For this project, Mr. Tronconi assigned each individual in our Senior Engineering class to bring in an item. With this item, we broke it apart and reverse-engineered it. My group focused on a Koanami Collectors Series Arcade Controller The first two days, we worked on disassembling the joystick. After this, we ended up making sketches of the inside and outside of the joystick. Then we

figured out the processes behind it.

IMPORTANT PARTS:

Microcontroller: Works like the "brain of the joystick." It processes the inputs from the buttons and the joysticks movements and converts the mechinical input into signals. These signals manage the timing and logic which are then sent out as signals to the device the joystick is controlled to.

Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC): Is used to manage the joysticks functions. The ASIC handles rapid and repetitive tasks that the user inputs into the joystick. It is used in high volme electronics to reduce cost and improve the preformance due to the high pace movements used by the user. The ASIC is used to handle the joystick because it is for efficient then the microcontroller.

EEPROM/Flash/RAM (Memory Chip): Stores the data that is used by the ASIC and microctroller. While the EEPROM and FLASH stores firmware and custom settings the RAM stores temporary data for real time processing. This is used so the joysticks movements can be retained between uses to save the users data.

Reflection:

I enjoyed this project because it gave me a challenge. Researching and describing the intense and important parts of this arcade controller was very interesting. It also brought us back to the past by messing around with controllers that arent even in use today. I believe I did very well with my time managment skills in the way I processed everything and knocked something out day by day. Also working as a group we did very well in our abilities by brianstorming each day and figuring out the best way to work on our project. 

I think I need to work on my effort because I felt like at times I was off task and didn't focus leading me to getting behind. I think an other thing I could do to improve the project is speaking up more because I felt at times I should have shared my creative ideas when I didn't.

Overall this project was very good and intrestign and allowed me yo learn about the controller inside and out.