Product category: Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Analog Devices | Subject: ADXL330
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 11 May 2006
Acceleration sensor goes on the game
Nintendo's novel Wii game controller uses a three-axis MEMS acceleration sensor
Building on its relationship with Analog Devices, Nintendo is creating a truly interactive, lifelike, motion-based gaming experience for players of all ages while igniting the creative forces of game developers around the world. Nintendo breaks more than 20 years of video game history by abandoning the traditional controller held with two hands and introducing a new freehand-style unit held with one hand.
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 11 May 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Incorporating the Analog Devices three-axis ADXL330 iMEMS acceleration sensor, the intuitive, innovative Wii controller allows players to run, jump, spin, slide, steer, accelerate, bank, dive, kick, throw and score in a way never experienced in the history of gaming.
Central to the Wii Console's design is accurate and reliable multi-axis linear acceleration sensing.
When facing the design challenges of the new Wii controller, Nintendo collaborated with Analog Devices, a leader in signal processing technology and well known for innovative motion sensing.
The ADXL330's robust three-axis motion signal processing performance enables a new concept in console video game controllers and gaming interfaces by allowing the gamer's body motion to control his or her actions in the game in real time.
The ADXL330 is used to sense motion of the game player in three dimensions of freedom: forward-backward, left-right, and up-down.
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When the new controller is picked up and manipulated, it provides a quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth and positioning dictated by the acceleration of the controller itself.
The Wii Console is more intuitive and realistic than existing game consoles that require buttons to be pushed and will expand the gaming market by appealing to new classes of users.
To achieve a true-to-life gaming experience and the most realistic reproduction of game player motion, Nintendo relied on its experience with Analog Devices' iMEMS Motion Signal Processing technology.
'For the industry's first mainstream game controller using MEMS acceleration sensors, we turned to Analog Devices, an industry leader whose acceleration sensors are used by Nintendo for popular games like Kirby's Tilt 'N Tumble for Game Boy colour', commented Genyo Takeda, Senior Managing Director/General Manager, Integrated Research and Development Division, Nintendo Co, .
'We selected the ADXL330 because its accuracy, small sise, and extremely low power consumption were critical to the Wii Console's design objectives and key for a wireless controller that will revolutionise the gaming industry'.
'Motion is an integral part of our lives.
We are delighted that Nintendo selected us again for another incredibly innovative motion-based product like the Wii Console and Controller', said Bill Giudice, Vice President and General Manager, Micromachined Products Division, Analog Devices.
'Analog Devices offers unparalleled experience with integrating motion sensing to enhance the products we use every day, whether it's the automobiles we drive, the mobile phones we use, or the games we play.
Our customers rely on our ability to deliver high performance, superior quality motion sensors in large volume for many exciting applications.
As a pioneer in the micromachine IC industry, ADI produced the first fully integrated, single chip iMEMS (integrated Micro Electrical Mechanical System) accelerometer in 1991.
Since then, ADI has maintained a leadership position and remains the industry's only producer of high-volume, single-chip iMEMS accelerometers/motion sensors and continues to be the leading supplier of airbag sensors worldwide with shipments of more than 200 million units to date.
ADI's iMEMS motion sensors are used in a wide range of consumer, automotive and industrial product applications.
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