytron Technologies reserved the right to replace the component in the list with component of the same functionality
without prior notice.

Prepared by
Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd.
19, Jalan Kebudayaan 1A,
Taman Universiti,
81300 Skudai,
Johor, Malaysia.

Tel: +607-521 3178

Fax: +607-521 1861

URL: www.cytron.com.my
Email: support@cytron.com.my
sales@cytron.com.my

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