Analog Devices ( www.analog.com ), a global leader in signal processing data converters and high-performance semiconductors and a leader in the global data converter market, announced today that National Instruments (NI) has adopted Analog Devices' data converters for its innovative user interface technology that allows systems to be controlled using only eye movements.

NI's new user interface technology, utilizing ADI's AD7401 isolated ADC and AD8221 precision instrumentation amplifier, is a next-generation video game system characterized by control using eye movements, moving away from existing game systems that control video games through hand, wrist, and body movements.

This video game system integrates ADI’s AD7401 isolated ADC, a real-time processor, a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) capable of reconfiguring eye signals, and analog and digital I/O onto a single daughter board programmed via NI LabVIEW software. Additionally, to measure eye movements, four electrodes are placed around the player’s eyes and a final reference electrode is positioned below the ears. The electrodes measure the minute electrical signals generated by the eyes as the player moves their eyes up/down or left/right in response to the movement of the game character displayed on the screen. The differential signals between the electrodes are then amplified via ADI’s AD8221 precision instrumentation amplifier and converted into digital commands for processing using ADI’s data converter. A detailed explanation of the signal chain can be found in the video. (Watch Video)

Hunter Smith, an application engineer and member of National Instruments’ Waterloo Labs engineering team, stated, “The core component of this new dimension of video game system is ADI’s data converter,” adding, “We will continue to develop new applications and products in the future.