With Collector Bar Patents (Class 338/183)
  • Patent number: 11803100
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for acquiring operating parameters of a photographic lens, including: a control circuit and a storage unit that are configured in the photographic lens, where the control circuit acquires an operating parameter of the photographic lens by using a focusing ring position sensor, a zoom ring position sensor, an aperture ring position sensor, an accelerometer and a gyro sensor; and the control circuit is further connected to a camera or an external data reading device by using a communication interface, to output the operating parameter after data encapsulation in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN DONGZHENG OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: YiQiang Pan, Hao Li, Yi Xu, SongJian Yao, JieMing Li, Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10820700
    Abstract: A cosmetic panel suspension system for an appliance includes an outer door panel having a perimetrical flange. A plurality of side adjusters is attached to the perimetrical flange. At least one adjustment bracket has a plurality of positioning apertures in slidable engagement with a portion of the perimetrical flange. The plurality of side adjusters extends through respective positioning apertures defined within the at least one adjustment bracket, and adjustment of at least one side adjuster of the plurality of side adjusters slides the at least one adjustment bracket relative to the perimetrical flange. A cosmetic panel is attached to the at least one adjustment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor L. Hawkins, Scott A. Kositzky, Chad Rotter
  • Patent number: 8466772
    Abstract: On the track of a potentiometer a resistive path of thin film is deposited or a foil is bonded to a matched substrate and a parallel path is formed of discrete contact straps extending from the resistive path. The resistive path has a protecting coating and the wiper is moving on abrasion resistant contact straps. This design enables application of high precision and stability resistor technologies in the production of variable resistors destined for long service life. It enables also, in high precision applications, by maintaining the linearity of the output versus input function, a two-wire connection to the variable resistor used as a position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Vishay Israel, Ltd
    Inventors: Joseph Szwarc, Jean-Michel Lanot, Ruta Zandman
  • Publication number: 20120112874
    Abstract: On the track of a potentiometer a resistive path of thin film is deposited or a foil is bonded to a matched substrate and a parallel path is formed of discrete contact straps extending from the resistive path. The resistive path has a protecting coating and the wiper is moving on abrasion resistant contact straps. This design enables application of high precision and stability resistor technologies in the production of variable resistors destined for long service life. It enables also, in high precision applications, by maintaining the linearity of the output versus input function, a two-wire connection to the variable resistor used as a position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: VISHAY ISRAEL LTD.
    Inventors: Joseph Szwarc, Jean-Michel Lanot, Felix Zandman
  • Patent number: 6469613
    Abstract: A resistive element includes a resistive film disposed on an insulating film, a current collector disposed apart from the resistive film at a given space, and an electrode conductive to the resistive film and the collector respectively. The insulating board is punched to form slits which split the electrode. The slits allow the resistive element to maintain creepage distances between the electrode. The resistive element accommodates downsizing requirement while restraining silver migration for eliminating shorts between the electrodes. As a result, a highly reliable resistive element is obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiki Miura
  • Patent number: 6076947
    Abstract: A visor with an illuminated vanity assembly comprising a base with a closable cover. A dimmer switch is provided on the base for controlling the light output of the illuminated vanity assembly. The dimmer switch comprises a slidable switch electrically coupling a light source contact and a resistor whereby the sliding of the switch relative to the resistor changes the resistance in the circuit to control the light output from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Lear Donnelly Overhead Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas C. Miller
  • Patent number: 6034590
    Abstract: A sensor comprises a casing closed with a cover having a bearing section; an axially movable operating shaft supported on the bearing section; and a slider receiver in contact with the forward end of the operating shaft within the casing. A first return spring in elastic contact with the operating shaft and the second return spring in elastic contact with the slider receiver are disposed within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5345215
    Abstract: A variable resistor device including a casing and a shaft slidably connected to the casing along its axis. The casing houses a resistive substrate and a slider which is movable along a surface of the resistive substrate. The casing also defines a pair of guide grooves for receiving protrusions extending from the slider, thereby restraining the slider to slide along a path defined by the guide grooves. One side of the slider contacts an end of the shaft, and an opposite side of the slider is pressed by a spring. The spring force is parallel to but spaced away from the axis of the shaft; therefore, the forces acting on the slider create a torque. Because the slider is not connected to the shaft, the slider pivots within a small clearance provided by the guide groove in response to the torque, thereby causing the projections of the slider to press against the walls of the guide groove and thereby preventing vibration of the slider relative to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Okumura, Kanji Ishibara
  • Patent number: 5072206
    Abstract: A linear-movement potentiometer having an operating rod 25 projecting at both ends from a substantially hermetic casing and connectable at one end 26 to a drive member, and first and second bearings 33, 34 disposed between the casing and the operating rod for supporting the operating rod for a linear sliding motion relative to the casing. A sealing arrangement is provided between the casing and both ends of the operating rod. A sliding variable resistor assembly 38 including a resistor and a contact relatively slidable with each other is disposed within the casing, and one of the resistor and the contact is operatively connected to the operating rod for establishing a relative sliding movement between the resistor and the contact. A cover 54 may be sealingly secured to the casing for covering the end of the operating rod, and the operating rod may have an air passage 28 axially extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignees: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Kozuka, Naoki Saito, Hiromasa Ozawa
  • Patent number: 4880950
    Abstract: A control switch having an air gap safety lever, a novel slide arrangement, and an illuminated on-off control switch. The air gap safety lever is mounted on the control switch in such a manner that no power may flow through the circuits until the unit has been installed and the front cover plate mounted. The slide arrangement employs a thin clip which provides an aesthetically appealing slide control, the clip having special dimples which allow nearly frictionless movement. The illuminated on-off control switch utilizes a light piping which conveys light from an LED to the on-off button, the light piping doubling as a mechanical link between the on-off button and a momentary contact switch mounted inside the control switch. Also, a novel frame is disclosed which secures all mechanical and electrical components of the switch together without the necessity of attaching the back box, which simplifies test and repair before shipment of the unit from the factory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Lightolier, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Carson, Raymond T. Griffin, Scott A. Spear
  • Patent number: 4750090
    Abstract: A multi-slider electrical assembly comprises a metal case having a channel-shaped cross-section mounted on a substrate. The case has parallel slits, and guide blocks are spaced apart in parallel within the case for guiding a plurality of sliders extending through the slits. The case has an engage projection and semi-projections on each side thereof formed at each corner on its side walls. The engage projections are bent in contact with metal layers on the bottom surface of the substrate, and the semi-projections bear on grounding layers on the upper surface of the substrate, in order to hold the substrate therebetween without crushing it and to provide a good ground for the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Abe
  • Patent number: 4748434
    Abstract: Tap or current collector for rotary or linear potentiometers, displacement pick-ups, variable resistances, brushes/collector junctions of electric motors, etc., wherein the tapping part on which the slider elements as such are mounted and which performs a relative movement with respect to the tapped path or collector carries the slider elements having individual resilient and freely movable slider fingers, at least in the contact area proper, and which are mounted on a mounting block in such a manner, relative to the sense of displacement, that irrespective of the sense in which the tap moves at any time, one of the slider elements is always pushed, and the other one is always pulled so that even the influences on the tapped or transmitted electric signal of dynamical effects developed by high accelerations are compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Novotechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Gass
  • Patent number: 4656457
    Abstract: A position-sensing potentiometer arrangement for sensing the position of a movable piston and piston rod configuration within a linear actuator includes a first support member extending longitudinally within an open-ended recess formed in the rod and a sliding contact mounted thereon. A tubular support is mounted to a stationary closed end of the linear actuator and extends into the recess to surround a portion of the first support member and a center support member which is also mounted on the closed end of the a actuator. A longitudinally-extending resistance element and a parallel conductor element are mounted on and supported by the center support member. As the first support member moves through the tubular support, the sliding contacts couple the resistance element to the conductor element to provide a resistance value variable as a function of the position of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Steuerungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Brausfeld, Helmut Gottling, Rudolf Moller, Peter Muller, Gerhard Scharnowski
  • Patent number: 4479107
    Abstract: A potentiometric linear position sensor including a housing (10) made of extruded aluminum which may be cut to preferred lengths (15). The sensor includes a Kapton film substrate (32) having first a uniform coating of resistive material (34) disposed thereon, and then distinct islands formed by laser sculpting. Conductive material (50, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58), screen printed upon the resistive material before or after the laser sculpting, is connected to terminal means (62, 68, 70) for the respective electrical elements (48, 51, 55). The flexible Kapton film substrate (32) is inserted endwise into the housing (10) with the side edges of the substrate curled upwardly and captured within longitudinal housing slots (28, 29) disposed along opposite housing walls (14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: William F. Bleeke
  • Patent number: 4473814
    Abstract: A linear potentiometer, having a longitudinal housing with a resistance path and with a wiper guided by a push rod sliding therein. The push rod is supported at its entry into the housing of the potentiometer via a slide bearing which contains an elastic ring element, preferably an O-ring. This ring element embodies the sole connection between a stationary outer bearing and an inner bearing which is movable in a swinging manner relative to the outer bearing because of the elastic connection. The push rod slides in the inner bearing. The inner and outer bearings, by means of opposing annular grooves, receive the elastic ring element connecting them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Novotechnik KG Offterdinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Fritz Blessing
  • Patent number: 4426635
    Abstract: A variable resistor improved to eliminate noise generated in the slider due to a voltage drift attributable to a contact resistance. The variable resistor has an insulting substrate, a resistance member formed on the insulating substrate and connected to a first and a third terminals, a collector formed on the insulating substrate in parallel with the resistance member and connected at its one end to a second electrode, a conductor formed also on the insulating substrate and extending in parallel with the resistance member substantially over the entire length of the resistance member from the electrode connected to one end of the resistance member, and a first and a second slider carried by a common slider carrier, the first slider having contacts adapted for sliding on the resistance member and the conductor, while the second slider having contacts for sliding on the resistance member and the collector at the same position as the contacts of the first slider along the length of the resistance member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Takezawa
  • Patent number: 4365230
    Abstract: Variable resistor comprises a lead screw 12 rotatably mounted to substrate 42 by conductive mounts 18, 18' and engaging a one-piece stamped and formed sheet metal slider 16 movable along circuit trace 20 in response to rotation of the screw 12. The lead screw 12 is a conductive plastic and thus acts as a resistance element, the resistance between the mounts 18, 18' and the circuit trace 20 being varied by rotating the screw 12. Mounts 18, 18' have spring-loaded arms 34, 36 which releasably retain the lead screw 12 so it may be replaced if it is desired to change the resistance limits of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven Feldman
  • Patent number: 4357592
    Abstract: A variable resistor and switch assembly in which a variable resistor and a switch are constructed as a unit. The assembly has an insulating substrate, a resistor, a collector and stationary contacts which are formed on the substrate, and a carrier made of an electrically insulating material. The carrier includes a slider for making sliding contact with the resistor and the collector, a pair of contactors made of a resilient metallic material and making sliding contact with respective one of the pair of stationary contacts, and an operation member made of an electrically insulating material and adapted for breaking the conduction between the pair of contactors. As the operation member is actuated at any desired position of the slider, the conduction between the pair of contactors is broken to make the switch take the off state irrespective of the resistance value of the variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Alps Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutae Okuya
  • Patent number: 4355293
    Abstract: An electrical resistance apparatus adapted for the measurement of the position of the throttle blade of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generally annular housing which has an inside surface that supports a flexible resistive element. The resistive element comprises a flexible web on which two parallel resistive tracks have been overlaid. A generally cylindrical rotor mounts within the housing and electrically couples the two tracks by means of a U-shaped conductive wiper that bridges the separation between the resistive tracks. The rotor is mechanically connected to the throttle blade of the internal combustion engine and rotates therewith. By applying the leads of a power supply to one resistive track and reading a voltage signal from the other resistive track, a potentiometric signal related to the position of the throttle blade is developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: The Bendix Corporation
    Inventor: Barry J. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 4284969
    Abstract: A potentiometer having in combination a non-electrical conducting substrate, a thin layer of resistance and collecting material on the substrate, a wiper movable thereon, providing communication between the resistance material and collecting material; the wiper and substrate contained in a durable housing with the wiper located on a carrier located above the substrate, supported by a shaft and rotationally fixed by a guide rail whereby axial force on the shaft casues a change in position of the wiper resulting in a change of resistance and voltage output which may be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Clarostat Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Carbonneau
  • Patent number: 4213112
    Abstract: A potentiometer including a resistance element positioned within the housing. The resistance element comprising a substrate and a resistive track deposited thereon has a collector element and three terminating pads electrically connected to each end of the resistance track and to the collector element. A slidable wiper is electrically connected to the collector element and contacts the resistance track to vary the resistance of the circuit. Clips are mounted on the resistance element to provide electrical connections between the terminating pads and terminal posts connecting the resistance element to an external circuit. The clips are formed of an S-shaped, resilient, electrically conductive element having lower and intermediate sections to resiliently clamp the resistance track, and an upper section with two bifurcated arms to engage the terminal post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Alman, Paul F. Gerwitz, Charles M. Tygard
  • Patent number: 4172248
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable resistor of a simple construction having a driving mechanism, which can be assembled with ease and which allows contactors movable by an operation lever to be normally held in a predetermined position on a resistance element. The lever can be forcibly moved to vary the output of the resistor, and yet the lever will be returned automatically to its original position when the lever is released from the force exerted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutae Okuya
  • Patent number: 4132972
    Abstract: A miniature or subminiature, rectangular potentiometer which automatically disengages and engages at the extreme end settings may be fabricated by using a worm screw which engages and disengages a sector gear. The sector gear is arranged and configured to selectively engage a spring at the extremes of travel of the sector gear. When the worm screw drives the sector gear to the limit of its travel, the spring is compressed against the gear thereby compressing the spring. The compression of the spring is sufficient to permit the gear teeth on the opposing end of the sector gear to advance and disengage from the worm screw. Rotation of the worm screw in the opposing direction automatically re-engages the sector gear by virture of the urging of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Assignee: Techno-Components Corp.
    Inventor: Edward H. Tumbusch
  • Patent number: 4131870
    Abstract: An elongate bar of electrically conductive material and having a generally U-shaped cross-section carries on the inner side of one of its legs a support with a resistance layer facing towards the other leg. A slider is guided between the two legs of the bar and has a contact spring, one contact tongue of the spring bearing on the resistance layer and another contact tongue bearing on the opposite, second leg of the bar forming a collector element. A nose formed on the slider engages a groove which exists between the resistance element and the bent free end of the one leg of the elongate bar, to guide the slider. A cover plate overlies the opening of the U-shaped cross-section of the elongate bar. An operating knob is disposed outside the cover plate and extends through a slot in the cover plate operatively to engage the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Preh, Elektro-Feinmechanische Werke, Jakob Preh Nachf
    Inventors: Joachim Hilgendorf, Karl-Heinz Funke
  • Patent number: 4123741
    Abstract: A resistance element for obtaining a continuous and linear output characteristic is obtained by the combination of a zig-zag resistance element and a resistance film of higher resistivity disposed thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kiyono, Moritoshi Nakamura, Jun Nakanowatari
  • Patent number: 4123742
    Abstract: A variable resistor has an insulating substrate plate, a resistance body formed on the substrate plate and a slider adapted to slide along the resistance body. The resistance body is formed in a winding pattern to provide a larger range of variation of resistance for a given stroke of the slider. The slider has a plurality of contacts adapted for sliding along the resistance body so that at least one of the contacts is kept in contact with the winding resistance body so as to provide a linear change of the output of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moritoshi Nakamura, Jun Nakanowatari
  • Patent number: 4101864
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Van Benthuysen
  • Patent number: 4060789
    Abstract: A multiple slide resistor suitable for use as a tandem resistor in a stereo system is disclosed. The slide resistor comprises a housing having a slide slot in which a slide bar is arranged to slide along a guide rail. The resistance and collector elements of each resistor are mounted upon a conductive layer on one side of a base plate which forms a closure for the housing. A shielding wall is provided between the resistors for electrically isolating them. The wall is electrically connected to the conductive layer of the base plate so as to achieve a desired cross talk attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1977
    Assignee: Preh-Elektrofeinmechanische Werke - Jakob Preh Nachf
    Inventors: Walfried Achtmann, Gerhard Hochgesang
  • Patent number: 4021768
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald L. Stuckey
  • Patent number: 4005381
    Abstract: A slide potentiometer comprising a housing having a printed circuit board positioned in an interior compartment formed therein. An elongated resistance element is provided on one side of the circuit board and has a pair of terminals electrically connected to the opposite ends thereof. An elongated collector element is positioned on the one side of the circuit board in a parallel spaced apart relationship to the resistance element. A third terminal is electrically connected to the collector element. A wiper block is slidably mounted in the interior compartment of the housing and has a pair of electrically connected wiper elements which slidably electrically contact the resistance element and the collector element. The wiper block is provided with an actuator element which extends upwardly therefrom. A cover is secured to the housing and extends over the upper end thereof and has an elongated slot formed therein which receives the actuator element extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Dale Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Klug
  • Patent number: 3996550
    Abstract: A slidable avriable resistor to be used in television receiver and in stereophonic set comprises a lower case member of an insulating material having a resistor member and a conductor on it disposed in lengthwise direction, a upper metallic cover having a long opening in lengthwise direction at the top of the cover, a slidable member of an insulating material with an arm projecting through the opening from the top of the slidable member having a brush extending from the lower side of the slidable member and sliding on the resistor and the conductor for electric conduction, and a flat rectangular plate of insulating material slidably disposed through a passage in the slidable body. By this construction should any metallic piece enter through the opening, the metallic piece is prevented from making contact with the resistor member or the conductor. Thus unexpected electric shock or damage can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Yano, Shozo Watanabe