Variable-conductance sensor with elastomeric dome-cap

An improved method for reading an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap sensor of the type wherein an active element is positioned within an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap which is positioned over a portion of an electronic circuit, said elastomeric injection molded dome-cap depressible for transferring force into said active element, said active element when under force electrically contacting conductive elements of said electronic circuit, said electronic circuit structured for reading said active element as being in any one of two readable states;

• wherein the improvement comprises the step:
• structuring said electronic circuitry for reading said active element as being in any one of at least three readable states.

An improved method for storing a read state of an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap sensor of the type wherein an active element is positioned within an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap which is positioned over a portion of an electronic circuit, said elastomeric injection molded dome-cap depressible for transferring force into said active element, said active element when under force electrically contacting conductive elements of said electronic circuit, said electronic circuit structured for reading the active element as being in any one of a plurality of states, and storing a read state as digital information, said storing of the read state requiring one digital bit;

• wherein the improvement comprises the step:
• storing, as digital information, a read state of said active element, said storing of the read state requiring at least two digital bits.

An improved method of depressing an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap sensor of the sensor type wherein an active element is positioned within an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap which is positioned over a portion of an electronic circuit, said elastomeric injection molded dome-cap depressible for transferring force into said active element, said active element when under force electrically contacting conductive elements of said electronic circuit, said electronic circuit structured for outputting information representing states of said active element;

• wherein the improvement comprises the step of:
• depressing said elastomeric injection molded dome-cap sensor with varying force causing said electronic circuit to output information representing at least three states representative of the varying force.

An improved analog sensing circuit of the type including a user manipulable variable-conductance sensor and circuitry for reading said sensor;

• wherein the improvement comprises:
• the variable-conductance sensor is an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap positioned over a pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material.

An improved electrical circuit of the type having circuitry for reading states of an active element within an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap;

• wherein the improvement comprises:
• the electrical circuit structured for reading any one of at least three readable states of said active element.

An improved method for outputting a read state of an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap sensor of the type wherein an active element is positioned within an elastomeric injection molded dome-cap which is positioned over a portion of an electronic circuit, said elastomeric injection molded dome-cap depressible for transferring force into said active element, said active element when under force electrically contacting conductive elements of said electronic circuit, said electronic circuit structured for reading said active element as being in any one of a plurality of readable states, and outputting a read state as digital information, said outputting requiring at least one digital bit;

• wherein the improvement comprises:
• outputting from electronic circuitry, as digital information, a read state of said active element, said outputting of said read state requiring at least two digital bits.