Build a USB-to-Nuon Controller Adapter

What Is This?

USB2Nuon lets you use any modern USB controller on a Nuon DVD player — the multimedia game console hidden inside select Samsung, Toshiba, and Motorola DVD players. It also turns a USB mouse into a spinner for the best Tempest 3000 experience.

Why would you want this?

• Use modern controllers on Nuon — original Nuon controllers are extremely rare and expensive
• USB mouse as spinner — play Tempest 3000 with precise spinner control via mouse X-axis
• In-Game Reset (IGR) — reset or power off your Nuon without getting up (L1+R1+Start+Select combo)
• Full button mapping — A, B, Start, Nuon, C-pad, L, R all mapped

The Nuon uses a unique bidirectional serial protocol called Polyface. The adapter emulates a Nuon controller using PIO state machines for precise timing.

Parts List

Total: ~$25–40

Or buy pre-built: NUON USB Adapter at controlleradapter.com

Getting a Nuon Connector

Nuon controller connectors are not standard parts you can buy off the shelf. Options:

• Salvage from a Nuon controller — cut the cable from a broken/donor Nuon controller
• Custom wire directly — solder wires to the Nuon player's controller port pins
• 3D print a connector — community-designed connector shells exist
• Buy the pre-built adapter — controlleradapter.com includes the connector

Step 1: Identify the Nuon Controller Port Pins

The Nuon uses a proprietary "Polyface" connector with a bidirectional serial data line and a clock line.

The key signals you need:

Step 2: Wire the Nuon Connection

KB2040 → Nuon Controller Port

Important: DATA and CLK must be on consecutive GPIO pins (GPIO 2 and GPIO 3) — the PIO state machine requires them as a consecutive input group.

In-Game Reset (IGR) Wiring

The IGR feature uses GPIO 4 (Stop) and GPIO 11 (Power) to trigger the Nuon player's internal buttons. These pins pulse low to simulate pressing the physical Stop and Power buttons on the DVD player:

• Tap L1+R1+Start+Select (release before 2 seconds) → triggers Stop (returns to DVD menu)
• Hold L1+R1+Start+Select (2+ seconds) → triggers Power (powers off the player)

Step 3: Wire the USB Host Port

KB2040 → USB-A Host

Wiring Tips

• ⚠️ D+ and D- are the #1 mistake — if your USB controller isn't detected, these are swapped
• Keep USB wires under 15cm (6 inches)
• No USB hubs — PIO-USB only supports direct controller connections
• For spinner mode, plug a USB mouse in instead of a gamepad

Step 4: Flash the Firmware

Download the UF2

Go to github.com/joypad-ai/joypad-os/releases and download:

Enter Bootloader Mode

1. Disconnect the board from everything
2. Hold BOOT on the KB2040
3. While holding, plug the USB-C cable into your computer
4. Release BOOT
5. RPI-RP2 drive appears

Flash

1. Drag and drop the .uf2 file onto the RPI-RP2 drive
2. Drive auto-ejects — firmware is flashed
3. Done!

Step 5: Test It

On the Nuon Player

1. Power off the Nuon DVD player
2. Connect the adapter to the controller port
3. Plug a USB controller (or USB mouse for Tempest 3000) into the USB-A port
4. Power on the Nuon player
5. Insert a Nuon game disc and test

LED Status

• 🔴 Red breathing = no controller connected
• 🔴 Solid red = controller connected (Player 1)

Button Mapping

Standard Controller

Spinner Mode (USB Mouse)

For Tempest 3000 — plug in a USB mouse instead of a gamepad:

Tips for best spinner experience:

• Use an optical mouse (not ball mouse)
• Lower DPI settings may feel more natural
• Some gaming mice have on-the-fly DPI adjustment

In-Game Reset (IGR)

Compatible Nuon Players

• Samsung DVD-N501
• Samsung DVD-N504 / N505
• Toshiba SD-2300
• Motorola Streamaster 5000
• RCA DRC300N / DRC480N

Compatible Games

Standard Controller

• Iron Soldier 3
• Ballistic
• Space Invaders XL
• Merlin Racing
• Freefall 3050 A.D.
• The Next Tetris

Spinner (USB Mouse)

• Tempest 3000 — the premier spinner experience
• VLM-2 (audio visualizer)

Troubleshooting

Nuon Player Doesn't Detect the Adapter

• Check DATA (GPIO 2) and CLK (GPIO 3) connections
• Verify 5V and GND from the Nuon controller port
• Some Nuon players may have voltage differences (3.3V vs 5V) — check your specific model
• Try reseating the connector

Controller Not Detected (USB Side)

• D+ and D- swapped — GPIO 16 → D+, GPIO 17 → D-
• Try a different controller

Spinner Too Sensitive or Too Slow

• Adjust your mouse DPI settings (lower = slower rotation)
• The NUON_SPINNER_SCALE can be modified in firmware for fine-tuning
• Try a different USB mouse

IGR Not Working

• Hold all four buttons (L1+R1+Start+Select) simultaneously
• Tap for Stop, hold 2+ seconds for Power
• IGR requires additional wiring to the Nuon player's internal button pads — see Step 2

Buttons Not Responding in Games

• Different Nuon games expect different button configurations
• The C-pad buttons (C-Up, C-Down, C-Left, C-Right) are mapped to L2, Circle, Triangle, and R2

What's Next?

• USB23DO Guide — USB controller on 3DO
• USB2DC Guide — USB controller on Dreamcast
• USB2GC Guide — USB controller on GameCube
• USB2USB Guide — Simpler build for USB-to-USB
• Community Discord — Share your build, get help

Estimated build time: 60–120 minutes (includes soldering; connector sourcing may take longer). Difficulty: Hard.