Contact Slides Along In Contact With Element Patents (Class 338/160)
  • Patent number: 6292090
    Abstract: A switch circuit including voltage dividing elements for dividing a reference voltage inputted from an external source through a reference voltage input terminal, a fixed contact having metallic patterns formed on a board, and a movable contact coming in contact with the metallic patterns so as to slide thereon. The switch circuit not only divides the reference voltage at a voltage dividing ratio corresponding to a currently selected position of an object whose position is to be detected, but also outputs the divided voltage as an analog signal. Some of the voltage dividing elements that serve to switch the voltage dividing ratios are connected in parallel to one another through the fixed contact and the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6285276
    Abstract: A control device is provided for an industrial truck, in particular the towbar of a towbar-guided industrial truck, having a circuit element to generate a multi-stage electrical control signal. The invention teaches that the switching element has at least one contact membrane (6) which can be electrically connected by a pressure force exerted on the contact membrane (6) with at least one of a plurality of contact points (2) that correspond to the contact membrane (6). The contact points (2) are connected by electrical resistors (R1-8). The electrical resistors (R1-8) are preferably connected in series, whereby the connecting line between each two resistors is connected to a contact point (2). There are two sliders (8a, b), each of which exerts a pressure force on the contact membrane (6), as a result of which a contact point (2) can be connected to a contact area (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Still & Saxby S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Hartmut Nedele, Pierre Maller, Edgar Weber, Eugen Schöller, Frederic Bruder
  • Publication number: 20010003435
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Okumura
  • Patent number: 6204749
    Abstract: A variable resistor for increased assembly efficiency and decreased influence by environmental changes is disclosed. The variable resistor includes a closed end main casing, an external terminal held in the main casing and connected to the insulating substrate, a side receiver movably held in the casing, a shaft for moving the slider receiver, and a cover for closing an opening of the casing. The shaft is supported by a bearing formed on the cover to protrude from the cover and is further provided with a fall-preventive means. The terminal and substrate are both connected on the opening side of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6200156
    Abstract: A lead wire connection terminal fitment capable of permitting a plurality of lead wires to be readily press-fitted in a single lead wire press fit groove. The terminal fitment may be in the form of a relay terminal fitment, which includes a metal plate formed with a lead wire press fit groove by machining in which lead wires are press-fitted. A pair of inner surfaces of the metal plate defining the lead wire press fit groove therebetween are formed thereon with a plurality of projections and recesses engaged with an outer periphery of lead wires. The projections biting into the lead wires are so arranged that a space defined between the projections opposite to each other is reduced in width at a position thereof spaced by a distance in a depth direction of the lead wire press fit groove, resulting in being divided into a first space portion increased in width and a second space portion decreased in width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hiraki, Tsuyoshi Ohta, Kazufumi Daimon
  • Patent number: 6172595
    Abstract: A variable resistor uses a carbon fiber-base resistor with a specific distribution of carbon particle sizes. Because the particle size distribution of carbon fiber is approximately equal to the normal distribution and 80% by volume or more carbon fiber is included in the particle size range from 1 to 20 &mgr;m, high conductivity in the fiber length direction of carbon fiber that is served as structural material for improving the wear resistance does not affect the micro-linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Komatsu, Yoshihiro Taguchi, Takayuki Fujita, Katsuhisa Osada
  • Patent number: 6142018
    Abstract: A variable resistor useful for automotive type fuel senders has a cermet film fired upon a refractory substrate. The cermet film is burnished to reduce asperity of the fired film. The resulting resistor element works with existing mechanical float type senders to provide a reliable and long lasting sender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Dedert, Ronald D. Brewster, LaVern J. Grube, Sherlie M. Walters
  • Patent number: 6140907
    Abstract: A contacting position sensor that has a carbon fiber contactor tip design for long life and low wear characteristics. The position sensor has a housing and a resistive element and is located on a substrate mounted within the housing. A carbon fiber contactor is mounted within the housing and has a first and second beam and carbon fibers attached to an end of each of the beams. The carbon fibers are in electrical contact with the resistive element. The carbon fibers are attached to the beam by a conductive epoxy or the carbon fibers are attached to the beam by a crimping. The contactor is attached to a rotor or a drive arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: Shengli Liu
  • Patent number: 6078247
    Abstract: In conventional multi-direction input devices, the operating shaft is formed as a cylinder by machining using a lathe or the like, so that the machining takes a lot of time, resulting in a rather high cost.Disclosed is a multi-direction input device in which the operating shaft 14 is formed of a plate material by stamping using a press or the like, so that the operating shaft has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, where it is possible to produce a large number of operating shafts 14 in a short time and with high dimensional accuracy, therefore achieving a reduction is cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisato Shimomura
  • Patent number: 6040756
    Abstract: A sensor is disclosed that fits in a compact package. This compact sensor is ideal for sensing rotary positions and for accommodating one or more potentiometers. The resistor track is parallel and opposed to the collector track, and the wiper is placed between the two tracks to swipe both of them in one embodiment. This allows a short package, because the tracks are opposed to each other rather than being in a line, and a narrow package, because the tracks are not placed side by side. Another advantage of the invention is that putting the resistor track on a larger radius and the collector track on a smaller radius allows the resistor track to be longer. Having a longer resistor track allows a higher resolution, yet a package containing the potentiometer will still be relatively small. Several potentiometers may be placed in the sensor to provide redundancy yet retain compactness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corproation
    Inventor: Murray Kaijala
  • Patent number: 6040757
    Abstract: Slack in the engagement of a shaft 5 and a rotor 3 in a case 1 is prevented by the resiliency of an O ring 6 under radial but not axial compression. Even if heat stress is added, the variable resistor which can secure air-tightness is provided. The rotor 3 and a slider 4 are accommodated in the case 1. A resistance substrate 2 having a collector electrode 25 formed on the central portion of the surface and a circular resistor 24 formed concentrically on the periphery of the collector electrode 25 is engaged with the lower end part of the case 1. A stepped surface 12 supporting the peripheral surface and the bottom surface of the O ring 6 is formed on the upper surface of the case. A boss portion 55 contacting the inner circumference of the O ring 6 and an operating portion 51 projecting on the upper surface of the case 1 and covering the stepped surface 12 is formed on the shaft 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Masuda, Masashi Morikami
  • Patent number: 6037855
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a rotary electric component having a groove for adjustment with a screw-driver. In the rotary electric component, a rotor having a screw-driver groove and a through hole, with an electrically conductive pattern being formed on the underside thereof, is mounted rotatably on a support shaft which is inserted into the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Honma
  • Patent number: 6037856
    Abstract: A rotating electrical component, in which, on mating surface sides of the flange of the support member and the flange of the operating shaft, on both sides of the center of rotation on the line which passes through the center of rotation of the operating shaft, there are provided projections and recesses which differ in diameter measured from the center of rotation of the operating shaft and can be engaged and disengaged in positions where they will not overlap each other in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Aizawa
  • Patent number: 6025772
    Abstract: A resistor card for a potentiometer to measure the fuel in a fuel tank consists of a non-conductive substrate with a plurality of elongate conductive contacts deposited. The contacts have an elevation above the surface of the substrate and the contacts are oriented in parallel relationship to each other to form a wiper track across which a wiper is movable. To reduce the rate at which the upper surfaces of the contacts are worn away by movement of the wiper, a non-conductive filler is deposited between the conductive materials which form the lands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Jack Chen
  • Patent number: 6016098
    Abstract: A first rotor and a second rotor are prepared. The first rotor has a resistor and inner-peripheral and outer-peripheral electrodes respectively connected to end portions of this resistor. The second rotor has a resistor and inner-peripheral and outer-peripheral electrodes symmetrical with those of the first rotor, provided at a position corresponding to that obtained by rotating the first rotor about the axis of the first rotor by an angle of 180.degree. with respect to the first rotor. A variable resistor selectively uses either one of the first rotor and second rotor. This makes it possible to provide a variable resistor which requires few parts. Also, this makes it possible to reduce the kinds of bending operations that must be performed on the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Onishi, Kiminori Yamauchi, Hideaki Tsukada, Yukinori Ueda, Fumitoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 5986537
    Abstract: A high-voltage variable resistor includes an insulating substrate having a surface on which there is formed a resistor including a variable resistor portion and a plurality of terminal electrodes including an output terminal electrode. A rotation shaft is included which is equipped with a sliding member adapted to slide on the variable resistor portion of the resistor when the rotation shaft is rotated. An insulating case rotationally supports the rotation shaft. The insulating substrate is disposed in the case such that the aforementioned surface is opposed to an inner bottom portion of the case. A capacitor connecting terminal is inserted through the insulating substrate and is electrically connected to the output terminal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Kato
  • Patent number: 5963124
    Abstract: A position sensor for sensing the position of an attached device. There is a housing having terminals and a cover attached to the housing. Resistors, conductors and conductive traces are located on the cover and electrically connected to the terminals. A rotor is positioned between the housing and the cover, and has a contactor mounted thereon for contacting the resistor and the conductor such that as the rotor rotates a resistance value indicative of the sensor position is varied. The cover has a terminal insert which connect between the conductive traces and the terminals. A leaf spring rotates the rotor back to a starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Buss, John R. Gietzen, James E. Haugh, Murray Kaijala, William G. Osmer, John Zdanys, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5952912
    Abstract: Rotary potentiometers known in the art having sensitive adjustment of the control knob require a stepdown gearing and have differing moments of friction that vary between devices. By contrast, in a rotary potentiometer of this invention a control knob (3) is mounted on at least three balls (6) that move, guided by a cage disk (7), in a housing groove (8) formed by a radial wall (9) and an axial wall (10), against which the balls (6) are urged by a load pressure of a conical bearing surface (11 or 12) of the control knob (3). The radial and axial wall bearing surfaces have contact and resistive strips (13, 14) that are short circuited by the balls (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Reinhold Moret, Ulrich Brueggemann
  • Patent number: 5929745
    Abstract: A high-voltage variable resistor unit including a terminal connection structure capable of preventing upward movement or rotation of the terminal by simple construction. A terminal is provided with a connecting portion between a held portion and a lead wire connected portion. A terminal fixing portion of the insulating casing is provided adjacent to a terminal holding portion with a connecting portion receiving recess in which the connecting portion of the terminal is received. An insulating resin is charged in the connecting portion receiving recess and hardened. The walls surrounding the connecting portion receiving recess have a pair of grooves each formed on a pair of walls facing to a first linear connecting portion and a second linear connecting portion of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Tsunezawa, Motoharu Higami
  • Patent number: 5926085
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a highly reliable position sensor capable of preventing the entry of foreign matters such as water and dust from the exterior into a receptacle chamber formed within a housing. Formed in the housing are a mounting opening to be mounted in a sealed state to a throttle body and a receptacle chamber having an opening. The receptacle chamber and the mounting opening are partitioned from each other by a partition wall. A sensor body is mounted into the receptacle chamber and the opening of the chamber is covered with a cover, then a clearance formed between the opening and the cover is filled and sealed with a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin. A communication hole for communication between the receptacle chamber and the mounting opening is formed through an operating shaft which is rotating a sliding-element receiver of the sensor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Abe, Kunji Murano, Yoshio Nuiya, Yoshifusa Kanazawa, Yasuo Takagi
  • Patent number: 5920252
    Abstract: A high-voltage variable resistor includes a structure which makes it possible to achieve stable and reliable contact conduction between a connection terminal 7 and a terminal electrode 2a. The connection terminal 7 includes a spring portion 7b. At the end of the spring terminal 7b there is provided a flat contact section 7d which is wider than the other portions thereof. A plurality of protrusions 7e, 7f are formed on this contact section 7d. The outer edge portion of a lead line connecting section 7a of the connection terminal 7, which is accommodated in and fixed to a connection terminal accommodating section 6, is held in a terminal holding groove 6a of the connection terminal holding section 6, and the protrusions 7e, 7f are held in contact with the terminal electrode 2a of an insulating substrate 2 and pressed against the insulating substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5917402
    Abstract: A resistor pattern of an insulating substrate is printed with reference to a first contact portion and a second contact portion, and the insulating substrate is attached to a holder such the first and second contact portions of the insulating substrate are brought into contact with second contact portions of the holder to position the insulating substrate. Therefore, an error between the relative positions of a slider piece and a resistor pattern is decreased, and variations in resistance change characteristic are decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Ebata
  • Patent number: 5912614
    Abstract: A variable resister includes a housing made of a synthetic resin and having an inner space that opens to an open upper end of the housing, and a substrate made of a synthetic resin mounted on the housing for closing the open upper end of the housing to enclose the inner space. A resister is provided on the surface of the substrate and terminates in a conductive extremity while a conductive terminal electrically connected to a power supply terminates in an extremity that opposes the conductive extremity of the resister in the inner space. A conductive coil spring is elastically disposed between the conductive extremity of the resister and the extremity of the conductive terminal. A contact is disposed in sliding engagement with the resister such that a distance between the contact and the conductive extremity of the resister is used as a control variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Yasuda, Hisayoshi Okuya
  • Patent number: 5912613
    Abstract: A high-voltage resistor unit capable of minimizing a variation in output voltage thereof. The resistor unit includes an output terminal member provided with a contact section connected, by only contacting, to an output electrode formed on a front surface of a circuit board. The electrode contacted with the constant section of the terminal member has a surface section covered with a resistive paint layer, of which a resistance value in a thickness direction thereof is set to be smaller than a resistance value of a resistance circuit pattern formed on the front surface of the circuit board which resistance value is determined in a thickness direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kotani, Motoharu Higami, Shinichi Kamata, Susumu Harada
  • Patent number: 5907273
    Abstract: Use is made of thermoplastic materials in layered configurations as a thermally stable, rigid but not brittle strip of lengths of six inches to ten feet or more. The layered strip contains layers of conductive fibers in a resin matrix, which, through use of appropriate contact mechanisms and wiring, provide an assembly with an infinite potentiometer scale. The strips are especially useful in linear positioning indicators such as pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder and liquid level gauges. The strips are conductively connected by cutting a bias surface relative to said strips and placing resin thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Rochester Gauges, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert G. Ross, Jr., Carl A. Taylor, Cecil M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5889461
    Abstract: An electrical part including a step provided at a housing-facing side of an operating portion of an operating shaft, which protrudes externally from the housing, with the outside diameter of the step being smaller than the outside diameter of the operating portion. Thus, the load, produced when an operating member is being caulked to an end of the operating shaft, can be exerted on a flange surface at the step, so that even when the operating member is caulked to the operating shaft, the performance of the electrical part is not affected. Such an electrical part has been constructed in view of a conventional problem described below. When an attempt is being made to caulk an operating member to an operating shaft incorporated in a housing of a rotary sensor, or electrical part, to form a conventional rotary sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Ebata
  • Patent number: 5886616
    Abstract: A high-voltage variable resistor unit capable of permitting a circuit board to be decreased in size and preventing interruption of output thereof. A circuit board having a resistive pattern including a plurality of variable resistance elements formed on a front surface thereof is arranged in a board receiving chamber. A terminal fitment and a slide element are so arranged that a contact point between a plate-like section of the slide element and a contact section of the terminal fitment is defined in a manner to be spaced from the front surface of the circuit board toward an operation member. A fit projection of the terminal fitment is fitted in a fit hole of the insulating casing. A silicone adhesive is applied to a board supporting rib of the insulating casing to the circuit board thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Tsunezawa, Kazufumi Daimon, Etsuo Kamimura
  • Patent number: 5880669
    Abstract: A compact-size variable resistance device has a terminal for electrical connection to an external device, a resistor that slidingly contacts with a brush, and connecting parts formed of an electro-conductive resin containing a thermoplastic resin. The electro-conductive resin connecting parts readily make reliable electrical interconnection of the terminal and the resistor when the connecting parts are joined by, for example, ultrasonic bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akikazu Matsumoto, Kiyotaka Nakai, Wataru Kuwayama, Kiyohiro Fukaya, Yukihisa Oda
  • Patent number: 5877673
    Abstract: An electric component capable of connecting terminal fitments and electrodes arranged on a front surface of a circuit board to each other in a soldering-less manner without increased accuracy in assembling thereof and without using any conductive rubber member. A terminal assembly is constituted by a terminal fitment and a coiled spring. The terminal fitment includes first and second conductor holding sections each arranged for interposedly holding an end of each of connection conductors. The coiled spring is formed of a conductive wire and arranged so as to spirally surround the connection conductor and be compressed between a contact electrode and the first conductor holding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kotani, Yasuaki Horioka
  • Patent number: 5847640
    Abstract: A variable resistor includes a first housing, a second housing formed of resin and having a connector part and a circuit board whose surface has an electrode and a resistance pattern thereon. A metallic terminal is molded in the second housing as one body and a brush is mounted on a moving member and is disposed in sliding engagement with the resistance pattern. An end of the terminal is in contact with the electrode on the surface of the circuit board and the other end of the terminal is disposed in the connector part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Fukaya, Yukihiro Kato, Kouji Akashi, Akikazu Matsumoto, Yukihisa Oda
  • Patent number: 5838221
    Abstract: A control head for remote actuators on a vehicle heater/air conditioner system comprises variable resistors operated by control knobs to provide variable motor control voltages to the actuators which comprise servo-actuators or a pulse width modulated blower motor. The control head has a molded plastic housing with embedded conductive runners terminating in wipers. A control disk rotatable with each knob has an arcuate resistive film and a pair of arcuate conductors connected to ends of the film. The wipers engage the arcuate elements to apply a supply voltage to the conductors and pick off a control voltage from the resistive film. Alternatively the arcuate elements are on the housing and the wiper is on the control disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Barry M. Jones, Jr., Michael Louis Molinari, Duane Eugene Whitson
  • Patent number: 5825279
    Abstract: A rail 30, having a long groove 31 on an upper surface thereof, is disposed in a space between an upper surface of cover 28 having an elongated hole 29 and an insulating substrate 21. With this arrangement, water or the like, entering from the upper part of cover 28, falls directly or via a groove 27a formed on an upper surface of a slider 25 and is settled or accumulated in long groove 31 of rail 30. Excellent dust-protective and waterproofing effects are obtained. Furthermore, these entering substances are drained via long groove 31 of rail 30, preventing them from spraying out to uncertain places.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yagi
  • Patent number: 5818324
    Abstract: A miniature potentiometer having a housing with a plurality of resistor elements and a coil spring wiper having canted coils affixed to a knob that is rotatably disposed within the housing. The canted coil spring wipers are in conductive contact with the resistor elements of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Resistance Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald D. Richels
  • Patent number: 5812048
    Abstract: Use is made of thermoplastic materials in layered configurations as a thermally stable, rigid but not brittle strip of lengths of six inches to ten feet or more. The layered strip contains layers of conductive fibers in a resin matrix, which, through use of appropriate contact mechanisms and wiring, provide an assembly with an infinite potentiometer scale. The strips are especially useful in linear positioning indicators such as pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder and liquid level gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Rochester Gauges, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert G. Ross, Jr., Carl A. Taylor, Cecil M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5781100
    Abstract: A resistor substrate in which a resistor layer having an electroconductive powder and carbon fibers dispersed in a heat resistant resin is molded into a substrate comprising a heat resistant thermosetting molding material, and the surface of the resistor layer is in a mirror-finished state. The resistor substrate is manufactured by printing the resistor layer on a metal plate and heat-curing the same, molding the resistor layer formed on the metal plate in a die into a substrate shape with a heat resistant thermosetting resin and peeling the metal plate and transferring the resistor layer to the substrate molded from the heat resistant thermosetting resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisasi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5721526
    Abstract: A high-voltage variable resistor capable of significantly reducing a circuit board as compared with a prior art. Terminal fitments each are arranged so as to function as a connector for forming electrical connection between a slide element slid on each of variable resistance patterns and a terminal acting as an output section. A contact point between a contact on a contact support of the terminal fitment and a plate-like member of the slide element is positioned apart from a surface of the circuit board. The terminal fitment includes a positioner, which is positioned outside the pattern in a radial direction thereof, so that the positioner intersects the pattern while being spaced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Daimon, Tsuyoshi Ohta, Kenichi Hiraki
  • Patent number: 5554965
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricated variable resistance control including a substrate having formed thereon an electrical resistance path and an electrical conductive path, and a movable contact electrically bridging the electrical resistance path and the electrical conductive path. Disposed along the electrical conductive path is a non-conductive lubricant material. The electrical conductive path includes one or more protruding ridges spaced along one surface of the electrical resistance path. The ridges are formed of an electrically resistive material and they serve to help insure that the control device does not suffer from current interruptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Erie Ceramic Arts Company
    Inventor: Craig C. Sundberg
  • Patent number: 5508678
    Abstract: A high-voltage variable resistor unit including a variable resistance circuit board and a fixed resistance circuit board, and capable of being down-sized and exhibiting satisfactory dielectric strength. A variable resistance circuit board which is provided on a front surface thereof with a variable resistance circuit pattern is received in a board receiving chamber of an insulating casing. A lid member made of an insulating resin material is arranged so as to close an opening of the board receiving chamber while keeping a front surface thereof facing a rear surface of the variable resistance circuit board. A fixed resistance circuit board is fixed on a rear surface of the lid member while keeping a rear surface thereof facing the rear surface of the lid member. A space for charging an insulating resin material therein is defined between a circuit board and the rear surface of the lid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Tsunezawa, Motoharu Higami
  • Patent number: 5475359
    Abstract: A variable resistor having a resistor body including a lower layer resistor in which at least carbon fibers and a carbon black are dispersed in a synthetic resin and an upper resistance layer not containing carbon fibers and in which at least a carbon black is dispersed in a synthetic resin, the upper layer being formed on the lower layer. Abrasion of a slider and the resistor body are suppressed to provide a long operation life, that is, a sliding movement life of the variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Hatayama, Mitsuru Saitoh
  • Patent number: 5323137
    Abstract: The potentiometer includes a ground terminal 1, a power terminal 2, a resistive element 4 provided between the ground terminal 1 and the power terminal 2, a sliding portion 18 for sliding on the resistive element 4, an output terminal 3 for obtaining the output in response to the position of the sliding portion 18, a reference voltage terminal 5 provided on a reference position RP where a reference voltage Vref should be generated, and a power supply 6 for applying the reference voltage Vref to the reference voltage terminal 5. The reference voltage terminal 5 is provided on the reference position RP where the reference voltage Vref should be generated. The reference voltage Vref is sustained at the reference position RP, because the power supply 6 applies the reference voltage Vref from the reference voltage terminal 5 to the resistive element 4. The offset can be adjusted rapidly due to the regulated voltage at the reference position RP in spite of a productive variation of the resistive element 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kimura, Yukihisa Oda
  • Patent number: 5302937
    Abstract: In connection with a potentiometer, which may in particular serve as actuator element for an electronic accelerator pedal and where a base plate carries the respective resistance and collector path(s), it is proposed that instead of providing the usual metallic inserts in the base plate to serve as sliding surface, at least one additional surface shape be applied on the base plate, preferably by printing, and that this additional shape be applied, preferably printed, on the base plate preferably by the same operation as the resistance and collector paths and using the same or a similar material having good sliding properties, and can then serve as sliding and supporting surface for at least one wiper carrier of the potentiometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Horst Siedle KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Leue
  • Patent number: 5283545
    Abstract: This invention relates to a voltage pulse controlled variable resistor in which at least 2 leads are placed in direct contact with a material containing silica derived from hydrogen silsesquioxane. The resistor is formed by depositing a silica film derived from hydrogen silsesquioxane resin between at least two electrodes. The resistance of the component is varied by applying voltage pulses to the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventor: Udo C. Pernisz
  • Patent number: 5219494
    Abstract: A paste composition for preparation of electrically resistive layers is described comprising a curable polymer binder in which electrically conductive pigments are dispersed, wherein the composition contains as the electrically conductive pigments a glass-like carbon with a highly unoriented tri-dimensionally cross-linked coil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Ambros, Walter Budig
  • Patent number: 5111178
    Abstract: An electrically conductive polymer film composition includes a polymeric resin, an electrically conductive substance intimately mixed in sufficient quantity with the polymeric resin to render the polymeric resin electrically conductive, and particles, such as fibers or spheres of appropriate size, admixed with the polymer composition in sufficient quantity so that in the cured polymer film the particles protrude from the surface of the film and render the surface uneven on a micro scale. The cured polymer film composition of the invention is incorporated in potentiometers and similar electric and electronic devices as a thick film where a contact wiper rides substantially continuously in contact with the protruding fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne P. Bosze
  • Patent number: 5105128
    Abstract: A unit for adjusting the focusing voltage of a cathode ray tube by controlling the high voltage of a flyback transformer comprising a main body unit (400) consisting of an interior face having a rail (402) extending therefrom, a knob (3) journaled in the main body, a variable shaft means (417) connected to turn with the knob, a contact terminal support (412) having a cylindrical protrusion (414) extending through an elongate opening in the variable shaft means, the protrusion having a rail groove (413) therein for sliding over the rail and a contact pin (411) carried by the contact terminal support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 5093647
    Abstract: A sliding electric part includes a set of two sliding members, wherein one of the sliding members is composed of a diamond substrate with an electric conductive portion formed by ion implanation or by the deposition of boron-doped p-type diamond on the sliding surface which slides along the other sliding member, and the other sliding member has an electric conductive portion formed on the sliding surface which slides along the one sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Shoji Noda, Kazuo Higuchi, Masao Kohzaki
  • Patent number: 5053741
    Abstract: A variable resistor of the type having a substantially curved resistor provided on a substrate has an arm portion of a sliding member contacting therewith, the sliding member being rotatable, with a central portion of the resistor as a supporting point, for adjusting the resistance value by rotating the sliding member with a driver. A driver plate of the sliding member is formed substantially into a cone in shape, in which cone a driver groove portion is provided. The driver tip is guided by the conic portion and inserted into the driver groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukinori Ueda
  • Patent number: 5035836
    Abstract: A solid lubricated resistive ink includes solid lubricants which provide self-lubrication of the resistive ink under high vacuum and low moisture conditions. The resistive inks include a polymer-based binder and an electrically conductive solid lubricant which remains electrically conductive and lubricative under low moisture and high vacuum. Effective lubricants include MoSe.sub.2, NbSe.sub.2 graphite intercalated with bromine and graphite intercalated with a metal chloride. The resistive ink may additionally include carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Michael N. Gardos, Larry C. Lipp, William S. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5004996
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuating apparatus for sensing hydraulic pressure and producing an output signal representative of the sensed hydraulic pressure includes a base portion, a case, and a variable resistor unit. A slider is movably connected to the variable resistor unit, and the variable resistor unit is connected to the base, the slider being movable relative to the variable resistor unit by an amount proportional to the hydraulic pressure applied to the slider. The variable resistor unit has a resistance which changes in response to movement of the slider. A resilient member is provided which is resiliently deformable by movement of the slider relative to the variable resistor unit, the resilient means exerting a restoring force on the slider opposing the movement of the slider caused by the hydraulic pressure. An adjusting mechanism is provided for setting an initial resistance value of the variable resistor unit, the variable resistor unit having a portion which is in contact with the adjusting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiji Shibazaki, Masaru Okano, Naoto Kishida, Yoshihiro Ozaki, Kunihiko Iyama
  • Patent number: 4994782
    Abstract: A variable resistor comprising a substrate provided on the surface thereof with a resistor on which a sliding member is in slidable contact therewith. The substrate is formed of diallyl phthalic resin, and a carbon resistor formed with a predetermined shape is molded integrally on the surface of the resin substrate. The carbon resistor contains diallyl phthalic resin as a binder resin. Terminals and the carbon resistor molded on the resin substrate are electrically connected through conductive paste. A variable resistor with good physical characteristics is obtained that can be manufactured at low cost, with superior heat resistance, capable of mounting by flow soldering, and having a small rate of resistance value. In addition, since the resistor and the terminals are connected through the conductive paste, connecting strength thereof is not only brought about by physical pressure but reinforced by the adhesion of the conductive paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hiroji Tani, Tsutomu Yokoi