STMicroelectronics today announced that its advanced semiconductor solutions, including motion sensors, touch-screen controller IC, STM32 microcontrollers, and NFC controller IC, have been selected for Nintendo Switch™ system, Nintendo’s latest innovative gaming device.
Nintendo Switch is a home gaming console that can be played anywhere, and consists of a console, two Joy-Con™detachable controllers, Joy-Con charging grip and a dock. Several ST products contribute to this unique gaming device by enabling the intuitive user interface as well as through the NFC-connectivity function that enhances gameplay.
- ST’s 6-axis inertial sensors are embedded in the main console and in the controllers of Nintendo Switch, responding to players’ motions to control the games. The inertial sensor comprises a 6-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit) in an ultra-small footprint (2.5mm x 3mm x 0.6mm). The sensor enables increased accuracy and resolution with low noise performance, and also operates on very little power to keep players playing.
- The capacitive touch-screen controller IC from ST is mounted in the main console and features highly sensitive touch detection and low power consumption. Combining an analog front-end and a digital signal processor based on a microcontroller core, the controller IC enables multi-touch and a fast report rate. The touch-screen controller IC supports many types of capacitive touch-panel materials and structures, and can be configured based on the particular touch sensitivity required by consumers.
- Nintendo Switch uses three STM32 32-bit microcontrollers from ST for an ideal balance of processing capability, low power consumption, embedded memory, and package size. A high-performance STM32 MCU in a small package is embedded in Joy-Con (R) controller to manage the IR motion camera and the NFC function. In addition, a low-power STM32 MCU is embedded in the Joy-Con charging grip that attaches the controllers to meet battery-life constraints while performing signal-processing functions. Another STM32 MCU is embedded in the dock of the main console for power management functions.
- The ST NFC controller IC in the Joy-Con (R) controller and the Nintendo Switch Pro controller enable contactless communication using Near Field Communication technology with Nintendo’s amiibo™ accessories. The communication allows adding and customizing characters in supported games, as well as a way to deliver bonus content in such games. ST’s low power-consumption NFC controller ICs embed NFC Forum-compliant firmware and software protocol stacks, and provide high contactless performance for the best user experience.
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