Variable-conductance sensor

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.

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.

A method of manufacturing a pressure-sensitive analog variable-conductance sensor with tactile feedback, comprising the steps of:

• 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.

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.

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.