[Bug]: Dualshock 4 (clone) touchpad and LED not supported?

[dwilliss]

What happened?

I don't know if this is a bug, or a not-completely implemented feature or if this Dualshock 4 knock-off is just garbage. Probably the latter, but thought I'd ask before I spend money on an official controller.

I can get responses back from everything on the thing except the touch pad. Looking at the code, it looks like it should give me deltaX() and deltaY() values as well as a button values when clicked, but it doesn't respond. Also, the setColorLED doesn't seem to do anything.

I'm using Bluepad32 version 4.1.0 which is what it gave me when I dowloaded it from the Arduino IDE yesterday. I don't know if this is meaningful, but the controller reports VendorID 0x054c, Product ID 0x09cc, flags = 0x0005

I also dug through the parser code for ds4 to see why the 2 buttons on the bottom of the controller weren't supported. They're M1 and M2. It turns out they're macro buttons that you can assign to combinations of other buttons.

I have to say though that this package is better than the PS4Controller Arduino library which refused to pair at all, even after following their convoluted instructions to manually set the bluetooth address of the ESP32 on the controller. Yours just pairs the way you'd expect.

Bluepad32 Version

Other

Bluepad32 version custom

Version 4.1.0 which isn't on your dropdown list. This is the version the Arduino IDE gave me when I installed it.

Bluepad32 Platform

Arduino IDE

Platform version

Version: 2.3.3 Date: 2024-09-25T09:41:18.242Z CLI Version: 1.0.4

Controller

A Dualshock 4 clone purchased off Amazon

Microcontroller

ESP32

Microcontroller board

Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2

OS

Windows

Relevant log output

No response

Relevant sketch

// Slightly modified version of the sample program.  Changed the dumpGamepad function
// to show battery(), deltaX() and deltaY() and to try to cycle the LED color through
// red, green and blue every second.

#include <Bluepad32.h>

ControllerPtr myControllers[BP32_MAX_GAMEPADS];

// This callback gets called any time a new gamepad is connected.
// Up to 4 gamepads can be connected at the same time.
void onConnectedController(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    bool foundEmptySlot = false;
    for (int i = 0; i < BP32_MAX_GAMEPADS; i++) {
        if (myControllers[i] == nullptr) {
            Serial.printf("CALLBACK: Controller is connected, index=%d\n", i);
            // Additionally, you can get certain gamepad properties like:
            // Model, VID, PID, BTAddr, flags, etc.
            ControllerProperties properties = ctl->getProperties();
            Serial.printf("Controller model: %s, VID=0x%04x, PID=0x%04x\n", ctl->getModelName().c_str(), properties.vendor_id,
                           properties.product_id);
            myControllers[i] = ctl;
            foundEmptySlot = true;
            break;
        }
    }

    if (!foundEmptySlot) {
        Serial.println("CALLBACK: Controller connected, but could not found empty slot");
    }
}

void onDisconnectedController(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    bool foundController = false;

    for (int i = 0; i < BP32_MAX_GAMEPADS; i++) {
        if (myControllers[i] == ctl) {
            Serial.printf("CALLBACK: Controller disconnected from index=%d\n", i);
            myControllers[i] = nullptr;
            foundController = true;
            break;
        }
    }
ctl->setColorLED(255, 0, 0);
    if (!foundController) {
        Serial.println("CALLBACK: Controller disconnected, but not found in myControllers");
    }
}

long prevMillis;

void dumpGamepad(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    Serial.printf(
        "idx=%s, dpad: 0x%02x, buttons: 0x%04x, axis L: %4d, %4d, axis R: %4d, %4d, brake: %4d, throttle: %4d, "
        "misc: 0x%02x, batt:%6d mouse: %d,%d\n",
        ctl->getModelName(),        // Controller Index
        ctl->dpad(),         // D-pad
        ctl->buttons(),      // bitmask of pressed buttons
        ctl->axisX(),        // (-511 - 512) left X Axis
        ctl->axisY(),        // (-511 - 512) left Y axis
        ctl->axisRX(),       // (-511 - 512) right X axis
        ctl->axisRY(),       // (-511 - 512) right Y axis
        ctl->brake(),        // (0 - 1023): brake button
        ctl->throttle(),     // (0 - 1023): throttle (AKA gas) button
        ctl->miscButtons(),  // bitmask of pressed "misc" buttons
        ctl->battery(),
        ctl->deltaX(),
        ctl->deltaY()
    );

    if (millis() > prevMillis + 1000) {
      static int colorIdx;
      prevMillis = millis();
      switch (++(colorIdx) % 3) {
        case 0:
          // Red
          ctl->setColorLED(255, 0, 0);
          break;
        case 1:
          // Green
          ctl->setColorLED(0, 255, 0);
          break;
        case 2:
          // Blue
          ctl->setColorLED(0, 0, 255);
          break;
        }
    }
}

void dumpMouse(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    Serial.printf("idx=%d, buttons: 0x%04x, scrollWheel=0x%04x, delta X: %4d, delta Y: %4d\n",
                   ctl->index(),        // Controller Index
                   ctl->buttons(),      // bitmask of pressed buttons
                   ctl->scrollWheel(),  // Scroll Wheel
                   ctl->deltaX(),       // (-511 - 512) left X Axis
                   ctl->deltaY()        // (-511 - 512) left Y axis
    );
}

void dumpKeyboard(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    static const char* key_names[] = {
        // clang-format off
        // To avoid having too much noise in this file, only a few keys are mapped to strings.
        // Starts with "A", which is offset 4.
        "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F", "G", "H", "I", "J", "K", "L", "M", "N", "O", "P", "Q", "R", "S", "T", "U", "V",
        "W", "X", "Y", "Z", "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "0",
        // Special keys
        "Enter", "Escape", "Backspace", "Tab", "Spacebar", "Underscore", "Equal", "OpenBracket", "CloseBracket",
        "Backslash", "Tilde", "SemiColon", "Quote", "GraveAccent", "Comma", "Dot", "Slash", "CapsLock",
        // Function keys
        "F1", "F2", "F3", "F4", "F5", "F6", "F7", "F8", "F9", "F10", "F11", "F12",
        // Cursors and others
        "PrintScreen", "ScrollLock", "Pause", "Insert", "Home", "PageUp", "Delete", "End", "PageDown",
        "RightArrow", "LeftArrow", "DownArrow", "UpArrow",
        // clang-format on
    };
    static const char* modifier_names[] = {
        // clang-format off
        // From 0xe0 to 0xe7
        "Left Control", "Left Shift", "Left Alt", "Left Meta",
        "Right Control", "Right Shift", "Right Alt", "Right Meta",
        // clang-format on
    };
    Serial.printf("idx=%d, Pressed keys: ", ctl->index());
    for (int key = Keyboard_A; key <= Keyboard_UpArrow; key++) {
        if (ctl->isKeyPressed(static_cast<KeyboardKey>(key))) {
            const char* keyName = key_names[key-4];
            Serial.printf("%s,", keyName);
       }
    }
    for (int key = Keyboard_LeftControl; key <= Keyboard_RightMeta; key++) {
        if (ctl->isKeyPressed(static_cast<KeyboardKey>(key))) {
            const char* keyName = modifier_names[key-0xe0];
            Serial.printf("%s,", keyName);
        }
    }
    Console.printf("\n");
}

void dumpBalanceBoard(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    Serial.printf("idx=%d,  TL=%u, TR=%u, BL=%u, BR=%u, temperature=%d\n",
                   ctl->index(),        // Controller Index
                   ctl->topLeft(),      // top-left scale
                   ctl->topRight(),     // top-right scale
                   ctl->bottomLeft(),   // bottom-left scale
                   ctl->bottomRight(),  // bottom-right scale
                   ctl->temperature()   // temperature: used to adjust the scale value's precision
    );
}

void processGamepad(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    // There are different ways to query whether a button is pressed.
    // By query each button individually:
    //  a(), b(), x(), y(), l1(), etc...
    if (ctl->a()) {
        static int colorIdx = 0;
        // Some gamepads like DS4 and DualSense support changing the color LED.
        // It is possible to change it by calling:
        switch (colorIdx % 3) {
            case 0:
                // Red
                ctl->setColorLED(255, 0, 0);
                break;
            case 1:
                // Green
                ctl->setColorLED(0, 255, 0);
                break;
            case 2:
                // Blue
                ctl->setColorLED(0, 0, 255);
                break;
        }
        colorIdx++;
    }

    if (ctl->b()) {
        // Turn on the 4 LED. Each bit represents one LED.
        static int led = 0;
        led++;
        // Some gamepads like the DS3, DualSense, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch
        // support changing the "Player LEDs": those 4 LEDs that usually indicate
        // the "gamepad seat".
        // It is possible to change them by calling:
        ctl->setPlayerLEDs(led & 0x0f);
    }

    if (ctl->x()) {
        // Some gamepads like DS3, DS4, DualSense, Switch, Xbox One S, Stadia support rumble.
        // It is possible to set it by calling:
        // Some controllers have two motors: "strong motor", "weak motor".
        // It is possible to control them independently.
        ctl->playDualRumble(0 /* delayedStartMs */, 250 /* durationMs */, 0x80 /* weakMagnitude */,
                            0x40 /* strongMagnitude */);
    }

    // Another way to query controller data is by getting the buttons() function.
    // See how the different "dump*" functions dump the Controller info.
    dumpGamepad(ctl);
}

void processMouse(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    // This is just an example.
    if (ctl->scrollWheel() > 0) {
        // Do Something
    } else if (ctl->scrollWheel() < 0) {
        // Do something else
    }

    // See "dumpMouse" for possible things to query.
    dumpMouse(ctl);
}

void processKeyboard(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    if (!ctl->isAnyKeyPressed())
        return;

    // This is just an example.
    if (ctl->isKeyPressed(Keyboard_A)) {
        // Do Something
        Serial.println("Key 'A' pressed");
    }

    // Don't do "else" here.
    // Multiple keys can be pressed at the same time.
    if (ctl->isKeyPressed(Keyboard_LeftShift)) {
        // Do something else
        Serial.println("Key 'LEFT SHIFT' pressed");
    }

    // Don't do "else" here.
    // Multiple keys can be pressed at the same time.
    if (ctl->isKeyPressed(Keyboard_LeftArrow)) {
        // Do something else
        Serial.println("Key 'Left Arrow' pressed");
    }

    // See "dumpKeyboard" for possible things to query.
    dumpKeyboard(ctl);
}

void processBalanceBoard(ControllerPtr ctl) {
    // This is just an example.
    if (ctl->topLeft() > 10000) {
        // Do Something
    }

    // See "dumpBalanceBoard" for possible things to query.
    dumpBalanceBoard(ctl);
}

void processControllers() {
    for (auto myController : myControllers) {
        if (myController && myController->isConnected() && myController->hasData()) {
            if (myController->isGamepad()) {
                processGamepad(myController);
            } else if (myController->isMouse()) {
                processMouse(myController);
            } else if (myController->isKeyboard()) {
                processKeyboard(myController);
            } else if (myController->isBalanceBoard()) {
                processBalanceBoard(myController);
            } else {
                Serial.println("Unsupported controller");
            }
        }
    }
}

// Arduino setup function. Runs in CPU 1
void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Serial.printf("Firmware: %s\n", BP32.firmwareVersion());
    const uint8_t* addr = BP32.localBdAddress();
    Serial.printf("BD Addr: %2X:%2X:%2X:%2X:%2X:%2X\n", addr[0], addr[1], addr[2], addr[3], addr[4], addr[5]);

    // Setup the Bluepad32 callbacks
    BP32.setup(&onConnectedController, &onDisconnectedController);

    // "forgetBluetoothKeys()" should be called when the user performs
    // a "device factory reset", or similar.
    // Calling "forgetBluetoothKeys" in setup() just as an example.
    // Forgetting Bluetooth keys prevents "paired" gamepads to reconnect.
    // But it might also fix some connection / re-connection issues.
    //BP32.forgetBluetoothKeys();

    // Enables mouse / touchpad support for gamepads that support them.
    // When enabled, controllers like DualSense and DualShock4 generate two connected devices:
    // - First one: the gamepad
    // - Second one, which is a "virtual device", is a mouse.
    // By default, it is disabled.
    BP32.enableVirtualDevice(false);
}

// Arduino loop function. Runs in CPU 1.
void loop() {
    // This call fetches all the controllers' data.
    // Call this function in your main loop.
    bool dataUpdated = BP32.update();
    if (dataUpdated)
        processControllers();

    // The main loop must have some kind of "yield to lower priority task" event.
    // Otherwise, the watchdog will get triggered.
    // If your main loop doesn't have one, just add a simple `vTaskDelay(1)`.
    // Detailed info here:
    // https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66278271/task-watchdog-got-triggered-the-tasks-did-not-reset-the-watchdog-in-time

    //     vTaskDelay(1);
    delay(150);
}

[ricardoquesada]

mmm...

LED and touch are supported in DualShock4.

And some clones support those features, but others don't.

I think you might have one of those clones that don't support LED and/or touchpad.

But you can try connecting the controller to a Linux (or Windows) machine via Bluetooth. Can you control the mouse from the touchpad ?

[dwilliss]

I just tried that (Windows). Clicking the "home" button on the controller brings up the Steam client. Windows doesn't see it as a mouse, but the Steam client has a "Test Device Inputs" option. That seems to see the touchpad just fine. There's also an option to change the LED color which does nothing. So that must not be implemented on this one.

If bluepad32 was implemented as an Arduino library, I know I could go into the library folder and insert some debugging print statements to see what's going on. I'm not sure how to do that with this though because it seems to be installed as pre-compiled binaries in the Arduino IDE and I don't know how to build them. If one of your doc files tells how to do that, I can try messing with it this weekend and see what actually comes back.

[ricardoquesada]

yes, I thought of decoupling bluepad32 for the "esp32 + bluepad32 boards" for this scenario. I might do it some day.

In the meantime you can play with the esp32 example (requires that you install esp-idf) and you can modify bluepad32 code.

https://github.com/ricardoquesada/bluepad32/tree/main/examples/esp32

[ricardoquesada]

alternative, I might be able to look at the controller. Here are the instructions:

https://bluepad32.readthedocs.io/en/latest/FAQ/#could-you-add-support-for-my-unsupported-controller