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.

A low-cost pad pointing device with improved performance, reliability and durability, that can be used as a cursor pointing device for computers, remote controls, web TV, TV guide browsers, video games, consumer electronics, industrial controllers, medical, automotive and other applications. A protruding plus shaped segment can be deflected to positions on an electrical medium that results in the generation of a speed and direction signal to be interpreted by low cost available circuitry including microcontrollers.

A method of providing a variable resistance from a resistive member including a resistive resilient material comprises electrically coupling a first conductor with the resistive member at a first contact location over a first contact area; and electrically coupling a second conductor with the resistive member at a movable second contact location over a second contact area. The second contact location is movable relative to the resistive member to change the second contact location between the second conductor and the resistive member, the first contact location and the movable second contact location being spaced from one another by a distance. The method further comprises changing at least one of the first location, the second location, the first contact area, and the second contact area to produce a change in resistance in the resistive member, measured between the first conductor at the first contact location and the second conductor at the second contact location, as the resistive member deforms along the second conductor.

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.

A variable resistance device comprises a resistive member having a resistive rubber material. A first conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistive member at a first contact location over a first contact area. A second conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistance member at a second contact location over a second contact area. The first contact location and second contact location are spaced from one another by a distance. The resistance between the first conductor at the first contact location and the second conductor at the second contact location is equal to the sum of a straight resistance component and a parallel path resistance component. At least one of the first location, the second location, the first contact area, and the second contact area is changed to produce a change in resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor. The straight resistance component increases or decreases as the distance between the first contact location and the second contact location increases or decrease, respectively. The parallel path resistance component has preset desired characteristics based on selected first and second contact locations and selected first and second contact areas. The first and second contact locations and first and second contact areas can be selected such that the change in the resistance between the first and second contact locations is at least substantially equal to the change in the straight resistance component or the change in the parallel path resistance component.