Wireless makes gaming much more fun and interactive

Gaming 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 ever-more advanced controllers (including motion-enhanced devices), dancing mats, musical instruments, and even mind-reading headsets – see mind gaming headset press release.

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 – 2Mbps 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 2.4GHz 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

Ultra low power RF ICs

Nordic's nRF24L Series of 2.4GHz RF System-on-Chips (SoCs) are ideally suited for PC and console-based wireless gaming devices – and include the following products:

nRF24LE1 – System-on-Chip (SoC) solution with 2Mbps 2.4GHz transceiver, 8-bit CPU, and on-chip Flash memory, ideally suited for:

• Mainstream gaming controllers
• Motion-based controllers
• 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
• Dancing mats

nRF24LU1+ – System-on-Chip (SoC) solution with 2Mbps 2.4GHz transceiver, 8-bit CPU, on-chip Flash memory, and full-speed USB device controller – providing a true single chip solution for USB dongles used in gaming for:

• Console dongles
• PC dongles

nRF24LE1 OTP and nRF24LU1+ OTP are lower cost, drop-in compatible variants of the above SoCs, ideally suited to lower cost, entry-level wireless products.

nRF2460 - a low cost and low power 2.4GHz mono audio streamer solution, ideally suited for gaming microphones.

Finally, Nordic's nRF24Z1, 2.4GHz Audio Streamer IC is an ideal solution for high quality wireless headphones.

Software and Development tools

Nordic’s Gazell™ protocol stack, included in the Nordic nRFgo Software Development Kit (SDK) is an ideal software protocol solution for gaming devices offering a unique combination of low latency, excellent co-existence performance, and of course, ultra low power performance.