"The triggers each have a tiny magnet attached to the end of the trigger arm. When the trigger is depressed, the magnet is pushed toward a sensor mounted on the controller's circuit board. Through the process of induction, the magnet creates resistance to the current passing through the sensor. On the bottom of the magnet is a layer of foam padding. Pushing harder on the trigger compresses the padding, which brings the magnet closer to the sensor. The closer the magnet is to the sensor, the more resistance is induced. This variable resistance makes the triggers pressure-sensitive.
The thumb pad also uses a magnet, along with four small sensors. The sensors are arranged like a compass, with one at each of the cardinal points (north, south, east, west). The base of the joystick is shaped like a ball, with tiny spokes radiating out. The ball sits in a socket above the sensors. Spikes on the socket fit between the spokes on the ball. This allows for an extraordinary amount of movement without letting the thumb pad twist out of alignment with the sensors. As the thumb pad is moved, the magnet in the base moves closer to one or two of the sensors, and farther from the others. The system monitors the changes in induction caused by the magnet's movement to calculate the position of the thumb pad."
This is the article where i quoted this text from: https://segaretro.org/Dreamcast_Controller
Now i find this pretty amazing tech, first because of it's simplicity and than because it has no mechanical parts or moving parts except stick it self.
It was always surprising to me that not all or more companies don't use this type of analog technology or develop it further to make it better, cause i know Dreamcast controller had its own issues, but those issues where just plastic ring being eaten away over time turning into dust thus making a stick being less precise or stuck a bit, making clicking sounds because f it, but seriously it was a easy fix and its not a common issue.
Ok it was, but not that common or a problem. It only happened to me once.
Anyway, i'm here to talk about magnets. This magnet technology is really great, it makes for way more precise controlls than phisical sliding of parts and theres no contact.
Now here's how SWITCH analog works:
Apart from Switch analog being so cheap looking, this is basically how almost all controllers work, or in similar way, but they all have to many components inside and moving parts that can get misaligned and broken.
The reason i post this here is because of all JoyCon drift issues and to tell the truth, only place i every heard about "drift" is emulators, but never bothered with the option. So i just heard about it, but only place i learned what it is is when switch came out.
Literally i never saw any, or had any drifting issues with any of my consoles and controllers (and i have and had a lot of them form many different systems).
Its really strange to me that, as i said, Nintendo did not took on this idea and developed it or any other company.
Its really interesting. Since 2000, when i opened my Dreamcast controller, i was always so amazed how it works and how amazingly simple and cool it was/is. Even to this day, all other controllers look primitive to me compared to this magnet system.
The thumb pad also uses a magnet, along with four small sensors. The sensors are arranged like a compass, with one at each of the cardinal points (north, south, east, west). The base of the joystick is shaped like a ball, with tiny spokes radiating out. The ball sits in a socket above the sensors. Spikes on the socket fit between the spokes on the ball. This allows for an extraordinary amount of movement without letting the thumb pad twist out of alignment with the sensors. As the thumb pad is moved, the magnet in the base moves closer to one or two of the sensors, and farther from the others. The system monitors the changes in induction caused by the magnet's movement to calculate the position of the thumb pad."
This is the article where i quoted this text from: https://segaretro.org/Dreamcast_Controller
Now i find this pretty amazing tech, first because of it's simplicity and than because it has no mechanical parts or moving parts except stick it self.
It was always surprising to me that not all or more companies don't use this type of analog technology or develop it further to make it better, cause i know Dreamcast controller had its own issues, but those issues where just plastic ring being eaten away over time turning into dust thus making a stick being less precise or stuck a bit, making clicking sounds because f it, but seriously it was a easy fix and its not a common issue.
Ok it was, but not that common or a problem. It only happened to me once.
Anyway, i'm here to talk about magnets. This magnet technology is really great, it makes for way more precise controlls than phisical sliding of parts and theres no contact.
Now here's how SWITCH analog works:
Apart from Switch analog being so cheap looking, this is basically how almost all controllers work, or in similar way, but they all have to many components inside and moving parts that can get misaligned and broken.
The reason i post this here is because of all JoyCon drift issues and to tell the truth, only place i every heard about "drift" is emulators, but never bothered with the option. So i just heard about it, but only place i learned what it is is when switch came out.
Literally i never saw any, or had any drifting issues with any of my consoles and controllers (and i have and had a lot of them form many different systems).
Its really strange to me that, as i said, Nintendo did not took on this idea and developed it or any other company.
Its really interesting. Since 2000, when i opened my Dreamcast controller, i was always so amazed how it works and how amazingly simple and cool it was/is. Even to this day, all other controllers look primitive to me compared to this magnet system.
Last edited by MetoMeto,
