Exhibit 10.2

EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Michael Thoben

Interlink Electronics, Inc.,

This Employment and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of
this 28th day of September, 2007, by and between E. Michael Thoben III
(“Officer”) and Interlink Electronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”).

RECITALS

A. Officer is currently a member of senior management of the Company, serving in
the capacity of Chief Executive Officer and President.

B. The Company would like to continue to retain the service of Officer through
the Transition Period as such term is defined in that certain Transition Letter
Agreement dated September 28, 2007, a copy of which is attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full.

B. The Company desires to provide certain protection to Officer in the event of
termination of Officer’s employment, other than for “cause”, as defined herein,
in order to induce Executive to remain in the employ of the Company.

C. The Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and vital
management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interest of the
Company and its stockholders. In this connection, the Company recognizes that,
as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change
in control may exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and
questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or
distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its
stockholders. Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”)
has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage
the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management to
their assigned duties without distraction in circumstances arising from the
possibility of a change in control of the Company. This Agreement is designed to
serve this function, as well as to provide added protections to Officer in the
event of termination under the circumstances described below.

D. This Agreement, the form of which has been approved by the Board, sets forth
the severance benefits which the Company agrees will be provided to Officer in
the event Officer’s employment with the Company is terminated under the
circumstances described below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the
parties hereby agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings for
purposes of this Agreement:

(i) “Capped Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.

(ii) “Cause” shall mean

(A) the willful and continued failure by Officer substantially to perform
Officer’s reasonably assigned duties with the Company consistent with those
duties assigned to Officer, other than a failure resulting from Officer’s
incapacity due to physical or mental illness, after a written demand for
performance has been delivered to Officer by the Board which specifically
identifies the manner in which the Board believes that Officer has not
substantially performed Officer’s duties and which is not or cannot be cured
within ninety (90) days after written demand;

(B) the conviction of guilty or entering of a nolo contendere plea to a felony,
which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company; or

(C) the commission of an act by Officer, or the failure by Officer to act, which
constitutes gross negligence or gross misconduct and which is not or cannot be
cured within sixty (60) days after written notice from the Board.

For purposes of this Section 1(ii), no act, or failure to act, on Officer’s part
shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted, by Officer in bad faith.
Any act, or failure to act, expressly authorized by a resolution duly adopted by
the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be
conclusively presumed to be done, or be an omission, by Officer in good faith.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer shall not be deemed to have been
terminated for Cause unless the Board shall have delivered to Officer a copy of
a resolution duly adopted by the Board finding, after reasonable notice to
Officer and an opportunity for Officer to be heard with respect to such matter,
that in the good faith opinion of the Board, Officer has engaged in the conduct
set forth above in (A), (B), or (C) of this Section 1(ii). Any such
determination by the Board shall be subject to de novo review in mediation or in
arbitration conducted pursuant to Section 16. The Company shall take all
reasonable steps to enable Officer to effect a cure as contemplated by this
Section 1(ii), provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to prevent the Company from taking reasonable steps to preserve
evidence and the chain of custody thereof and otherwise to take such actions as
the Company reasonably deems to be appropriate to comply with legal obligations
applicable to it or with the fiduciary obligations of its Board of Directors.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(iii) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following
events:

(A) any consolidation, merger, plan of share exchange, or other reorganization
involving the Company (a “Merger”) as a result of which the holders of
outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily having the right to vote for
the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) immediately prior to the Merger
do not continue to hold at least 50% of the combined voting power of the
outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving or continuing corporation
immediately after the Merger, disregarding any Voting Securities issued or
retained by such holders in respect of securities of any other party to the
Merger;

(B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series
of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, the assets of the
Company;

(C) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of
the Company;

(D) any Person (as defined below) shall have become the beneficial owner (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of directors representing
50% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock or combined voting power
of the then outstanding Voting Securities; or

(E) The appointment of a State court receiver or a Bankruptcy Trustee, or the
functional equivalent thereof

Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, unless otherwise
determined by the Board, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred
for purposes of this Agreement if (1) Officer acquires (other than on the same
basis as all other holders of the Company shares) an equity interest in an
entity that acquires the Company in a Change in Control otherwise described
under Section 1(ii)(A) or (B) above, or (2) Officer is part of group that
constitutes a Person which becomes a beneficial owner of Voting Securities in a
transaction that otherwise would have resulted in a Change in Control under
Section 1(ii) (D) above.

(iv) “Control Period” shall mean the period commencing on the occurrence of a
Potential Change in Control and ending on the earliest of (A) a date which is
270 days from the occurrence of such Potential Change in Control, (B) a
termination of Officer’s employment pursuant to which Officer becomes entitled
under this Agreement to receive Severance Benefits, or (C) termination of
activities leading to a Change in Control without the occurrence of a Change in
Control.

(v) “Date of Termination” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(vi) “Deemed Performance Amount” shall mean the sum of all cash compensation
paid or payable to Officer based on performance measures with respect to the
last complete calendar year.

(vii) “Disability” shall mean the absence of Officer from Officer’s duties with
the Company on a full time basis for 180 consecutive days as a result of
Officer’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, unless, within 30 days
after a Notice of Termination (as defined below) is given to Officer following
such absence, Officer shall have returned to the full performance of Officer’s
duties.

(viii) “Effective Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.

(ix) “Good Reason” shall mean:

(A) a diminution of Officer’s status, title, position(s), or responsibilities
from Officer’s status, title, position(s), and responsibilities as an employee,
or the assignment to Officer of any duties or responsibilities which are
inconsistent with such status, title, position(s), or responsibilities (in
either case other than isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent actions which are
remedied after notice), or any removal of Officer from such position(s), except
in connection with the termination of Officer’s employment for Cause, Disability
or as a result of Officer’s death or voluntarily by Officer other than for Good
Reason, and provided that, following acquisition of the Company or its business
by another entity, Officer’s status, title, position(s) or responsibilities
shall not be deemed diminished as a result of the fact that Officer reports to a
more senior officer of the acquiring company as long as Officer’s responsibility
involves the management of the Company’s business or former business or a
business of equivalent importance;

(B) a reduction by the Company in Officer’s rate of base salary, bonus or
incentive opportunity or a substantial reduction in benefits (other than
reductions that do not impact optionee’s compensation opportunity, taken as a
whole) of more than 10%;

(C) the Company’s requiring Officer to be based more than 50 miles from the
principal office at in which Officer is based, except for reasonably required
travel on the Company’s business; or

(D) the Company’s failure to obtain a consent requested by Officer pursuant to
Section 8(i) of; or

(E) The failure of the Company to obtain an agreement, satisfactory to the
Officer, from any successors and assigns to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement.

(x) “Notice of Termination” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(xi) “Potential Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following:

(A) the Company enters into an agreement or letter of intent, the approval of
which by the shareholders would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control
of the Company;

(B) any Person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take
or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in
Control of the Company; or

(C) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this
Agreement, a Potential Change in Control of the Company has occurred;

(xii) “Person” shall mean and include any individual, corporation, partnership,
group, association or other “person”, as such term is used in Section 14(d) of
the Exchange Act, other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any
employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by the Company.

(xiii) “Plan” shall mean any compensation plan such as an incentive, stock
option or restricted stock plan or any employee benefit plan such as a thrift,
pension, profit sharing, medical, disability, accident, life insurance, or
relocation plan or policy or any other plan, program or policy of the Company
intended to benefit employees.

(xiv) “Retirement” shall mean termination on or after Officer’s 65th birthday.

(xv) “Severance Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.

(xvi) “Specified Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.

(xvii) “Successor” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8(i).

2. Agreement to Provide Services; Right to Terminate; Compensation and Benefits.

(i) In the event of a Potential Change in Control, and thereafter during the
Control Period, Officer will not terminate his employment with the Company
(other than as a result of Disability, upon Retirement, for Good Reason and/or
the expiration of the Transition Period), and Company agrees not to terminate
Officer other than for Cause. During the Control Period, Officer will render the
services contemplated in the recitals to this Agreement.

(ii) During the Control Period, Officer shall continue to receive the same
compensation, including any bonus and/or stock options, and other Company
benefits under any plan or program as Officer currently is receiving as of the
Effective Date of this Agreement, in addition to any other rights or benefits
that he shall receive in accordance with this Agreement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Effective Date. The effective date of this Agreement is the date above
written (the “Effective Date”).

4. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and
shall continue in effect until the end of the Transition Period.

5. Notice of Termination; Effective Date of Termination. Any purported
termination by the Company or by Officer, other than termination of employment
upon the expiration of the Transition Period, shall be communicated by written
Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement,
a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Officer’s employment under the provision so indicated. The “Date
of Termination” shall mean (a) if Officer’s employment is to be terminated for
Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that Officer
shall not have returned to the performance of Officer’s duties on a full-time
basis during such 30 day period), (b) if Officer’s employment is to be
terminated by the Company for Cause, the date on which a Notice of Termination
is given, (c) if Officer’s employment is terminated upon the expiration of the
Transition Period, the actual date of expiration, and (d) if Officer’s
employment is to be terminated by Officer or by the Company for any other
reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which shall be a date
no earlier than 60 days after the date on which a Notice of Termination is
given, unless an earlier date has been agreed to by the party receiving the
Notice of Termination either in advance of, or after, receiving such Notice of
Termination.

6. Severance Benefits. If Officer’s employment by the Company is terminated by
the Company other than for Cause, if Officer’s employment is terminated upon the
expiration of the Transition Period, or if Officer’s employment is terminated by
Officer for Good Reason, then Officer shall be entitled, without regard to any
contrary provisions of any Plan, to severance benefits (the “Severance
Benefits”) equal to the lesser of the Specified Benefits (as defined in
subsection (i) below), or the Capped Benefits (as defined in subsection (ii)
below):

(i) The “Specified Benefits” are as follows:

(A) the Company shall compensate Officer through the Date of Termination, as
follows:

(1) with respect to all amounts payable without regard to performance measures
(including, without limitation, any amount payable to any entity then owned by
Officer as reimbursement for the use of the aircraft owned by such entity), the
full amount of such compensation on the Date of Termination; and

(2) with respect to all amounts payable based on performance measures, any
benefits or awards (including both cash and stock components) which pursuant to
the terms of any plans have been earned or

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if partially earned then to the extent of the percentage to which such
performance measure is attained , but which have not yet been paid to Officer,
provided that all such amounts shall be paid at the time or times specified in
such plans and not at the time for payment under (i)(B);

(B) as severance pay and in lieu of any further salary for periods subsequent to
the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to Officer an amount in cash
(subject to applicable taxes and withholdings) determined as follows:

(1) One and one half times Officer’s annualized compensation without regard to
performance measures (including, without limitation, any amount payable to any
entity then owned by Officer as reimbursement for the use of the aircraft owned
by such entity and any other recurring allowances to which Officer was entitled
on the Date of Termination), payable at the rate in effect just prior to the
time of the Notice of Termination paid in a lump sum on the date that is forty
days (40) days after the Date of Termination; and

(2) an amount equal to One Hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate amount of
Officer’s Deemed Performance Amount, which amount shall be paid in a lump sum on
a date that is forty days (40) after Date of Termination.

(C) One hundred percent (100%) of unvested options to purchase the Company’s
Common Stock held by Officer on the Date of Termination shall be accelerated so
that such options are immediately exercisable;

(D) for eighteen months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall arrange
to provide Officer and Officer’s dependents with life, accident, medical and
dental insurance benefits substantially similar to those which Officer was
receiving immediately prior to the time of the Notice of Termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not provide any benefit
otherwise receivable by Officer pursuant to this paragraph (D) to the extent
that a similar benefit is actually received by Officer from a subsequent
employer during such one year period, and Officer agrees to report to the
Company any such benefit expected to be received and such benefit actually
received by Officer;

(E) the Company shall pay Officer upon the Date of Termination for any vacation
time earned but not taken at the Date of Termination, at an hourly rate equal to
Officer’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the time a Notice
of Termination is given divided by 2080.

(ii) The “Capped Benefits” equals the Specified Benefits, reduced by the minimum
amount necessary to prevent any portion of the Specified Benefits from being a
“parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G (b)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any successor provision. The amount of the
Capped Benefits shall therefore equal (i) three times the “base amount” as
defined in Code § 280G (b)(3)(A), reduced by one Dollar ($1.00), and further
reduced by (ii) the present value of all other payments and benefits Officer is
entitled to receive from the Company that are contingent upon a change in
control of the Company within the meaning of Code § 280G (b)(2)(A)(i), including
accelerated vesting of options and other awards under the Company’s stock option
plans, and increased by (iii) all Specified Benefits that are not contingent
upon a change in control within the meaning of Code § 280G (b)(2)(A)(i).
Specified Benefits under (B)(1) shall be reduced first to achieve the Capped
Benefits amount, then amounts under (B)(2) shall be reduced to the extent
necessary to achieve the Capped Benefits amount. The parties recognize that
there is some uncertainty regarding the computations under Code § 280G which
must be applied to determine the Capped Benefits. Accordingly, the parties agree
that, after the Severance Benefit is paid, the amount of the Capped Benefits may
be retroactively adjusted to the extent any subsequent Internal Revenue Service
regulations, rulings, audits or other pronouncements establish that the original
calculation of the Capped Benefits was incorrect. In that case, amounts shall be
paid or reimbursed between the parties so that Officer will have received the
Severance Benefit Officer would have received if the Capped Benefits had
originally been calculated correctly.

(iii) If Officer is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §
409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and any payment required to be made pursuant to this Section 6
is subject to Code § 409A and not exempt from those requirements under any
applicable regulations or other guidance of general applicability, then any such
payment otherwise payable on account of Officer’s termination of employment
during the period ending on the date that is six months after the Date of
Termination shall be paid in a lump sum on the date that is six months after
Officer’s Date of Termination instead of the date on which it would otherwise be
paid.

(iv) Except as specifically provided above, the amount of any payment provided
for in this Section 6 shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the
Company by reason of any compensation earned by Officer as the result of
employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.
Officer’s entitlements under this Section 6 are in addition to, and not in lieu
of, any rights, benefits or entitlements Officer may have under the terms or
provisions of any Plan.

7. Release of Claims. The Company shall have the right to require Officer to
execute a general release of claims relating to Officer’s employment at the
Company and termination of employment at the Company that could be brought by
Officer under this Agreement as a condition to Officer’s receipt of any payments
pursuant to Section 6; provided that the Company and each of its affiliates
shall release any and all claims that each of them may have against Officer, as
either an employee and/or Board member as a condition of any such release.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Successors; Binding Agreement.

(i) Upon Officer’s written request, the Company will seek to have any Successor
(as hereinafter defined), by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
Officer, assent to the fulfillment by the Company of its obligations under this
Agreement. Failure of the Company to obtain such assent prior to or at the time
a Person becomes a Successor shall constitute Good Reason for termination by
Officer of Officer’s employment. For purposes of this Agreement, “Successor”
shall mean any Person that succeeds to, or has the practical ability to control
(either immediately or with the passage of time), the Company’s business
directly, by merger, consolidation or purchase of assets, or indirectly, by
purchase of the Company’s Voting Securities or otherwise.

(ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
Officer’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Officer should die
while any amount would still be payable to Officer hereunder if Officer had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Officer’s devisee,
legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to Officer’s estate.

9. Fees and Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Officer for legal fees and
related expenses incurred by Officer in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement upon presentation of a customary statement showing work performed and
the charge therefore. The Company shall pay all legal fees and related expenses
incurred by Officer as a result of (i) Officer’s termination under circumstances
described in Section 6(a)-(c) (including all such fees and expenses, if any,
incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination) or (ii) Officer’s
seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement.

10. Survival. The respective obligations of, and benefits afforded to, the
Company and Officer as provided in Sections 6, 7, 9 and 16 of this Agreement
shall survive termination of this Agreement.

11. Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when (i) if
delivered personally, (ii) if given by email or fax, when transmitted and
evidence of confirmed transmission is received, (iii) if given by a nationally
recognized overnight courier, when received or personally delivered, or
(iv) mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested and, when delivered, and, in all cases, with all charges prepaid and
addressed to the address of the respective party most recently provided by the
receiving party to the sending party, provided that all notices to the Company
shall be directed to the attention of the Board, with a copy to the Secretary of
the Company, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the
other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt, and all notices to the Officer shall also
be directed to his counsel, Dana Kravetz, Michelman & Robinson, LLP, 15760
Ventura Boulevard, Suite 500, Encino, California 91436.

12. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Officer
from any and all liability arising out of Officer’s employment within the scope
of his employment and service of work as an officer and board member of the
Company, in addition to

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

its statutory obligations, including but not limited to those under the Labor
Code and Corporations Code. Further Company agrees to provide Officer with paid
counsel in any action brought against Officer for any reason resulting from an
alleged act under the services by Officer as an employee, officer or board
member of Company, or in any other capacity in which Officer serves on behalf of
Company, and shall agree to pay any and all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs
and damages, if any, associated with any such claim, demand, lawsuit,
arbitration or otherwise.

13. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a
writing signed by Officer and a member of the Board on behalf of the Board. No
waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party
hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement
to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or
dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent
time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied,
with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which
are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement has been reviewed
by the parties and their respective legal counsel and the parties have been
advised by such counsel as to the effect of the various provisions hereof.
Accordingly, this Agreement shall not be construed against any party based on
the that party’s drafting of this Agreement or any portion thereof or that a
party lacked the opportunity to negotiate the terms of this Agreement with the
advice and assistance of legal counsel. The validity, interpretation,
construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of California.

14. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

15. Related Agreements. Except as the parties shall agree in writing
concurrently with or after the date of this Agreement, to the extent that any
provision of any other agreement between the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and Officer shall limit, qualify or be inconsistent with any provision of this
Agreement, then for purposes of this Agreement, while the same shall remain in
force, the provision of this Agreement shall control and such provision of such
other agreement shall be deemed to have been superseded, and to be of no force
or effect, as if such other agreement had been formally amended to the extent
necessary to accomplish such purpose.

16. Mediation and Arbitration. The Company and Officer agree to mediate any
dispute arising under the applicable provisions of this Agreement. In the event
of any such dispute, the parties, within thirty (30) days of a written request
for mediation, shall attend, in good faith, a mediation in order to make a good
faith reasonable effort to resolve such dispute arising under this Agreement.
The parties shall attempt, in good faith, to agree to a mediator, or if no
agreement can be reached then by random selection by JAMS. If this good faith
mediation effort fails to resolve any dispute arising under this Agreement, the
Company and Officer agree to arbitrate any dispute arising under this Agreement.
This arbitration shall occur only after the mediation process described herein.
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement
shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Los Angeles, California by three
arbitrators in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association
then in

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court having
jurisdiction; provided, however, that Officer shall be entitled to seek specific
performance of Officer’s right to be paid until the Date of Termination during
the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
this Agreement. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses arising in
connection with any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section 16.

17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If this correctly sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly
sign and return to the Company the enclosed copy of this letter which will then
constitute our agreement on this subject.

 

INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:

 

/s/ JOHN A. BUCKETT, II

Name:

 

John A. Buckett, II

Title:

 

Chairman of the Board

 

Accepted and Acknowledged:

/s/ E. MICHAEL THOBEN, III

E. Michael Thoben, III