Variable-conductance sensor

• US 6,351,205 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Brad A. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Easthom, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/455,821
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 338/2, 338/5, 338/47, 338/92, 338/93, 338/96, 338/99, 338/112, 338/114, 738/626.29, 738/626.37, 250/406, 250/511, 250/516, 296/13, 296/211, 296/22
• US Class Current: 338/114
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/106 on resistive material dispersed in an elastic material H01C10/103 and H01C10/12 take precedence; for electric switches H01H1/029
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/48 using buckling of disc springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 Bell crank

Abstract

A method of using an analog sensor variably depressed by only a single human finger to variably control an electronic game, the method including the steps: a) depressing, with the human finger, the analog sensor with varying pressure for variably controlling the electronic game; and b) receiving, through the finger, a user discernible snap-through tactile feedback. Additionally, a second depressing may be applied substantially because of the receiving of the feedback.

Claims

1. A method of controlling variable output of a variable output sensor, comprising

pressing an actuator with force, using only a single human thumb, to receive a first Snap-through tactile feedback to the thumb pressing the actuator,

then,

varying the pressing force for varying the output of the sensor,

followed by

reducing the pressing force until a second snap-through tactile feedback is received by the thumb.

2. A method of controlling variable output of a variable output sensor according to claim 1 further including

increasing the pressing force because of receiving said second snap-through tactile feedback, to receive a third snap-through tactile feedback and to vary the output of the sensor with varying force.

3. A method of controlling a variable output sensor, comprising

pressing an actuator with force, using a thumb or a finger, to receive a first snap-through tactile feedback to the thumb or finger pressing the actuator, and using the first snap-through tactile feedback as indication of output of the sensor beginning to be varied,

then,

increasing the pressing force for further varying the output of the sensor,

followed by

reducing the pressing force until a second snap-through tactile feedback is received by the thumb or finger pressing the actuator, and using the second snap-through tactile feedback as an indication of the output of the sensor no longer being varied.

4. A method according to claim 3 further including receiving of said second snap-through tactile feedback and using said second snap-through tactile feedback as indication the sensor is no longer being varied and acting by increasing the pressing force to receive another tactile feedback and again vary the output of the sensor.

5. A method of using an analog sensor variably depressed by a human finger to variably control an electronic gate, said method including the steps:

a) depressing said analog sensor with varying pressure;

b) receiving a user discernible snap-through tactile feedback.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said depressing includes depressing harder to make a firing rate faster.

7. A method of using an analog sensor for controlling a host device showing an electronic game, said method including the steps:

a) pressing, with a human finger, a button associated with the analog sensor;

b) receiving, through said finger, a snap threshold tactile feedback.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said threshold tactile feedback is a snap-through threshold tactile feedback.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said pressing includes pressing harder to make a firing rate faster.