Abstract: An analogue navigation device comprising a transmitter for generating a light signal, a receiver for receiving the light signal, a light guide having a surface for internally reflecting the light signal from the transmitter to the receiver, and an actuator having a surface, said actuator surface having at least a portion which is movable between a first position in which it is spaced apart from a portion of said light guide surface with a gas or fluid therebetween. and a second position in which it is in contact with said portion of said light guide surface, said portion of said light guide surface having a higher refractive index than said portion of said actuator surface and said portion of said actuator surface having a different refractive index than said gas or fluid, whereby in use the relative refractive index is changed at the contacted portion of the light guide surface thereby altering the light signal received by the receiver, said received signal being used to control the position of an element.

Abstract: A portable radiotelephone device is provided that includes a body having provided on one or more exposed surface thereof one or more electrical contacts for one or more respective electrical input/output devices. The electrical contacts are covered with one or more layers of electro-resistive material. The electro-resistive material in the relaxed condition being an electrical insulator and in the stressed state being an electrical conductor. The arrangement is such that to effect electrical connection between any of the one or more electrical contacts with respective one or more electrical input/output devices, respective contacts and input/output devices are mutually engaged so as to load the elasto-resistive material under compression.

Abstract: A joystick controller for a portable radio communication device in which a ring of elasto-resistive material which when relaxed acts as an insulator, and when stressed acts as a conductor is positioned below the joystick lever of the controller and above four pairs of contact pads arranged in a circle, and the elasto-resistive material is used to transduce the movement of the joystick lever so as to provide an electrical signal output indicative of the amount of movement of the joystick lever.

Abstract: A control device for electronic apparatus, such as a mobile telephone handset, comprises a keymat (15) having a navigation key (19) with a magnet (22) mounted so as to move with the key. A user may change the attitude of the key by tilting or deforming the key and at least one magnetic field sensor (26a, 26c) detects the attitude of the key. This may be used to control a pointer displayed on a screen.

Abstract: A control device (1) comprises a control member (4) for manipulation by a user, a strain sensor (5) to detect force applied to the control member by the user and resilient member (7) to permit movement of the control member and provide feedback to the user.

Abstract: A closure assembly, such as a filter cap for a vehicle's fuel tank, comprises a first member formed with a circumferentially arranged series of ratchet teeth, and a second member associated with a pair of pawls, the pawls being continuously urged linearly apart from one another by spring means located between their adjacent ends so that their ends remote from the spring means, which remote ends may each be formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth, are continuously urged into gaps defined between the ratchet teeth formed upon the first member, whereby application of torque to the second member in one rotary sense is initially transmitted by means of the pawls so as to rotate the first member in conjunction therewith until the torque exceeds a predetermined level, whereupon the pawls ride over the ratchet teeth formed upon the first member and the second member is rotated relative to the first member, whereas application of torque to the second member in the opposite rotary sense is always transmitted by means