Abstract: An integrated electronic shift lever assembly for a vehicle includes a shift lever installed inside the vehicle and operated by a driver for a shift position operation. A fixed knob is fixedly attached to an end of the shift lever. A shaft extends outwards from the fixed knob. A movable knob is detachably connected to the fixed knob such that the movable knob slides along the shaft to be decoupled from the fixed knob and rotates about the fixed knob. When a signal according to a rotational direction of the movable knob is input to a transmission control unit (TCU), the TCU changes a current shift position or a drive mode.

Abstract: An angle sensor in which, when a biasing member is used, a biasing force in the &bgr;2 direction acts on a driving gear, and a biasing force in the &bgr;1 direction acts on an auxiliary gear. This prevents backlash from occurring between a rotary member and the driving member, making it possible to reduce rattling between the rotary member and the driving member. A fitting member is provided at the free end side of a resilient supporting member in order to resiliently press a screw shaft in the Z1 direction. Therefore, internal threads of inside surfaces of corresponding fitting portions of the fitting member and thread grooves of the screw shaft can be made to uniformly closely contact each other, making it possible reduce rattling caused by backlash therebetween. Consequently, the angle of rotation of a steering wheel which is mounted to the rotary member is detected with high precision.

Abstract: In a multidirectional input device, a surface of a bottom plate facing the bottom of an operating member is provided with a projection having a taper portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery toward the center, wherein the operating member is tilted with the tilting operation of a control shaft and contacts the projection to regulate the motion of the operating member. Therefore, the operating member does not slip, and a tactile feel is not produced in the tilting operation.

Abstract: There is provided a variable resistor comprised of a resistor formed at a movable member arranged to be reciprocatable, and a slider element attached to a fixing member fixed in opposition to the movable member, slidingly contacted with the resistor. The resistor has the first resistor, the second resistor and the third resistor extending in a reciprocating direction of the movable member and electrically independent from each other, a first resistor pattern having one end of each of the first resistor and the second resistor connected to each other, a second resistor pattern having the other ends of the second resistor and the third resistor. The slider element is comprised of the first slider element, the second slider element and the third slider element slidingly contacted with the first resistor, the second resistor and the third resistor.

Abstract: A Neuro device is a representation of a nerve cell constituting human brains, eyes and the like, that is, a neuron by an electronic circuit. A circuit of the Neuro device according to the present invention comprises n (n : natural number) input terminals 4, n variable resistors 8 (the resistance values of the n variable resistors 8 are respectively set to R1, R2,..., Rn) respectively connected to the input terminals 4, and an arithmetic circuit 100 to which signals from the variable resistors 8 are together applied, and an output terminal 5 to which a signal from the arithmetic circuit 100 is outputted. The variable resistor 8 is so constructed that a chalcogenide semiconductor is interposed between a pair of electrodes. The chalcogenide semiconductor can be reversibly transferred to a high resistive amorphous state and a low resistive crystallized state by applying a predetermined write voltage.

Abstract: A potentiometer for the redundant measurement of the angle of rotation of a shaft compared with a fixed member has two resistance paths located concentrically with each other on a fixed disk. Two collector paths having the shape of circular rings are located concentrically with each other on a disk situated parallel to the fixed disk and rotating together with the shaft. Two slide contacts connected with the collector paths are in contact with the two resistance paths. Two redundant measured values are tapped at two terminal contacts fastened to the fixed disk that are in contact with the collector paths through two slide contacts.

Abstract: The potentiometer consists of two halves. Each half has a base plate (5,6) ending in soldering lugs (51,61,62). One part each of a casing (1 or 2) and a rotary driver half (3 or 4, respectively) are molded to each base plate in a plastics injection molding process. The two potentiometer halves are interconnected at their casing parts (1,2), on the one hand, and at their rotary driver halves (3,4), on the other hand, by ultrasonic welding. For this purpose a circumferential thickening (15,47) each is provided of tapering shape. A slider spring (8) on the one hand has slider lobes (81) which slide on a resistor path of a resistor plate (7) and, on the other hand, slider lobes (80) which slide on the base plate (5) opposite the resistor plate (7). Hereby the central or potentiometer tapping is effected electrically at this base plate (5) and the soldering lug (51) connected to the same.

Abstract: An error detection device which includes two coaxial connected shafts. A flexible seal is disposed about one shaft to secure the shaft within a bore of the second shaft to insure accurate correlative movements of the shafts.

Abstract: A slider arrangement comprises an insulator member, and two sliders each made of a resilient metal matel plate embedded in the insulator member and each having slender contacts exposed from the insulator mold member. The slender contacts of each of the sliders forms a pair of contact sets adapted to slide in contact with a resistive element and a collector member respectively, the pair of contact sets of one slider being located between the pair of contact sets of the other slider. A method of producing the above-mentioned slider arrangement comprises the steps of embedding a resilient metal plate having sliders into an insulator member, with contact forming portions of the sliders exposed, cutting off portions bridging the sliders and the contacts formed at the contact forming portions while holding the metal plate by the insulator member, and bending each of the contacts to its proper position.

Abstract: A transducer for generating a feedback signal representative of the position of a movable member includes a signal generating mechanism for providing an electrical feedback signal representative of the position of the movable member. The signal generating mechanism includes a first shaft portion having a first longitudinal centerline and a drive mechanism having a shaft member coupled in driving engagement to the first shaft portion. The drive mechanism is adapted to be cable connected to one of a plurality of movable members having maximum travel spans different one from the other. The shaft member has a shaft longitudinal centerline which is concentric with the first centerline, the centerlines defining a first axis. An alignment mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism and the signal generating mechanism and permits limited movement of the first axis with respect to a reference axis. The alignment mechanism thereby isolates the signal generating mechanism from misalignment reaction forces.

Abstract: A compact electrical control, such as a potentiometer, a rheostat, or a switch includes a housing and a shaft rotatably mounted within the housing. The housing has a cavity for receiving a resilient annular seal surrounding the shaft, and the shaft is provided with a radial pressure plate that bears against the seal. A rotary assembly composed of resistance or switch elements is mounted on the shaft between the pressure plate and a journaled end of the shaft, and the resistance or switch elements are contacted by stationary contacts held in the housing. The seal is axially compressed between the pressure plate on the shaft and a cavity end wall, and is radially compressed between a circumferential side wall and the shaft, so that the seal both prevents liquid from entering the housing along the shaft and controls axial end play of the shaft.

Abstract: A potentiometer comprises a housing one end of which is closed by an insulating board which carries associated resistive and highly conductive areas or tracks arranged to be bridged by a metallic wiper loosely fitted to a wiper carrier part of an actuator such as an actuating spindle which is rotatably supported by the housing from which the spindle may project and which is preferably also rotatably supported by the insulating board.

Abstract: An elongated tape fabricated of an electrically insulative material has a pair of strips which run therealong, these two strips being joined together at one end thereof but not at the other, to form an open loop. The strips are fabricated of an electrically conductive material having a relatively high resistivity. The opposite ends of the tape are each wound on a separate reel, the tape being fed from one reel to the other by means of a drive mechanism. The tape is marked along its length with indicia representing resistances between the two strips for each position of the tape between the two reels. A window with a marker is provided to read out these resistances. A pair of electrical wipers are mounted in contact with the pair of strips to connect the strips to a circuit or the like, in which the resistance is to be utilized.

Abstract: Multiple resistance elements are mounted in parallel pairs around the inside curved wall of the assembly housing. Multiple cylindrical contacts in a planetary arrangement are rotated by a friction drive surface mounted on the control shaft. Each cylindrical contact rolls on one pair of resistance elements. The cylindrical contacts, by being movable shunts between the parallel strips, provide ganged multiple potentiometer or rheostat capability. No terminal is connected to any moving part. The diameter of the drive surface and the diameter of the cylindrical contacts determine the possible number of resistance elements per assembly. Shaft rotation for full range variation, thus vernier capability, is determined by the ratio of the drive surface diameter to the inside diameter of the housing.

Abstract: An assembly for fine adjustment of a variable impedance mechanism is disclosed wherein a first disk-shaped rotary member, which functions as a knob, has a spiral ridge or groove formed on one side surface thereof for engagement with the teeth of a second disk-shaped rotary member or teethed wheel whose shaft is in turn coupled to the rotary shaft of a variable impedance element. When the first rotary member makes one rotation, the second rotary member is advanced one tooth, whereupon the fine adjustment of the variable impedance element is possible.