The appearance of one type of controller is similar to a TV remote, while another requires a wired connection to a remote device. Beneath the white shell of the Wii remote lies a combination of mature digital technologies.
Priced at $250, the Wii console is about the size of a child's lunchbox, and the Wii remote communicates with the console via Bluetooth technology, similar to the communication between headphones and a mobile phone.
Additionally, the Wii remote utilizes infrared technology for self-positioning, akin to the communication technology used in TV remote controls. At the front end of the controller, there is an image sensor responsible for detecting the light emitted by diodes in the sensor. This system aids players in accurately positioning themselves on the screen.
Actions such as pressing buttons on the screen or firing weapons are primarily executed by the Bluetooth chip in the remote and the console. The Wii remote also includes a vibration pack that can adjust vibration intensity based on information from the gaming console.
Notably, the Wii remote's impressive feature is its ability to determine its own relative motion. This capability allows players to drive vehicles or control the movement of game characters.
Benedetto Vigna, the General Manager of STMicroelectronics Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) division, stated, "This is the embodiment of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in consumer electronics."
He mentioned that the Wii's motion sensor employs technology similar to that used in activating airbags in cars. This technology accurately senses acceleration in three directions: up-down, left-right, and forward-backward.
This technology primarily relies on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, which are extremely fine structures etched into silicon wafers. These systems are enveloped in an electric field, and when the MEMS components start moving, the electric field undergoes changes that the MEMS chip can sense, detecting motion variations.