Wiimote/Extension Controllers/Nunchuck
The Nunchuk is identified by the 16-bit constant 0x0000 (0xFEFE encrypted) at register address 0xa400fe. It provides an analog stick, two digital buttons, and three-axis acceleration data.
Data Format
The Nunchuk reports its information as 6 bytes of data, readable at 0xa40008 and streamable using Data Reporting Modes that include Extension bytes (unused bytes are filled with 0x00). The data is packed into the six bytes as follows (after decryption):
| Bit | ||||||||
| Byte | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 0 | SX<7:0> | |||||||
| 1 | SY<7:0> | |||||||
| 2 | AX<9:2> | |||||||
| 3 | AY<9:2> | |||||||
| 4 | AZ<9:2> | |||||||
| 5 | AZ<1:0> | AY<1:0> | AX<1:0> | BC | BZ | |||
SX, SY are the analog stick X and Y positions, while AX, AY, and AZ are the 10-bit accelerometer data (in the same format as described in Wiimote#Accelerometer).
The values returned by the analog stick in the Nunchuk enclosure do not encompass the full possible range, but rather have upper and lower bounds. These bounds seem to be in the same range across Nunchuks, but there is some variation. Analog stick X returns data from around 35 (fully left) to 228 (fully right), while analog stick Y returns from around 27 to 220. Center for both is around 128.
The accelerometer data uses the full range of 0-1024. However, the full range is only seen when moving or rotating the Nunchuk sharply. To measure still Nunchuk rotation in space, the following approximate bounds apply: X goes from around 300 (fully tilted left) to 740 (tilted right), turning further starts bringing the value closer to 512 (neutral position). Similarly, Y goes from around 280 (tilted backwards) to 720 (forwards). Z goes from 320 (upside-down) to 760 (right-side up).
BC and BZ are the state of the C and Z buttons (0=pressed).
Nintendo games calibrate the center position of the analog stick upon power-up or insertion of the Nunchuk. The mechanism for that is unknown.
Hardware
The official Nintendo wired Nunchuk appears to be electrically much simpler than the other controller extensions. It has a single joystick comprised of one 30KΩ potentiometer per axis, two switches, an accelerometer chip, and a microcontroller.
| Function | Hardware | Circuit board surface and mounting |
|---|---|---|
| C | membrane switch | daughterboard, through-hole |
| Z | membrane switch | daughterboard, through-hole |
| Joystick X | axial potentiometer, 30KΩ | through-hole |
| Joystick Y | axial potentiometer, 30KΩ | through-hole |
| Accelerometer | ST 8XRJ 3L02AE 820 MLT | surface mount, top |
| Microcontroller | FNURVL 405 849KM (48-pin QFP) | surface mount, bottom |
Like the Classic Controller, the joystick potentiometers appear to be wired in parallel. The accelerometer chip is in the LIS3L02 series from STMicroelectronics. The AE variant is not on their web site; their closest public product is their LIS3L02AT, in the same LGA-8 package, but possibly with a different pinout.
The microcontroller chip appears to be a relabeled NEC (now Renesas) uDP78F05 microcontroller, or a pin-compatible equivalent.
Wireless Nunchuks
It looks like third-party Wireless Nunchuks operate differently than the original Nunchuk-Extension. Anyone have a clue?
- Based on my testing with a uC, it seems that all 3rd party Nunchuks can be communicated with using this procedure:
- Initialize: (same way as described on the Wiimote/Extension_Controllers#Identification page)
- Write 0xA4, 0xF0, 0x55 (address, register, data)
- Write 0xA4, 0xFB, 0x00 (address, register, data)
- Read:
- Write 0xA4, 0x00
- Read 6 bytes from 0xA4
- Initialize: (same way as described on the Wiimote/Extension_Controllers#Identification page)
| Model | Arduino | NXT |
| (Wired) Nintendo brand official | Default | Default |
| (Wired) Generic no name | Default | Default |
| (Wireless) memorex Sidekick | Default | Fast |
| (Wireless) Nyko Kama wireless | Default | Default |
| (Wireless) datel Blade FX | 400kbps only | No |
| (Wireless) intec | 400kbps only | No |
|
(Wireless) One generic nunchuk I tested behaves identically to the memorex Sidekick (and the receivers seem to be interchangeable) |
Default | Fast |
| (Wireless) Another generic nunchuk I tested behaves identically to the intec (and the receivers seem to be interchangeable) | 400kbps only | No |
The Arduino I used was an Uno, and I used a WiiChuck for the physical interface. For the NXT, I used NXC with the latest enhanced firmware available at the time of writing this, and an NXTChuck as the physical interface. These are the results of my testing, but YMMV. -- Mattallen37 20:00, 15 September 2012 (EST)
Nyko Kama
The Nyko Kama is just a simple wireless Nunchuk, with a Sync and Power button. It uses two AAA batteries.
The Nyko Kama does not work with current homebrew or PC Wiimote software. It is unknown how to make it work.
- I was able to initialize the Kama and get data from it. My procedure is as follows: Write 0x55 to a400f0, write 0x00 to a400fb; then set up the encryption key (without it, the Nunchuk doesn't work) at a40040 (16 bytes). As a last step, set Data Reporting Mode to 0x37 (my Kama does not work when I set Data Reporting Mode prior to setting up the registers).
- This way, buttons are reported correctly, but the joystick values seem to be wrong. Do I need to decrypt the values? The original Nunchuk still works with this altered initialization sequence (unencrypted!).--Andyboeh 23:45, 19 April 2009 (UTC)
Snakebyte Wireless Motion XS
Snakebyte is a German company that makes 3rd party Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, Classic Controllers, and Sensor Bars.
On the Discussion page, the user "Grid" supplied the following information: (Abridged. Spelling and grammar have been corrected.)
- "I am using a wireless Nunchuk controller by some third party company (Snakebyte), and I was trying many, many times to get the wireless Nunchuk running on any lib out there. But anytime I plug it into my WiiMote my application slows down and I don't get any response from the Nunchuk. I've got no idea, my Wii accepts the wireless Nunchuk without any problem.
- I don't see any problem with any Wii game. Some WiiMote libs, which support the original Nunchuk perfectly, toggle between "nothing inserted" and "partially inserted" when the wireless Nunchuk is plugged in. Also no Data is streamed from the Nunchuk. It's extremely strange!!!! I've got no clue!
- I'm still trying to run a Wireless Nunchuk. One problem is that the address areas where the calibration data is normally stored is write-only on the wireless Nunchuks. But the weird thing about this wireless Nunchuk from Snakebyte [1] is that I got no response at all until I played Metroid Prime 3 or Zelda with it. I am not kidding!!! After playing one of these games, I get all the data, only without the calibration, so I can't really use the data because I don't know how to calibrate the accelerometers and the joystick."
That appears to be similar behaviour to what I observed with the Datel Blade-FX as documented below. It returns 0xFF 0xFF as the extension type, but then when you try to read the calibration data it disconnects and then reconnects later, thus producing the observed "toggle between "nothing inserted" and "partially inserted" when the wireless Nunchuk is plugged in". CarlKenner 04:20, 28 November 2008 (UTC)
Arduino code for Snakebyte Wireless Motion X added by Ein
- I made a code based on MikeT and adapted code by Michael Dreherfor (thanks guys!) for wireless Nunchuk controller from Snakebyte. Working fine.
- The problem was in initialization handshake sequence addresses thats are little different for this device.
Wire.beginTransmission (WII_NUNCHUCK_TWI_ADR);
Wire.send (0xF0);
Wire.send (0x55);
if(Wire.endTransmission() == 0) {
Wire.beginTransmission (WII_NUNCHUCK_TWI_ADR);
Wire.send (0xA5);
Wire.send (0x00);
}
Datel Blade-FX
The Datel Blade-FX looks like a wireless Nunchuk but can emulate either a Nunchuk or a Classic Controller. At startup it behaves like a Nunchuk, but pressing the "Classic" button puts it into Classic Controller mode. While in Classic Controller mode, the FUNCTION LED will be solidly lit (red). Classic Controller emulation allows it to be used in the Wii system menu, with the joystick controlling the cursor and the Z button selecting. The C button has no visible effect. It also allows it to work (according to the instructions) with some Virtual Console games.
This Blade-FX also has a cheat feature that remembers a motion that you do and repeats it continuously without you having to keep doing the motion. That is done with the "FX" button.
There is also a "SYNC" button where the cord would be. Pressing it once connects the Blade-FX. While connected, the STATUS LED will slowly flash.
When the wireless adapter is plugged in, but the Blade-FX has not been synced or turned on, then it behaves as though nothing was plugged in. No status report is generated when the wireless adapter is plugged in or unplugged, unless the Blade-FX is synced. Querying the status report returns 0 for the extension flag (instead of 2).
But when the Blade-FX is synced, it sends a status report indicating that an extension is connected. Trying to read the 16 bytes from 0xF0 of the expansion (to identify the expansion) successfully returns "FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF", which isn't particularly helpful. Trying to read any 16 byte block has the same effect - it returns success, but it is all FFs.
BUT... trying to read the calibration data from 0x20 or 0x30 (although it still returns success as above) causes the Blade-FX to disconnect, sending a status report to indicate no extension is plugged in. It will automatically reconnect 0.5 seconds later. While disconnected, attempting to read from the Blade-FX returns error 7.
Expansion data (in the input reports that include expansion data) is all 0xFF, just like trying to read the Blade-FX memory.
As soon as the "Classic" button is pressed, a status message is sent saying that the extension has been unplugged. It will stay "unplugged" until the status button is released again, however long the button is held down for. Once the "Classic" button has been released, it will wait about half a second and then send a status message saying the extension has been plugged in again. If the Classic button is pressed twice before it sent the released message, then it may send another disconnect and connect message after the connect message. It is not currently possible to tell whether it is in Classic Controller or Nunchuk mode. But we can use this method to read when the "Classic" button is held down (although it will always look like it was held down longer than it really was).
Actually unplugging the adapter will give the same disconnect message, so after a few seconds one should assume that they did a real disconnect instead of holding down the "Classic" button. In one case, after unplugging and replugging the adapter, the Blade-FX started returning all 00 instead of FF when reading the expansion type from 0xF0. The data returned from report 0x34 also had 00 00 00 as the last 3 extension bytes, even though the first 16 (starting from 0x08 in extension memory) were all FF. Trying to read the calibration from 0x20 still returned all 0xFF and then disconnected as usual. Pressing buttons on the Blade-FX had no effect on the data returned in report 0x34. I have not done any additional experiments with this state yet.
Clearly the current method of turning on an expansion doesn't work for the Datel Blade-FX, and we need some way to turn it on. Perhaps then the calibration can be read without an error, and we can get real data.
It is not yet known how to make the Datel Blade-FX work, although it can be detected when it is synced, due to its strange behaviour, and the "Classic" button can be read. Nothing else is readable yet.
Datel Wireless Duo-FX
Using the standard initalization sequence, this nunchuck does not work. However, it works perfectly well with the sequence posted above for the Nyko Kama. The data is streamed unencrypted and the Datel can be fully read. However, the Nunchuk must be synced before initalizing the Extension Controller, otherwise, strange errors occur. For now, simply repeat the initialization sequence. After some tries (can be up to 10), the Nunchuk works correctly.