Quadstick FPS User manual

QuadStick
A Gamepad for Quadriplegic Gamers
User Manual

Copyright© 2017 by Frederick Davison
Acknowledgments
The following people inspired and/or contributed to the QuadStick Project:
en Yankelevitz, owner of Quad Control, for making mouth operated joysticks, and other control
devices, for quadriplegics for three decades and who's counseling, advice and experience have
guided many aspects of the QuadStick development.
Matt Victor, a C1 quadriplegic, who's testing, feedback and advice have resulted in many
improvements in the QuadStick.
2

Compliance Information
FCC compliance statement (United States)
This device contains a transmitter module with FCC ID T9J-RN42.
FCC Class B Part 15
This device complies with Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
•This device may not cause harmful interference.
•This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
CAUTION:
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference harmful to radio communications.
Industry Canada Statement
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
CE Statement
QuadStick controllers are CE-marked, indicating compliance with the essential health and safety
requirements set out in European Directives.
The QuadStick has been tested for compliance with the following standards:
•EN 61000-4-2 ESD
•EN 61000-4-3 Radiated Field Immunity - 80-1,000 MHz
•EN 61000-4-6 Conducted Immunity 150 kHz - 80 MHz
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QuadStick
User Manual
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.........................................................................................................2
Compliance Information.................................................................................................3
FCC compliance statement (United States)........................................................................3
Industry Canada Statement................................................................................................3
CE Statement..................................................................................................................... 3
Table of Contents...............................................................................................................4
Illustration Index.................................................................................................................8
Index of Tables...................................................................................................................8
Introduction........................................................................................................................9
Inputs.............................................................................................................................9
Outputs..........................................................................................................................9
Spreadsheets...............................................................................................................10
Connections.................................................................................................................10
The Quadstick Manager Program...............................................................................11
Hardware Features..........................................................................................................12
Front.............................................................................................................................13
Differences between the Original and FPS models:..........................................................13
Back Panel...................................................................................................................14
Sensors and Inputs..........................................................................................................15
Sip/Puff Sensors..........................................................................................................15
The Mouthpiece...........................................................................................................15
Joystick........................................................................................................................18
Using External Inputs..................................................................................................22
4

Input Jack with Two Switches...........................................................................................22
USB-A Jack with Two Switches.........................................................................................23
Lip Sensor Jack with Two Switches..................................................................................24
Summary.....................................................................................................................24
Configuration....................................................................................................................25
Google Drive Spreadsheets........................................................................................25
Typical mode sheet......................................................................................................26
Dropdown lists used in Profiles...................................................................................27
Dropdown list for Outputs.................................................................................................28
Dropdown list for Inputs....................................................................................................29
Dropdown list for output Functions....................................................................................30
USB/Bluetooth channel selection......................................................................................31
QuadStick Menu..........................................................................................................31
Changing Profiles........................................................................................................34
Selecting Output Names for PlayStation and XBox....................................................35
Preferences......................................................................................................................36
USB: Emulated Devices..................................................................................................40
Intro..............................................................................................................................40
Human Interface Devices............................................................................................40
Flash Drive...................................................................................................................40
Emulation Preference settings....................................................................................40
USB Emulation mode 0 (default composite device):...................................................42
Gamepad.......................................................................................................................... 42
Mouse............................................................................................................................... 44
eyboard.......................................................................................................................... 46
USB Emulation Mode 1 (Dual Shock 3)......................................................................48
USB Emulation Mode 2 (X360CE)..............................................................................49
USB Emulation mode 3 (XBox 360)............................................................................53
USB Emulation mode 4 (PS4).....................................................................................54
USB Emulation mode 5 (Nintendo Switch).................................................................56
Connecting to Consoles and PCs....................................................................................57
PS4..............................................................................................................................57
5

CronusMax....................................................................................................................... 58
CronusMax – Full Crossover............................................................................................59
CronusMax – Partial Crossover........................................................................................60
CronusMax Gamepacks...................................................................................................61
CronusMax – PCPROG....................................................................................................63
XBox One (& 360).......................................................................................................64
Brook Accessory PS3/PS4 to XBox One Super Converter...............................................64
CronusMax Plus...............................................................................................................64
Without a USB Hub........................................................................................................... 64
With a USB Hub................................................................................................................64
PCPROG port...................................................................................................................65
Nintendo Switch...........................................................................................................65
Connecting Devices and Hosts to the USB A port...........................................................66
Host mode...................................................................................................................66
Dual Shock 4.................................................................................................................... 66
UltraStik 360..................................................................................................................... 66
Mayflash F300 Fightstick..................................................................................................67
Device Mode................................................................................................................67
Connection Examples......................................................................................................68
Quadstick to PS4, Direct:............................................................................................70
Bluetooth..........................................................................................................................71
Settings........................................................................................................................71
Serial communication:......................................................................................................72
Wireless only operation:....................................................................................................72
Data Channel assignment:................................................................................................73
Remote Bluetooth Adapter..........................................................................................74
RBA LED behavior:...........................................................................................................74
Platform Notes.............................................................................................................76
Android.............................................................................................................................76
Mac................................................................................................................................... 76
Infrared Remote Control..............................................................................................77
Firmware updates............................................................................................................80
Recognition mode........................................................................................................82
6

The Singleton default configuration...................................................................................85
Voice Commands.............................................................................................................87
Vocola files:......................................................................................................................88
Appendix..........................................................................................................................92
OS Shortcut...............................................................................................................92
Cleaning Mouthpiece.......................................................................................................94
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Illustration Inde
Illustration 1: Front View of Original model.................................................................................12
Illustration 2: Front View of FPS model......................................................................................12
Illustration 3: Sip/Puff Sensor Behavior......................................................................................16
Illustration 4: Joystick Discrete Zones........................................................................................20
Illustration 5: Digital Input Connections for Two Switches..........................................................22
Illustration 6: USB-A Jack with Two Switches.............................................................................23
Illustration 7: Digital Input Connections for Two Switches..........................................................24
Illustration 8: Output Commands Dropdown List........................................................................28
Illustration 9: Input Sensor Dropdown List..................................................................................29
Illustration 10: QuadStick Spreadsheet Menu Commands.........................................................31
Illustration 11: PS3 Buttons & Controls......................................................................................42
Illustration 12: Mouse Buttons & Controls..................................................................................45
Illustration 13: ey-code names.................................................................................................47
Illustration 14: Pattern for Letter A..............................................................................................82
Illustration 15: Pattern for Letter I...............................................................................................83
Illustration 16: Pattern for Letter .............................................................................................83
Inde of Tables
Table 1: Joystick Inputs..............................................................................................................21
Table 2: External Digital Inputs 1 & 2.........................................................................................22
Table 3: External Digital Inputs 3 & 4.........................................................................................23
Table 4: External Digital Inputs 5 & 6.........................................................................................24
Table 5: PS3 Output Commands................................................................................................43
Table 6: Mouse Outputs.............................................................................................................45
Table 7: Infrared Remote Control command list.........................................................................77
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Introduction
The Quadstick is a mouth operated joystick which can emulate a Gamepad, Mouse or eyboard
via USB and Bluetooth connections to a Game Console, PC, Mac, or Android device.
The Quadstick’s configuration scheme is built around four concepts: Inputs, Outputs,
Connections and Spreadsheets:
Inputs
The mouthpiece has three sip/puff sensors and a lip position sensor attached to the joystick
gimbals. On the right side of the joystick mouthpiece is a fourth sip/puff sensor tube that is used
to control the overall operation of the Quadstick. The back of the device has connections for the
lip position sensor, and external inputs.
The joystick position, sip/puff/lip sensors and
optional external switches are used to generate
Input signals to the Quadstick which are then
used to transmit Output commands to the Host
device (game console, PC, etc) over the USB
or Bluetooth connection. The sip/puff pressure
sensors, joystick and lip position sensors are all
analog sensors.
In addition to its own hardware inputs, the
Quadstick can use a PC’s mouse, an UltraStik
360, or a Tobii Eyegaze device, via the Quadstick Manager Program, as a second joystick.
Outputs
The Quadstick emulates Gamepad, Mouse
and eyboard devices, and each button,
key, joystick or movement these devices
can send to a game console or PC become
Outputs and commands controlled by the
Input sensors.
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Spreadsheets
Google Docs spreadsheets are used for creating the
configuration files. Inputs, Outputs and Connections
are organized as rows in a configuration
spreadsheet. A collection of connections made up of
all the rows in a single sheet is often called a “mode”.
A spreadsheet can have up to sixteen “mode
sheets”. The user normally selects the active mode
sheet by short sip/puffs on the side tube. The Default Configuration spreadsheet has the first
mode sheet set to control the Left Analog Stick of the game controller interface. The third mode
sheet is set to control the Right Analog Stick and the second controls a mix of the two sticks.
Other modes control the D-Pad or Mouse pointer.
The information in the spreadsheet is converted by a menu command to a CSV file that is
transferred to the Quadstick’s flash memory by the Quadstick Manager Program or manually
using a PC's file manager.
The Quadstick can contain many configuration files and the user can control which one is
currently active by use of a long hard sip on the side tube.
Connections
A Connection binds the signal from an input sensor to an output. The connection can be
“normal”, where the Output is activated directly by the current state of the Input, or it can one of
several functions like “toggle”, “repeat”, “pulse”, “delay” or in some other way modify the signal
between the Input and the Output.
Examples of the four “face buttons” for the PlayStation and XBox consoles:
10
XBox output names:
A normal lip
B normal mp_center_puff
X normal mp_center_sip
Y normal mp_right_center_puff
PlayStation outputs names:
x normal lip
circle normal mp_center_puff
square normal mp_center_sip
triangle normal mp_right_center_puff

The Quadstick Manager Program
The Quadstick Manager Program (QMP) is a Windows desktop application that is used for
setting up and modifying the preference settings that control the Quadstick and for connecting
the Quadstick to other inputs devices, such as voice commands and external devices. It is
available for download from the Quadstick.com website.
The QMP provides a user interface for the following functions:
•Personal settings for:
◦Joystick calibration and sensitivity
◦Sip & Puff sensor sensitivity
◦Lip position sensor
•Game configuration file management
•Voice commands interface
•Voice command file management
•Firmware updates
•External pointers interface for:
◦UltraStik 360 Joystick
◦PC Mouse
◦Tobii Eye-gaze
◦TrackIR head tracker.
•Miscellaneous settings for:
◦Bluetooth module configuration
◦LED brightness
◦Speaker volume
◦CronusMax PCPROG port relay
◦Boot mode for PS4 support
◦Mouse speed and response curve
Except for the interfaces for Voice command, external pointer and CronusMax PCPROG port,
non-Windows users are able to accomplish many of the same tasks through direct editing of the
Quadstick’s preferences file spreadsheet (prefs.csv) and managing game configuration files
using their computer’s file manager program. The QMP just makes it easier.
11

Hardware Features
12
Illustration 1: Front View of Original model
Illustration 2:
Front View of
FPS model

Front
1. Mouthpiece attached to Joystick
◦Three Sip/Puff tubes
◦Lip button sensor
◦XY motion
2. Sip/Puff tube on right side of the joystick
3. Five Blue/Red Status LEDs used to indicate:
◦Sensor activation
◦Active configuration profile
◦Boot process and self test
◦USB connection status
4. Four Green Status Leds:
◦External Outputs Status on top pair
◦External Inputs Status on bottom pair
Differences between the Original and FPS models:
The joystick module in the Original model is the same part used in ordinary game
controllers connected to an aluminum rod to which the mouthpiece is attached. An extra
spring is used to help hold up the weight of the mouthpiece and Lip button assembly and
stiffen the movement.
In the FPS model, a larger and stiffer joystick module is used. The centering mechanism
is different and provides a more definite feel to the center position.
The FPS model requires more strength in the user’s lips to move. While not an issue for
someone with a spinal cord injury, a user with a disability that affects the strength of the
muscles in their lips would be better suited for the Original model. In the Original model,
the spring and lip button assembly can be removed for users that have difficulty moving
the joystick, giving it a very light feel. This is not an option with the FPS model.
13

Back Panel
1. USB-B connector for power and/or data connection to Host device
2. USB-A connector
◦For hosting second daisy chained gamepads, such as the UltraStik 360, Mayflash
F300 Fightstick or the Dual Shock 4. Requires firmware builds 1799+.
◦Auxiliary Digital Inputs for 8-way external joystick
◦Alternative USB connection to host using a USB-A to USB-A cable.
3. Output Jack
◦3mm stereo jack with two optically isolated outputs
4. Input Jack
◦3mm stereo jack which can connect to two switches or 4-way joystick.
◦TTL-3.3Volt Serial Port. Compatible with TTL-232R-3V3-AJ
◦Secondary logic level output
5. Infrared Transmitter for A/V equipment remote control
6. AMPS mount hole pattern
14

Sensors and Inputs
Sip/Puff Sensors
The Sip/Puff Sensors on the mouthpiece and the tube on the side of the joystick can each
sense vacuum or pressure over a range of +/-2kPa (4 inches Water Column) and measure the
analog value to categorize the strength as high or low, for a combination of four signals per
sensor, hard and soft, sip or puff. This gives twenty-four possible sip/puff combinations when
various combinations of individual and multiple holes are used. When a sensor is active, an
LED lights to give feedback to the user. Red for puff and Blue for sip.
When user sips or puffs the Quadstick will make either a click or beep to indicate it detected a
hard or soft sip/puff, respectively. The hard sip/puff is detected the moment the pressure
exceeds the high threshold.
To avoid triggering a soft sip/puff signal while applying a stronger pressure, an adjustable delay
(default 1200ms) is used to allow time for the pressure to move out of the soft region, to the
hard region, before generating the signal. While the pressure is in the soft region, the
corresponding status LED flashes and an audio tone, which varies with pressure, is produced,
to give the user feedback about the pressure they are applying.
Once the time delay has expired a beep sound will indicate the signal has been triggered. Once
triggered, the Soft signal latches and the pressure must return below the Deactivation Threshold
before the signal will release. When either Soft or Hard pressure signals are active, the
pressure above the higher threshold can be used as an analog value, like with a Gamepad
Joystick or Trigger. If the Soft pressure zone for a particular tube is not used, the audio tones
are suppressed. The time delay is adjustable and some users shorten the delay to a few tenths
of a second to activate soft sip/puffs more quickly.
The Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece has three sip/puff holes plus a lip button sensor. The lip sensor activation and
sensitivity is adjustable from a slight movement to up to one-half inch from the inactive position.
A thumbscrew allows the lip sensor to be placed in a comfortable position. The Sip/Puff tube
openings in the mouthpiece can be individually selected or used in combination, by positioning
the mouth over one, two or three holes.
With a three hole, Left, Center, Right, mouthpiece, this allows for six different hole combinations
(L, C, R, LC, CR, LCR). Multiply that by two pressure polarities (sip/puff), and two different
pressure thresholds (soft & hard), for a total of twenty four signals to be obtained from the
mouthpiece Sip/Puff sensors.
While less frequently used, the sip/puff tube to the right of the mouthpiece can also be used as
a sip/puff input in configurations that do not require multiple mode sheets, giving an additional
four combinations.
An additional four sip/puff combinations are possible if the user can cover the center hole with
their tongue while sip/puffing on the outer two holes (LR).
15

In practice, a small subset of the combinations is typically used but the capability is there when
needed for special situations.
The soft/hard pressure thresholds and the time delay for detecting a soft Sip/Puff are adjustable
by the user.
16
Illustration 3: Sip Puff Sensor Behavior

The following table contains the names of all the Sip/Puff inputs for a three hole mouthpiece,
with a brief description and if the adjustable delay timer is used to detect the input (This is a
factor when determining suitable inputs choices to avoid slowing reaction time during game
play):
17
Input Name Description Delay
mp_left_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip Left sip/puff sensor instant
mp_left_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff Left sip/puff sensor instant
mp_center_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip Center sip/puff sensor instant
mp_center_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff Center sip/puff sensor instant
mp_right_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip Right sip/puff sensor instant
mp_right_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff Right sip/puff sensor instant
mp_left_center_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip Left-Center sip/puff sensors instant
mp_left_center_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff Left-Center sip/puff sensors instant
mp_right_center_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip Right-Center sip/puff sensors instant
mp_right_center_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff Right-Center sip/puff sensors instant
mp_left_right_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip Left-Right sip/puff sensors instant
mp_left_right_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff Left-Right sip/puff sensors instant
mp_triple_sip Mouthpiece Hard Sip All Three sip/puff sensors instant
mp_triple_puff Mouthpiece Hard Puff All Three sip/puff sensors instant
mp_left_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip Left sip/puff sensor delay
mp_left_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff Left sip/puff sensor delay
mp_center_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip Center sip/puff sensor delay
mp_center_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff Center sip/puff sensor delay
mp_right_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip Right sip/puff sensor delay
mp_right_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff Right sip/puff sensor delay
mp_left_center_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip Left-Center sip/puff sensors delay
mp_left_center_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff Left-Center sip/puff sensors delay
mp_right_center_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip Right-Center sip/puff sensors delay
mp_right_center_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff Right-Center sip/puff sensors delay
mp_left_right_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip Left-Right sip/puff sensors delay
mp_left_right_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff Left-Right sip/puff sensors delay
mp_triple_sip_soft Mouthpiece Soft Sip All Three sip/puff sensors delay
mp_triple_puff_soft Mouthpiece Soft Puff All Three sip/puff sensors delay
right_sip Hard Sip Right sip/puff sensor instant
right_puff Hard Puff Right sip/puff sensor instant
right_sip_soft Soft Sip Right sip/puff sensor delay
right_puff_soft Soft Puff Right sip/puff sensor delay

Joystick
The joystick measures the deflection from the home, or center position and produces both
continuous analog values and discrete position signals, depending upon the output to which it is
connected. When used for the Mouse or one of the Game Pad joysticks, the position is
reported as continuously variable with the movement of the joystick. The sensitivity of the
joystick movement is controlled by two overall preference settings for the minimum and
maximum range of motion as well as four multipliers to individually adjust the movement in the
four directions: up, down, left & right. The general topic of Preference settings is covered in a
later chapter.
joystick_deflection_minimum 9 percent Defines center dead zone. Percent of
physical movement
joystick_deflection_maximum 30 percent Defines physical deflection scaled to 100%
Signal
deflection_multiplier_up 140 percent Adjusts joystick deflection value in the UP
direction
deflection_multiplier_down 130 percent Adjusts joystick deflection value in the
DOWN direction
deflection_multiplier_left 100 percent Adjusts joystick deflection value in the
LEFT direction
deflection_multiplier_right 100 percent Adjusts joystick deflection value in the
RIGHT direction
joystick_dead_zone_shape 1 0=Square, 1=Circle
anti_dead_zone 0 percent Counteracts the dead zone built into the
Game Console's joystick software
joystick_warning 400 percent Joystick position beyond full scale that will
flash the leds
joystick_alarm 500 percent Joysitck position beyond full scale that will
buzz the speaker
18

The joystick_dead_zone_shape, and the
effect it has is illustrated in the next two
images. When the dead zone is a square, it
tends to favor horizontal or vertical movement
when the joystick position is nearly aligned
with one of the two axis. This makes it more
difficult to move at small angles near one of
the axes. The movement tends to snap to
the axis.
When the dead zone is a circle, the amount
of movement in each axis is in proportion to
the angle the joystick relative to the axes, the
movement does not snap to one of the axis
and has a more natural feel. The default
value for this setting is for circle (1). If you prefer the action of the original square dead zone
instead, the preference can be set to 0 in the
misc tab in the QuadStick Manager Program
by turning off the Enable Circular Dead Zone
check box.
Certain applications where the outputs
controlled by the two joystick axis are not
related, may work better with the square dead
zone. This can be controlled on individual
mode sheets or on a Preference sheet in a
game configuration spreadsheet.
19
Horizontal Movement Only
Horizontal Movement Only
Vertical Movement Only
Vertical Movement Only
Mixed Vertical and
Horizontal Movement
Mixed Vertical and
Horizontal Movement
Mixed Vertical and
Horizontal Movement
Mixed Vertical and
Horizontal Movement
Mixed Vertical and
Horizontal Movement

When used with a discrete output, like the D-
Pad buttons, the joystick’s position is divided
up into a series of zones, such as North,
South, East and West, which triggers a
signal when the joystick is moved into a
zone.
The discrete zones are further divided into
the Ordinal directions, North-East, South-
East, etc as well as into Inner ring and Outer
ring zones, in a manner similar to the dual
pressure thresholds for the Sip/Puff sensors.
When moving through the inner ring, a tone
is produced to indicate the joystick is within
the inner ring region and a click is produced
when either the time delay expires, or the
joystick moves into the outer ring and an
outer ring signal is triggered.
The Joystick Discrete Zones diagram shows the active areas to which the joystick can be
positioned to trigger a signal. The areas of deeper color saturation, around the Cardinal and
Ordinal directions, show where the joystick must be to be detected. The lighter mixed color
areas between the eight directions show hysteresis areas where the previous signal will remain
active until the joystick enters the next detection zone. For instance, starting at North, the
joystick can be moved from the Green area, into the Blue-Green-Gray area towards either NE or
NW and still maintain the North signal. It can move back into the Green area and no interruption
of the North signal will have occurred. However, once the joystick crosses into the Blue area
around NE or NW, that new signal becomes active and will remain active as long as the joystick
remains in the Blue area or the adjacent Blue-Green or Magenta areas.
The inner and outer rings operate like the Soft and Hard Sip/Puff pressures: After entering the
Inner ring, the user must hold the joystick in the area between the Hysteresis ring and the Outer
ring until a timer expires and triggers the signal. A tone that varies with the position will sound
until the timer expires. Once the Inner ring timer has expired and the inner ring signal is
activated, the joystick has to return to the center position before moving to trigger an Outer ring
signal. Once triggered, either the inner or outer ring signals will stay active as long as the
joystick stays outside the Hysteresis ring. The joystick deflection between the Outer ring and
the maximum deflection is scaled into the pressure applied to the corresponding PS3 button, if
so mapped.
20
Illustration 4: Joystick Discrete Zones