A patent for a brand new magnetic joystick design has been filed by Nintendo and the know-how concerned would possibly simply level in the direction of a drift-free future (thanks, IGN).
The patent was truly filed again in May of this 12 months, however it has now been revealed by the United States Patent Office so we will get a greater take a look at the proposed designs. These present a joystick that utilises magnetism (very similar to the beforehand mentioned Hall Effect know-how) through a ‘magnetorheological fluid’ to register motion:
a resistance part utilizing a magnetorheological fluid whose viscosity adjustments in accordance with an depth of a magnetic area and which serves as a resistance when the operation factor is displaced from the preliminary place and to the preliminary place
On paper (and in additional simplified phrases), the consumer would have the ability to transfer the analogue stick and the fluid will register this motion by way of a magnetic area earlier than snapping the stick again into its beginning place. There is even some suggestion that the viscosity of this fluid might be modified to let the consumer really feel a larger resistance drive in some situations — doubtlessly according to that achieved by the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller.
Unlike the present system which requires contact between a resistor and a terminal, this design wouldn’t be interrupted by the presence of any mud, particles or filth (the principle culprits of Joy-Con drift) and would due to this fact preserve registering the consumer’s inputs no matter what sneaky little substances had snuck into the system (inside purpose, in fact).
You can try the complete patent right here.
What this truly means for Nintendo’s joystick future stays to be seen — quite a lot of patents nonetheless come to nothing in the long term — however, naturally, our minds are shifting in the direction of the potential to see it applied within the ‘Switch 2’. If the subsequent console can boast a drift-free controller then that will surely go a protracted technique to encouraging customers to improve.
The magnetic area path looks as if one of the best ways to go for the second, so might this be Nintendo leaping on the bandwagon for future {hardware}? Only time will inform…
