If Sony puts the patent to use, there wouldn’t be a problem using the new controller designed for the next-gen console years down the line.
The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller isn’t perfect, either. The most significant issue is joystick drift, which is caused by potentiometer wear and results in the joysticks moving in certain directions even when they aren’t being pressed. The DualSense Edge cleverly solved this problem with easily replaceable joystick modules. However, it appears that Sony will finally resolve this issue with the PlayStation 6 controller, as revealed by a recent patent.
The new patent, filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment late last year and published earlier this month, describes joystick technology using magnetic sensors similar to advanced TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) sensors found in some third-party controllers. Using magnetic sensors improves joystick accuracy and durability because there are no physical components in the joystick’s mechanism that will wear out during use. Furthermore, TMR sensors are generally considered superior to Hall-effect sensors because they require less power, making them ideal for wireless controllers.
"With the operating stick assembly and the input device proposed in the present disclosure, a tilting operation sensor that senses tilting of the operating stick in a noncontact manner is utilized. This allows movement of the operating stick to be detected with high precision, even under prolonged use. Furthermore, since the operating stick’s rotation is constrained by the engaging and engaged portions, when a user applies force to tilt the stick, that force is prevented from causing the stick to rotate. As a result, the stick’s operability can be improved," the patent reads.
These magnetic joysticks are intended for use with potential controllers and feature a spring-return mechanism that consistently returns the joystick to its neutral position. They also have stabilizing mechanisms that keep the joystick steady for improved accuracy and a longer hardware lifespan. The PlayStation 3 Sixaxis and early DualShock 3 models featured magnetic Hall-effect joysticks, which were eventually replaced with traditional potentiometers.
Resolving the hardware issues experienced with the PlayStation 5 appears to be one of Sony’s main goals for the PlayStation 6. Earlier this month, a patent revealed that Sony may move away from the current generation of consoles’ liquid-metal cooling system, which caused overheating issues for many users, in favor of an advanced vapor-based cooling system.
Leave a Reply