Abstract: A variable resistance control includes a metallic structure plate that functions as a heat sink and that provides both a collector and terminals, a body that is molded onto the structure plate, a resistance element that is deposited onto the body and onto portions of the terminals, a contactor, and a driver. In one embodiment, additional miniaturization is made possible by bending a tab portion of the structure plate between two of the terminals to form a stop lug for limiting rotational movement of the driver.

Abstract: A variable resistance control comprising a variable resistance control portion and a stabilizer assembly portion. The variable resistance control portion is provided with a housing, a resistance element and a contactor supported within the housing with the contactor wipably engaging the resistance element, and an adjustment member operatively connected to the contactor and exposed on the exterior of the housing. The stabilizer assembly portion comprises a stabilizer having weight greater than the weight of the variable resistance portion and having a threaded bushing. An aperture extends through the stabilizer and the bushing and an extension shaft is rotatably received in the aperture with one end extending outwardly from the aperture cooperatively engaging the adjustable member. A U-shaped plate having a bight portion and a pair of arms secures the stabilizer to the housing.

Abstract: An electrical resistor comprising a base having a resistance element supported thereon. A pair of terminals for connecting the element into an electrical circuit are bonded to the resistance element. The bond comprises a conductive thermoplastic bondable material applied to the resistance element before the terminals are secured thereto. Heat applied to the terminals causes the bondable material to flow and bond the terminals to the resistance element. In one embodiment, a rotatable knob, a contactor and a collector are assembled to the resistor to produce a variable resistance control. The knob is provided with a first skirt extending toward the base and in slideable engagement therwith. The first skirt supports the knob in spaced relationship with the base and a second skirt extends toward the resistance element carried by the base. The distal end of the second skirt is disposed proximate to the resistance element and encloses and protects the resistance element against external contaminants.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal comprising an elongated bar-shaped crystal having a pair of parallel spaced lead wires depending orthogonally from nodal points on one surface of the crystal and an elongated bar-shaped base in spaced relationship to the crystal and supporting the lead wires. The base is provided with conical shape holes with the larger diameter ends thereof proximal to the crystal, and sealing and securing means locate the hermetical seal between the lead wires and the base distal from the crystal enabling the lead wires to vibrate freely within the conical holes of the base. The length of the lead wires between the crystal and the point of attachment to the base is one-quarter wave length to return to the crystal a maximum percentage of the vibrational energy transmitted into the lead wires from the crystal thereby minimizing energy dissipation of the crystal while maintaining both a minimum distance between the crystal and the base and providing a minimum package size for the crystal.

Abstract: A variable resistance control having a clutch to prevent overdriving of a contactor relative to a resistance element. A driving member is rotatably and coaxially secured to a driven member in fixed relationship with the contactor. Knurled clutch faces formed on the driving member and the driven member are configured to permit sliding movement between the clutch faces when the driven member has reached its limit of travel and rotation of the driving member is continued.

Abstract: A tandem electrical control comprises a plurality of variable resistance sections. Each resistance section comprises a resistance element and a collector member that are carried by a base, and a contactor member that is carried by a driver, the contactor member is rotatably supported within the respective housing and wipingly engages the respective resistance element and collector member. A tubular shaft controls the forward resistance section and is rotatably supported within a bore of a mounting bushing. An inner shaft controls the rearward variable resistance section and a switch and is rotatably supported within the tubular shaft. The bore of the mounting bushing, the outside diameter of the tubular shaft, the bore of the tubular shaft, and the inner shaft are each provided with a narrowing diameter shoulder in abutting engagement with the proximate one of the shoulders for preventing impact damage to the resistance assemblies from external forces axially applied to the shafts.

Abstract: A variable resistance slide control includes a housing having a front wall and having a side wall that is integral therewith. A dielectric base having a resistance element and a collector member mounted thereon is secured to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall. A contactor member engaging the resistance element and collector member is constrained to move with a slider that includes a handle portion projecting outwardly of the housing through an elongated slot which is defined by the front wall and the base. The slider includes a slider block portion with a guide groove therein interfitting with a longitudinal rail that is integral with the dielectric base, and the slider block portion slidably engages an inner surface of the side wall. A second rail is integral with the dielectric base and includes a guide surface that is slidably engageable with the slider block portion.

Abstract: An electrical resistor comprising a base having a resistance element supported thereon. A pair of terminals for connecting the element into an electrical circuit are bonded to the resistance element. The bond comprises a conductive thermoplastic bondable material applied to the resistance element before the terminals are secured thereto. Heat applied to the terminals causes the bondable material to flow and bond the terminals to the resistance element. In one embodiment, a rotatable knob, a contactor and a collector are assembled to the resistor to produce a variable resistance control. The knob is provided with a first skirt extending toward the base and in slideable engagement therewith. The first skirt supports the knob in spaced relationship with the base and a second skirt extends toward the resistance element carried by the base. The distal end of the second skirt is disposed proximate to the resistance element and encloses and protects the resistance element against external contaminants.

Abstract: A mechanical coupling device is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate jaws and integral arms defining a slot communicating with a cavity for connecting a shaft thereto. A tongue integral with the shaft is engaged by the jaws and suspended within the cavity, and the coupling device slides axially and laterally along the tongue and pivots along the arcuate jaws to eliminate end and side thrust of the shaft. A variable resistance control connected to the coupling device comprises a substrate closing one end of a housing and a rotatable driver disposed within the housing. A resistive path and a conductive collector path are disposed on the substrate along the same radius and a contactor comprising a pair of diametrically opposed contact fingers symmetrically disposed near the periphery of the driver engages the resistive and collector paths.

Abstract: A multiposition rotary switch including a detent mechanism wherein a cam on the rotor acting through an arm resiliently deforms a portion of a side of the housing. A contactor constrained to rotate with the rotor wipably engages a plurality of contacts carried on a base in seriatim, each contact being defined by a portion of a conductor. The contacts can be arranged on the base to provide a variety of switching functions. An insulating material is adherently deposited on a predetermined location of at least one of the conductors carried by the base to provide a coded output. An annular bearing having a relatively large bearing area rotatably supports the rotor.

Abstract: A rotary electrical switch is provided of the type that includes a stator body of substantially cylindrical shape having a cylindrical opening coaxially disposed therein. The stator body includes a plurality of electrical contacts embedded in the stator body at circumferentially spaced positions therearound and extending radially inward from the cylindrical opening in the stator body and having a pair of parallel disposed planar contact surfaces, all of the contacts being disposed in a common plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical opening. A rotor body is rotatably disposed in the cylindrical opening and a contactor clip including a pair of contactors electrically and resiliently engaging both planar contact surfaces of respective ones of the contacts is constrained to rotate with the rotor body.

Abstract: A digitally coded electrical supply system is provided for the selective control, through a plurality of code transmission conductors, of electrical power through a single power bus to a large plurality of electrical loads. The system includes a number generator for sequentially and cyclically producing digitally coded numbers into a plurality of code transmission conductors, a plurality of load decoders, a plurality of power switches, a power bus and a plurality of electrical loads. The system also includes a plurality of switch decoders, and a plurality of electrical switches, each switch connecting one of the switch decoders to one of the load decoders through a common activator conductor. In operation, the closing of any of the electrical switches is effective, in cooperation with the connected one of the switch decoders and the common activator cable, to activate an associated one of the load decoders and to supply electrical power to the associated one of the electrical loads.

Abstract: A variable resistance control employing a support plate and a resistance element having a pair of spaced resistance paths applied on a base and rotatably mounted on the support plate. A pair of terminals with integral contacts are secured to the support plate and are disposed intermediate the base and the support plate. The pair of resistive paths are concentrically disposed on a surface of the base and electrically connected to each other. Each of the contacts engages a respective one of the resistive paths. In the assembly of the control, terminals are initially joined by a bridging member and, after the terminals are secured to the support plate, the bridging member is severed from the terminals providing a pair of separate terminals with integral contacts.

Abstract: A variable resistance control has a resistance element, a collector, and a low noise contactor wipably engaging the resistance element and the collector. The contactor is provided with a pair of arms and a plurality of fingers extend outwardly from each of the arms. A contact extends from each of the fingers and wipably engages the resistance element. The contacts on one of the arms are spaced apart lengthwise of the resistance element from the contacts on the other arm for reducing contact noise.

Abstract: A crystal controlled square wave oscillator requiring a minimum number of components, exhibiting high frequency stability, and operating at substantially a 50% duty cycle. A quartz crystal dual monolithic resonator is provided having a pair of signal electrodes and a reference electrode. The resonator is capable of oscillating in symmetric and anti-symmetric modes, points of minimum attenuation, the symmetric mode exhibiting a 180.degree. phase shift, and the anti-symmetric mode exhibiting a phase shift of 0.degree.. An integrated circuit logic gate is connected between the signal electrodes, the logic gate being of the type having low input and output impedances so as not to degrade the Q of the resonator. The logic gate provides a phase shift of 180.degree. or 0.degree. causing the resonator to oscillate in its symmetric or anti-symmetric modes, respectively, the gate switching between its two logic levels to produce a square wave output at the frequency of the excited mode.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer having a piezoelectric element secured to a conical diaphragm with the piezoelectric element forming part of a relaxation oscillator circuit. The piezoelectric element performs the dual function of firstly developing acoustic energy and transferring such energy to the diaphragm and secondly functioning as an electronic component in the oscillator circuit by operating as a frequency determining capacitor in such circuit. The diaphragm and the piezoelectric element are enclosed in a housing. Portions of the housing are deformed and penetrate the base of the diaphragm for securing the diaphragm to the housing. A post integral with the housing extends inwardly from the base toward the apex of the diaphragm and one end of the post is disposed adjacent the apex to prevent collapse of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An electrical control is provided with an insulated shaft extension. The insulated shaft extension is attached to a metal shaft rotatably supported in a bushing attached to the housing of the control. A hollow shaft portion of the insulated shaft extension is in concentric relationship with the metal shaft. Tabs are sheared from the hollow shaft portion to abut against a shoulder defined by a reduced diameter portion on the metal shaft. The metal shaft has a flat which mates with a flat formed in the hollow shaft portion to prevent relative rotation of the shafts. Deformable ribs extend along the flat in the hollow shaft portion to ensure engagement with the flat on the metal shaft.

Abstract: A variable resistance control of the rectilinear and multiturn type is provided with a contactor having a plurality of contactor paddles. The contactor paddles are wedge-shaped, are defined by a saw-tooth shaped shear line in a planar portion of the contactor, and are bent upwardly to provide flexing clearance between adjacent contactor paddles.

Abstract: A variable resistance control comprises a resilient nonconductive annular skirt sandwiched between a pair of substrates. The skirt has an arcuate section and a pair of posts interconnected by a bridge section. Each of the substrates comprises a circular portion carrying a resistance film and an extending portion provided with apertures and engaged by the posts. A driver is rotatably carried by the control and contactors are constrained to rotate with the driver wipingly engaging the resistance films. The apertures in the extending portions of the substrates are in line with the posts and the periphery of the bridge section substantially coincides with edges of the extending portions. Terminals are secured to the extending portions of the substrates and comprise a head and a tail. The head is received in an aperture and a pair of spaced fingers integral with the terminal are clinched into engagement with the head disposed between the spaced fingers.

Abstract: A rotary electrical switch is provided of the type that includes a stator body of substantially cylindrical shape having a cylindrical opening coaxially disposed therein. The stator body includes a plurality of electrical contacts embedded in the stator body at circumferentially spaced positions therearound and extending radially inward from the cylindrical opening in the stator body and having a pair of parallel disposed planar contact surfaces, all of the contacts being disposed in a common plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical opening. A rotor body is rotatably disposed in the cylindrical opening and a contactor clip including a pair of contactors electrically and resiliently engaging both planar contact surfaces of respective ones of the contacts is constrained to rotate with the rotor body.