After Hours

PlayStation Move motion controller teardown

By · September 24, 2010, 8:59 AM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Cracking Open the PlayStation Move motion controller

    In September 2010, Sony released the PlayStation Move motion and navigation controllers--hoping to duplicate Nintendo's success with the Wii's motion control Remote. But unlike the "Wiimote," the PlayStation Move controller works in conjunction with the PlayStation Eye camera, which tracks the movement of the controller's large, LED-lit ball. Another difference is the PlayStation Move motion controller's rechargeable Li-ion battery, compared to the Wii remote's two AAs.

    The PlayStation Move motion controller is very easy to disassemble. All you need it a Phillips #0 screwdriver. Unfortunately, most of the internal components are soldered to the controller's main PCB. With the exception of the battery, the PlayStation Move motion controller doesn't have many user-serviceable parts.

    Check out our Cracking Open gallery of the PlayStation Move navigation controller.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Box - Front

    The PlayStation Move Starter Bundle comes with one PlayStation Move controller, the PlayStation Eye camera (required to use the controller), and a copy of Sports Champions. The bundle retails for about $100 (US).

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Box - Back

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Box contents

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • PlayStation Eye camera

    The PlayStation Eye camera tracks the PlayStation Move's motion by watching the controller's large, LED-lit ball. The ball will change colors if clothing or other colors in background cause the camera to have difficulty detecting the controller.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Front view

    The PlayStation Move motion controller replicates most of the DualShock 3's button, except the except L and R buttons.

    On top of the controller, you'll find the square, x, triangle, and circle buttons along with the Move button, PS button, and status indicator light.

    Like Nintendo's Wii Remote, the Move motion controller has a wrist strap.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Left side

    Along the left side is the Select button.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Right side

    Along the right side is the Start button.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Rear view

    Replaces the L and R buttons is the T (trigger) button on the bottom of the Move motion controller.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Bottom

    The USB connector and extension connector are located on the bottom of the PlayStation Move motion controller.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the four external Phillips #0 screws

    The PlayStation Move motion controller's case is held in place by four Phillips #0 screws.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Phillips #0 screws

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • First look inside

    With the screws removed, the bottom half of the PlayStation Move motion controller's case should come loose. A thing ribbon cable connects the T button (trigger) to the main PCB. You'll need to gently pull the cable out of the PCB connector to completely separate the two case halves.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Two halves of the case

    With the bottom half of the case removed, we get our first good look inside the PlayStation Move motion controller. The large Li-ion battery covers much of the main PCB.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Bottom half of case

    The T button (trigger), Select button, and Start button assembly is attached to the bottom half of the PlayStation Move motion controller's case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the trigger, Select, and Start buttons

    Five Phillips #0 screws hold the button assembly to the bottom half of the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Trigger, Select, and Start buttons



    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • T button (trigger) assembly - Side

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • T button (trigger) assembly - Top

    The screws and ribbon cable make the PlayStation Move controller's T button (trigger) an easily-replaceable part.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cast top half

    To remove the main PCB from the top half of the PlayStation Move motion controller's case, we'll need to remove four Phillips #0 screws.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Li-ion battery hides first screw

    The first screw hold the main PCB in place is under the PlayStation Move controller's Li-ion battery.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Battery and vibration motor

    You should be able to gently pull the Li-ion battery and vibration motor away from the plastic housings without damaging the wires that connected them to the main PCB.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the first PCB screw

    This Phillips #0 screw holds the main PCB and this plastic housing in place.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • More screws

    There are four screws that hold the main PCB in place. Luckily, all the PlayStation Move motion controller's screws are the same size.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Internal components

    With the four internal Phillips #0 screws removed, the PlayStation Move controller's internal components should easily separate from the top half of the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Top half of the case

    Take care when handling the top half of the PlayStation Move controller's case as the buttons are likely to fall out.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Top half of the case and buttons

    With the internal components removed, the buttons on the top half of the PlayStation Move motion controller should fall out of the case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Sphere

    The PlayStation Move motion controller's rubberized, translucent sphere is connected to the case with black plastic ring.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Sphere's LED hole

    The sphere is lit with an LED that can generate a variety of colors.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Main PCB, battery, vibration motor, and other internal components

    The battery, vibration motor, USB and extension connectors, plastic housing, and LED are still attached to the main PCB.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Main PCB with rubber button cushion

    A white rubber cushion sits near the top of the front of the main PCB--beneath the PlayStation Move motion controller's main buttons.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Top button cushion

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the battery and vibration motor housing

    The PlayStation Move motion controller's battery and vibration motor sit in a plastic housing. It is held to the main PCB with several tabs. You should be able to gently pry them away from the PCB and remove the housing.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Internal plastic housing

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the Li-ion battery

    The PlayStation Move motion controller's Li-ion battery is attached to the main PCB with a connector.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Li-ion battery

    The PlayStation Move motion controller uses a rechargeable 3.7V 1380mAh (5.1Wh) battery.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the Extension connector PCB

    The PlayStation Move motion controller's Extension connector is located on a small PCB that attached to the main PCB via a ribbon cable and black plastic tabs.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Extension connector PCB

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Case end cap

    Two screws hold a small PCB to the case end cap. This PCB contains the PlayStation Move motion controller's charging contacts. The small PCB's wires are soldered to the main PCB.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the case end cap

    With the two screws removed, the charging contact PCB should come loose from the case end cap.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Main PCB - Bottom

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Main PCB - Top

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • LED, lens, and housing

    The light assembly is composed of the LED (attached to the main PCB via a soldered ribbon cable), lens, and housing. The housing has metal insert that could help dissipate heat generated by the LED.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Charging contact housing

    A small plastic housing is attached to the charging contacts PCB.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Main PCB - Bottom

    Unfortunately, the remaining internal components (LED and vibration motor) are soldered to the main PCB.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Main PCB - Top

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Kionix accelerometer and other chips

    In this photo, you can see the Kionix KXSC4-XLU accelerometer and other chips.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Microcontroller

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • ST Microelectronics ARM-based MCU

    The PlayStation Move motion controller has a ST Microelectronics ARM-based 32-bit MCU (STM32F103VBT6). According to product documentation, the chip has 128 KB Flash, USB, CAN, seven timers, two ADCs, and nine communication interfaces.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Bluetooth transmitter

    Under this metal shield is the Bluetooth transmitter. To the left of the shield is the AKM 8974 electronic compass.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Completely disassembled

    Of the gadgets I've cracked open recently, the PlayStation Move motion controller was definitely one of the easiest to disassemble. As none of the parts were damaged in the process, I should be able to reassemble it in perfect working condition.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the PlayStation Move motion controller

In September 2010, Sony released the PlayStation Move motion and navigation controllers--hoping to duplicate Nintendo's success with the Wii's motion control Remote. But unlike the "Wiimote," the PlayStation Move controller works in conjunction with the PlayStation Eye camera, which tracks the movement of the controller's large, LED-lit ball. Another difference is the PlayStation Move motion controller's rechargeable Li-ion battery, compared to the Wii remote's two AAs.

The PlayStation Move motion controller is very easy to disassemble. All you need it a Phillips #0 screwdriver. Unfortunately, most of the internal components are soldered to the controller's main PCB. With the exception of the battery, the PlayStation Move motion controller doesn't have many user-serviceable parts.

Check out our Cracking Open gallery of the PlayStation Move navigation controller.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Related Topics:
After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & Work

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the ...

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