Reading an Arcade Sensor? Using an Arcade Stage on PS2?

sofauxboho · Basic Member Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: San Francisco

Hey All,

I'm exploring my options in building a really nice home pad, and am wondering if anyone has tried to figure out how to read the output of one of the original arcade DDR pad sensors or one of the clones they sell at ChannelBeat? What sort of voltage do they take? What sort of output do they give? Any tips on handling the output so that it can be passed to a PS2?

Has any research been done on this?

Failing that, does anyone know anything about taking a full working DDR Arcade stage (or a Solo) and making that work at home?

Yes, I know this is complicated and won't be easy. But someone must know something about this.

Cheers,
SoFaux.

Seven7 · Trick Member Joined: 29 Dec 2004

I think the hardest part will be finding the stage by itself, good luck with that. You usually just find them with the machines, and by then, whats the point, right?

unless iam mistaken, moving along, the sensors don't need voltages, as they really are just big switches used to complete a circet. (i don't think thats spelled right, woops) look around these threads for tips on wireing, or post here, and ill try to explain.

good luck with this.

-Seven7-

ninjafetus · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 8:30 am Post subject:

Yes, I've cut them up before. all they are is switches.
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sofauxboho · Basic Member Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: San Francisco

ninjafetus:
Thanks for the info, that's exactly what I was hoping to learn. You didn't happen to take any pictures when you cut one up, did you? It'd be great to see what they look like inside.

What type of switch do they use? One of my friends says that they use a magnetic reed switch (and presumably a magnet to trigger) while another of my friends insists that they have mercury in them for some reason. Can you shed any light on any of this?

I'd also be happy to buy a whole or cut up sensor from you, should you still have one of either. PM me if you do?

Seven7:
Yeah, I know it'll be hard to find a stage. I was just wondering if I could use one if I happened to find it, or if the guts would be incompatible without building some sort of processing system (as they would be if the sensors had been analog). Frankly, I don't mind building the stage, I'm just curious if I can use real sensors. Sounds like I can.

The wiring is no problem. I can do that.

Still, even if they are just switches, there is still a voltage range that they'd opperate over. I'm just going to hope that the PS2 controller button voltage is sufficient.

Why hasn't anyone tried building a stage with arcade style sensors before?

Thanks for the help!
Reed.

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

theheter0c1ite · Basic Member Joined: 17 May 2005

Ok, I don't know how many people here have tried to do this, but I thought about it too. If you do get one from channelbeat or whatver for close to 400 per controller, don't forget about the shipping. Also, if you don't play solo and wanted it to be more like the original ddr stage, they sell the metal plates for like 10 dollars, and I'm sure you could convert it over with no problem.

As far as the voltages, and the inner workings? Check out he forums for the old topics that have been posted on ddrfreak.com. One of the main headers I remember recently was the patent to the whole ddr machine. I checked it out some, but didn't get too much into it. It should tell you what type of switch it has, and possibly the voltages. But, regardless, the voltage across the switch is going to be a low DC voltage. Probably between 5-9v. As for the lights.. I don't know what they run on, and to get them to sync with when you step, you would have to use several relays. It should be a simple project, and I'm pretty sure that there is enough voltage on the ddr controller to trigger. Look at the Cobalt Flux, and all of Sinistars mods.. they all worked, and I believe that he builds them from the basics of controllers/softddrpads. If you do decide to persue this, email me at [email protected], and I can help you out.

ddrhomepad · Trick Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

We've had this discussion a few years ago when some thought the switches were analog switches that could measure the amount of pressure.
But they are simply on/off digital switches.

Search for patent number 6,227,968 at the US Patent Office and you can see Konami's patent for a DDR machine.

If anyone wants to read all this, here is the description for the switch from the patent.

FIG. 5 is a construction diagram showing an example of the cable switch 23. The cable switch 23 comprises a cylindrical sheathing section 230, and a relay conductive section 231, a first conductive section 232, and a second conductive section 233, which are arranged within the cylinder. The sheathing section 230 is formed from an elastic material, such as silicone. The sectional shape of the cylindrical portion thereof is an oblate circle, and a protruding piece 230a which extends nearly up to the center of the cylindrical section toward the opposing inner wall from one of the inner walls at the intermediate position in the direction of the long axis of the section is protrudingly provided, and cutouts 230b for assisting the flexing in a direction in which the oblate shape is further crushed are formed at both ends in the direction of the long axis of the section. On the external surface in the upper portion, two beams of projection portions 230c along the direction of the longer length are protrudingly provided as portions for receiving a load. The relay conductive section 231 is a long sheet formed with a rubber material, such as silicone, as principal constituents with which, for example, metallic powder is mixed, the relay conductive section being disposed in the upper portion of the inside of the oblate cylinder of the sheathing section 230. The first and second conductive sections 232 and 233 have the same construction, with a pair thereof being disposed spaced at a predetermined interval on the right and left sides of the protruding piece 230a on the lower portion of the inside of the oblate cylinder of the sheathing section 230. These first and second conductive sections 232 and 233 are formed with a rubber material, such as silicone, as principal constituents with which, for example, metallic conductive powder is mixed, and are long bars formed such that the sectional shape is an oblate circle from the viewpoint of stability. The first and second conductive sections 232 and 233 are placed at positions corresponding to the projection portions 230c, and are each effectively brought into contact or are brought into abutment with the relay conductive section 231 as a result of the deformation of the sheathing section 230 by receiving a load applied onto the projection portions 230c. Core materials 232a and 233a, made of copper, as conductive materials, are buried inside the first and second conductive sections 232 and 233, so that the strength is ensured and an amount of resistance per unit length with respect to the direction of the longer dimension can be reduced, that is, the output of the detection voltage can be detected as a nearly constant value regardless of the position at which the load is received, ensuring high detection accuracy. Since the clearance dimension between the relay conductive section 231 and the first and second conductive sections 232 and 233 can be designed to be as small as 1 to 2 millimeters, stroke can be sufficiently decreased in comparison with, for example, a mechanical switch comprising a movable contact piece.
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