Wireless makes gaming much more fun and interactive

 

Manufacturers of game controllers were one of the earliest mass-market adopters of ultra-low power (ULP) wireless because it freed end-users from the restrictions of a corded link to their gaming consoles and PCs, while adding extra comfort and immersive realism to the gaming experience. Today ULP wireless continues to re-define the gaming sector with product examples including motion-enhanced devices, dancing mats, musical instruments, and even mind-reading headsets.

 

Typical gaming applications are:

• Mainstream gaming controllers
• Motion-based controllers
• Fitness/activity-oriented gaming
• Keypads
• Remote controls
• Instruments – wireless guitars, drums, etc.
• Game show and audience response 'button-pads'
• 3D glasses
• Car racing wheels and pedals
• Flight sticks and pedals
• Targeting and shooting controls
• Dancing mats

 

 

Quick start tools

 

Nordic offers the following reference designs to speed up your wireless gaming accessory development.

 

Reference Design	Bluetooth low energy	ANT	2.4GHz (Gazell)	Multi-protocol capable	Keyboard	Mouse	Multi-touch trackpad	Freespace motion sensing
nRFready Desktop 2	x		x	x	x	x
nRFready Smart Remote 2	x		x	x	x		x	x

 

Please go to the nRF product pages that are linked from the device selector table further down to read about development tools and software support for each relevant nRF product.

 

 

Nordic competitive edge

 

Nordic Semiconductor's ULP wireless solutions enable you to cater for the full range of wireless gaming devices – from mainstream gaming controllers through to more advanced devices with built-in gyros – while meeting or exceeding end users' expectations in terms of features, performance, and pricing:

 

• Class-leading battery lifetimes– Months to years running from regular AA or AAA cells
• Ease-of-use– Works 'out-of-the' box without complex pairing procedures
• High Performance– 2 Mbps on-air data rate enables a low latency, high-realism, wireless link for multiple data streams (e.g. joysticks, buttons, gyros, etc.)
• Robust wireless connectivity – Excellent co-existence performance with other popular 2.4 GHz wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Attractive price point – Single chip solutions with low cost external Bill of Materials (BoM) supporting entry-level product pricing

 

 

Nordic offers the following wireless technologies for gaming

 

 

2.4GHz Proprietary

If you have very specific application demands and no requirements for interoperability through standards such as Bluetooth low energy or ANT, then proprietary protocols sometimes provide the best alternative. When this is the case, 2.4 GHz proprietary solutions often offer the greatest flexibility, best power consumption, and lowest Bill of Material. Nordic provide the Gazell proprietary protocol to serve these applications.

 

Alternatively, developers can choose to develop a bespoke protocol from scratch.

 

 

Bluetooth® low energy

Bluetooth low energy (branded as Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready) is an exciting technology that is becoming a standard feature in PC's and mobile devices. Bluetooth Smart Ready devices form the hub of our personal area networks, these include smartphones and tablets as well as dedicated hub products. Bluetooth Smart devices are the peripheral sensors that typically capture data and relay data to and from the hubs. Bluetooth low energy profiles are already available for a range of different applications.

 

For more information about Bluetooth low energy visit www.bluetooth.org

 

 

Nordic IC offering

 

The nRF51 Series is Nordic's latest generation of ULP wireless System on Chip (SoC) IC's that again sets the benchmark in this field. The nRF51 Series is based on the 32 bit ARM Cortex-M0 CPU and Nordic's leading multiprotocol radio and supports Bluetooth low energy, ANT, and 2.4 GHz proprietary solutions. These devices offer the developer the unique capability to make singular designs that can cater for different application and wireless protocol requirements with a single device. Across the range pin-compatibility allows for drop-in replacement of device types where application requirements differ with no requirement for redesign of circuit layout. Innovative software architecture ensures an absolute separation between application code and memory, this brings a unique and simplified approach to overall development efforts when making a ULP wireless application. Energy efficiency is maximized using innovative selective autonomous power modes which enables individual energizing of peripherals in sync with the exact requirements of the device at any given time.

 

The nRF24L Series SoCs are an ideal platform to develop 2.4 GHz proprietary solutions on. Based on an enhanced 8051 CPU and Nordic's radio technology, the nRF24L Series SoCs represent an extremely popular, flexible, cost-effective, and proven choice for PC peripheral development.

 

 

Device Selector Table for Gaming

 

Device	Bluetooth low energy	ANT	2.4GHz	Multi-protocol capable	32-bit CPU	8-bit CPU	Series pin-compatible	USB	Flash	OTP
nRF51822	x		x	x	x		x		x
nRF24LE1			x			x			x
nRF24LU1P			x			x		x	x
nRF24LE1-OTP			x			x				x
nRF24LU1P-OTP			x			x		x		x