Analog sensor(s) with snap-through tactile feedback

• US 6,563,415 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• 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:
  US09/955,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 338/43, 338/46, 338/2, 338/5, 338/4, 338/47, 338/92, 338/99, 338/112, 338/114
• US Class Current: 338/47
• 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

An analog sensor depressible by a single human finger/thumb. Depressive force is applied to a dome-cap and to analog materials for varying an analog output of the sensor responsive to varying force applied by a single finger or thumb. Depressive force causes the dome-cap to bow downward passing through a user discernable threshold, causing a snap-through tactile sensation. In some embodiments the dome-cap is metallic.

Claims

1. A pressure-sensitive variable-conductance analog sensor with tactile feedback actuatable by a single human finger, comprising;

a housing;

electrically highly conductive elements at least in-part within said housing;

a depressible actuator retained by said housing and in-part exposed external to said housing for depression by a single human finger;

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 snap-through tactile feedback detectable by the finger depressing the actuator; and

pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material positioned within said housing, said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material electrically positioned as a variably conductive element between said highly conductive elements, said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material further positioned for receiving force applied to said dome-cap.

2. A pressure-sensitive variable-conductance analog sensor with tactile feedback in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material is variable in terms of electrical resistivity, the electrical resistivity lowering with increasing force applied to said depressible actuator.

3. A pressure-sensitive variable-conductance analog sensor with tactile feedback in accordance with claim 2 wherein said housing is formed of plastic and said dome-cap is metallic.

4. An improved analog sensor actuated by a single human finger, the sensor providing a variable output used for controlling an electronic game;

wherein the improvement comprises;

snap-through structuring for providing a snap-through tactile feedback to the finger.

5. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said analog sensor is a pressure-sensitive analog sensor and said single human finger is a single human thumb.

6. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 5 wherein said snap-through structuring includes a metallic dome-cap.

7. An improved momentary-On snap-through switch of the type having a housing;

a resilient snap-through tactile feedback dome-cap positioned within said housing;

a depressible actuator retained by said housing and in-part exposed external to said housing for being depressed by a single human finger;

wherein the improvement comprises;

analog structuring within said housing for creating a variable electrical output representational of variable depression of said actuator.

8. An improved momentary-on snap-through switch in accordance with claim 7 wherein said electrical output is variable in terms of electrical resistivity, the electrical resistivity lowering with increasing depression of said actuator.

9. An improved analog sensor of the type having at least two highly conductive electrical elements operationally connected to pressure-sensitive analog structure;

a depressible actuator in-part exposed to be depressible toward said pressure-sensitive analog structure for supplying an analog electrical output according to depression of said actuator;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a resilient snap-through dome-cap positioned to provide tactile feedback through said actuator to a human user'"'"'s thumb depressing said actuator.

10. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 9 wherein said snap-through dome-cap is metallic.

11. An improved pressure-sensitive analog sensor providing an electrically varying output, said varying output used for controlling an electronic game, the varying output representational of varying depressive input by a single human thumb,

wherein the improvement comprises:

a depressible resilient snap-through tactile element, upon depression said tactile element creates a tactile feedback detectable by the single thumb.

12. An improved pressure-sensitive analog sensor according to claim 11 wherein said snap-through tactile element is metallic.

13. An analog sensor, comprising;

means for varying electrical resistance for providing a varying output representational of varying depressive input by a single human finger; and

a depressible resilient snap-through tactile element, when depressed said tactile element creating a tactile feedback detectable by the single finger.

14. An analog sensor according to claim 13 wherein said analog sensor is a pressure-sensitive analog sensor.

15. An analog sensor according to claim 14 further including an actuator positioned between the single human finger and said tactile element, and said tactile element is a dome-cap.

16. An analog sensor according to claim 15 wherein said dome-cap is metallic.

17. An analog sensor, comprising:

an actuator moveable by only a single human finger;

responsive to movement of said actuator is

first means for varying electrical resistance and providing a varying electrical output of said sensor; and

responsive to movement of said actuator is

second means for providing a snap-through threshold tactile feedback detectable upon deactivation of said first means, said snap-through tactile feedback detectable by the single human finger.

18. An analog sensor according to claim 17 wherein said second means comprises a dome-cap structure, and another snap-through threshold tactile feedback is discernable upon activation of said first means.

19. An analog sensor according to claim 18 wherein said dome-cap is metallic.

20. An improved analog sensor of a type actuated by a single human finger, the sensor providing an analog variable electrical output used for controlling an electronic game;

wherein the improvement comprises;

means for providing a user discernable snap-through threshold tactile feedback to the finger, said user discernable snap-through threshold tactile feedback is provided on deactuation of the variable electrical output used for controlling the electronic game.

21. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 20 wherein another user discernable snap-through threshold tactile feedback is provided on actuation of the variable electrical output used for controlling the electronic game.

22. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 21 wherein said means includes a metallic dome-cap.

23. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 21 wherein said analog sensor is a pressure-sensitive analog sensor, and the single human finger is a single human thumb.

24. An improved analog sensor in accordance with claim 23 wherein said means includes a non-metallic dome-cap.