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Article

Title: Guitar Hero Jams Go Wireless

Author: Carey, David Article Type: Product Analysis
Source: Electronic Engineering Times, n1513 p26(1) Publication Date: Feb 11, 2008
  ISSN: 0192-1541
URL of Publication: http://www.eet.com

The electronics behind Activision's Guitar Hero series, a popular game that has reached $1 billion in sales, are relatively simple in order to keep costs down and make a profit. Inside the guitar body is a glass-epoxy circuit board that holds the primary active electronics as well as four separate circuit boards made of inexpensive phenolic material. The glass-epoxy four-layer board supports a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) and the controller and radio functions. There are few chips for the controller, and all except one are of a proprietary-to-Microsoft nature. The mixed-signal microcontroller and the RF radio transceiver are both made by National Semiconductor and both score points for exceptional design. One of the inexpensive circuit boards holds the motion-activated switches of the strum bar, one supports flash-plated contacts for the Star and Back buttons, one has the Connect button and RJ-11 telephone jack connector, and the fourth has a jack for an optional headset connector. The newest addition to the game is the Xbox 360 Guitar Hero III Les Paul wireless controller, made by RedOctane.

Companies:
Activision Inc Microsoft Corp
National Semiconductor Corp

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