Variable-conductance sensor
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A pressure-sensitive variable-conductance analog sensor with tactile feedback, comprising;
- a housing;
at least two conductive elements fixed to said housing and in-part within said housing;
a depressible actuator retained by said housing and in-part exposed external to said housing;
a resilient snap-through dome-cap positioned within said housing and depressible with force from said actuator applied to said dome-cap to cause said dome-cap to snap-through and create a tactile feedback;
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material within said housing and positioned as a variably conductive element electrically between said two conductive elements, and further positioned for receiving force applied to said dome-cap, whereby electrical conductivity of said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material is altered relative to received force and electrical output of said sensor is variable.
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Abstract
A sensor having a housing; two highly conductive elements fixed in-part within the housing and in-part exposed external of the housing; the conductive elements separated from one another within the housing in a normally open arrangement. A resilient dome-cap is positioned within the housing, and in some embodiments is conductive and in constant contact with one of the conductive elements, and in other embodiments the dome-cap need not be conductive. A depressible actuator is movably retained by the housing with a portion thereof external of the housing to be accessible for depressive force to be applied thereto by a mechanical device or human finger/thumb. The actuator also includes a portion positioned to allow depressive force applied thereto to be applied to the dome-cap. Pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material is contained within the housing and electrically positioned as a variably conductive element in a current flow path between the two conductive elements. Depression of the actuator causes the dome-cap to bow downward, causing a user discernable tactile sensation indicating actuation of the sensor, and transferring force through the dome-cap into the pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material for providing variable electrical flow between the two conductive elements dependant upon the applied pressure. The resilient dome-cap returns to a raised position and the flow path is again rendered open when the actuator is no longer depressed. Methods of manufacturing the variable electrical output tactile-feedback sensor are also disclosed.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A pressure-sensitive variable-conductance analog sensor with tactile feedback, comprising;
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a housing; at least two conductive elements fixed to said housing and in-part within said housing; a depressible actuator retained by said housing and in-part exposed external to said housing; a resilient snap-through dome-cap positioned within said housing and depressible with force from said actuator applied to said dome-cap to cause said dome-cap to snap-through and create a tactile feedback; pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material within said housing and positioned as a variably conductive element electrically between said two conductive elements, and further positioned for receiving force applied to said dome-cap, whereby electrical conductivity of said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material is altered relative to received force and electrical output of said sensor is variable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An improved pressure-sensitive variable-conductance analog sensor of the type having at least two electrically conductive elements operationally connected to pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material;
- a depressible actuator retained relative to said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material;
said actuator depressible toward said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material for transferring force into said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material;wherein the improvement comprises; a resilient snap-through dome-cap positioned to provide tactile feedback to a user upon actuation of said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- a depressible actuator retained relative to said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material;
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7. An improved momentary-On snap-through switch package of the type having a housing;
- at least two conductive elements fixed to said housing and in-part within said housing and at least in-part exposed external of said housing;
a resilient snap-through dome-cap positioned within said housing;
a depressible actuator retained by said housing and in-part exposed external to said housing;
said actuator depressible for depressing said dome-cap and creating a highly conductive electrical path between said two conductive elements;wherein the improvement comprises; pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance material within said housing and positioned for creating a variably conductive electrical path between said two conductive elements upon variable depression of said dome-cap. - View Dependent Claims (8)
- at least two conductive elements fixed to said housing and in-part within said housing and at least in-part exposed external of said housing;
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9. A method of manufacturing a pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance sensor with tactile feedback, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming two conductive elements; b) forming a housing engaging said two conductive elements, and leaving a portion of said two conductive elements exposed external of said housing; c) installing pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance material positioned as a variably conductive element electrically between said two conductive elements; d) installing a resilient tactile feedback dome-cap positioned within said housing and operationally associated with said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material; e) installing an actuator in-part within said housing and in-part exposed external of said housing and positioned for transferring externally applied force onto said actuator through said dome-cap and onto said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material.
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10. An improved method of manufacturing a sensor of the type comprising the steps of:
- forming two conductive elements;
forming a housing engaging said two conductive elements, and leaving a portion of said two conductive elements exposed external of said housing;
installing an actuator in-part within said housing and in-part exposed external of said housing;
installing a resilient snap-through dome-cap positioned within said housing;wherein the improvement comprises the step of; installing pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance material positioned as a variably conductive element electrically between said two conductive elements.
- forming two conductive elements;
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11. An improved method of manufacturing a pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance sensor, comprising the steps of:
- forming two conductive elements;
locating pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material positioned as a variably conductive element electrically between said two conductive elements;
positioning an actuator for transferring externally applied force onto said pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance material;wherein the improvement comprises the step of; positioning a resilient tactile feedback dome-cap operationally associated with said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material.
- forming two conductive elements;
Specification