Each Amiga has two nine-pin connectors that can be used for input or
output with a variety of controllers. Usually, the nine-pin connectors
are used with a mouse or joystick but they will also accept input from
light pens, paddles, trackballs, and other popular input devices.
Figure 8-1 shows one of the two connectors and the corresponding face-on
view of a standard controller plug, while table 8-1 gives the pin
assignments for some typical controllers.
figure 8-1: controller plug and computer connector
Table 8-1: Typical Controller Connections
Mouse,
Trackball, Proportional X-Y
Driving Controller Proportional
Pin Joystick Controller (Pair) Joystick Light Pen
--- -------- ---------- ------------ ------------ ---------
1 Forward V-pulse --- Button 3** ---
2 Back H-pulse --- --- ---
3 Left VQ-pulse Left button Button 1 ---
4 Right HQ-pulse Right button Button 2 ---
5* --- Middle Right POT POT X Pen pressed
button** to screen
6* Button 1 Left button --- --- Beam trigger
7 --- +5V +5V +5V +5V
8 GND GND GND GND GND
9* Button 2** Right button Left POT POT Y Button 2**
* These pins may also be configured as outputs
** These buttons are optional
registers used with the controller port
reading mouse/trackball controllers
reading digital joystick controllers
reading proportional controllers
reading a light pen
digital i/o on the controller port