Nintendo Patents Watch

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Knowledge-based discourse

Next Step in Analog Stick Evolution

Alps Alpine (analog stick supplier for Nintendo, Sony, and many others) is patenting a new type of stick—using capacitive sensing to detect motions.

In the sensor unit (#30 in image 1/fig. 10), a bowtie-shaped rotor (#34 in images 3-4/figs. 2E & 5A) rotates between two electrodes (#32-33) when the stick moves (image 2/fig. 6A). This creates a change in electrical capacitance, which is measured as user input.

Drawing from patent US 20260036442: FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view of an example of the partial structure of the input device according to the present disclosure.
Drawing from patent US20260036442: FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of an example of the shape of the sensor electrode and the movable plate of the rotation detection device of the input device according to the present disclosure
Drawing from patent US 20260036442: FIG. 2E is an exploded three-dimensional view of the rotation detection device of the input device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure
Drawing from patent US20260036442: FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of an example of the circuit connection structure of the rotation detection device of the input device according to the present disclosure

The design not only is more durable than the conventional potentiometer stick, but also simpler and cheaper than the Hall Effect and TMR sticks. Definitely one to watch for the future.

[Originally posted on 2026-03-03 Pacific Time]