[moolcool]

It's a valid distinction of the author to make. I don't know if there's such thing as a cigarette lighter which uses digital circuitry, but there theoretically could be.

The way the lighter in the article works is both analog _and_ electro-mechanical.

[gwbas1c]

No, go look at the definition:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/analog

> of or relating to a mechanism, device, or technology that represents data by measurement of a continuous physical variable, as voltage or pressure.

[moolcool]

"represents data by measurement of a continuous physical variable"

Did you read the article? The cigarette lighter represents data (pops out) based on measurement of a continuous variable (temperature)

[gwbas1c]

Yes. The latch is a bi-metallic strip that moves.

There is nothing representing the temperature. IE, to meet the definition of analog it would need something like a thermometer resistor where the resistance is used by some electronics to turn off the main heater.

[moolcool]

The pressure provided by the bi-metalic strip is representing the temperature, and it's turning off the main heater by causing the unit to pop out. The "signal" doesn't have to be voltage, it can be pressure or spacial position as well.