Short answers, pulled from the story.
Development of a motion-enabled controller began when development of the Wii console started in 2001. Nintendo licensed motion-sensing patents from Gyration Inc. that same year to create the one-handed controller.
The Wii Remote uses Analog Devices MEMS-based three-dimensional accelerometers to sense acceleration along three axes. It also employs a PixArt optical sensor to determine where it is pointing by detecting light from the Sensor Bar.
The Nunchuk connects to the Wii Remote via a cord that measures between 1 meter and 1.2 meters or 3.5 feet to 4 feet in length. This accessory was first revealed at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show as model number RVL-004.
Nintendo replaced the original 3/4 inch diameter strap with a larger 7/8 inch version because reports indicated the strap tended to break under heavy use. The replacement program began on the 8th of December 2006, and a new lock clip design became standard on the 3rd of August 2007.
A jury trial heard in August 2017 ruled in favor of iLife Technologies, forcing Nintendo to pay $144 million in damages. The United States Court of Appeals upheld this decision in December 2017 after Nintendo attempted an appeal.