Abstract: The chin-operated remote control is a housing that is configured to rest against a chest of an end user. The housing includes a retractable cord that extends to a chinstrap. The chinstrap is configured to be mounted on a chin of an end user such that upon moving of the head of said end user, the retractable cord moves left, right, extends, and retracts. The retractable cord relays said movement in order to operate a remote control provided inside of the housing. An antenna and a plurality of buttons are provided on the housing. The remote control is adapted for use with an electronic appliance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thin film resistor that is formed on a substrate along with other semiconductor devices to form all or part of an electronic circuit. The thin film resistor includes a resistor segment that is formed over the substrate and a protective cap that is formed over the resistor segment. The protective cap is provided to keep at least a portion of the resistor segment from oxidizing during fabrication of the thin film resistor and other components that are provided on the semiconductor substrate. As such, no oxide layer is formed between the resistor segment and the protective cap. Contacts for the thin film resistor may be provided at various locations on the protective cap, and as such, are not provided solely over a portion of the resistor segment that is covered with an oxide layer.

Abstract: An assembly method for a vehicle anti-theft key having an embedded resistor pellet is provided. The resistor pellet includes a flange at one end which abuts one side of the key blade when the opposed end of the pellet is inserted into a through opening formed in the shank portion of the key blade. With the resistor pellet loosely positioned within the through opening, a second flange is attached to the end of the pellet that was inserted through the through opening, thereby capturing the pellet within the through opening by the two opposed flanges. In one embodiment, the second flange is formed in place by employing a polymeric molding process, such as a thermoforming injection molding process. A handle for the key is efficiently formed substantially simultaneously with the second flange using the same polymeric molding process.

Abstract: A fail-safe varistor includes either a fail-short or a fail-open device. Both devices include a fusible, electrically conductive material that melts before the varistor fails due to overvoltage. In the fail-open device, the fusible, electrically conductive material joins separated portions of the leads. The material also may join at least one of the leads directly to a ceramic disk of the varistor. Upon reaching the predetermined temperature, the varistor melts causing a circuit including the varistor to open. In the fail-short device, the material melts creating a short between the leads. This short causes a fuse or a breaker to open the circuit.

Abstract: A current-limiting switch, with current connections and contacts, at least one of which is movable, having an associated drive, for opening the moving contact when a predefined electric current intensity is exceeded, are provided. The drive is a thermoelectric drive where a disk-shaped resistor body is present, in a closed housing made of insulating material, for high-intensity discharges, plurality of resistor bodies and associated electrode disks, acting as contacts, are connected electrically in parallel and mechanically in series in the housing made of an insulating material (1). This results in increased switching capacity with compact design.

Abstract: A device for cleaning the contacts of a potentiometer or the like. The potentiometer has an externally threaded cylinder extending outwardly from a panel of an electronic unit and has a concentric rotatable shaft extending therethrough. The shaft has at least one internal contact which rotates when the shaft is rotated and engages a stationary contact in the form of a slide wire or the like of the potentiometer. Contaminants prevent good electrical conduction between the contacts so that the potentiometer must be cleaned, heretofore, requiring partial disassembly of the electronic unit in which it is internally located. The cleaning device has a housing with an open end and a closed end, with the open end having internal threads connecting with the external threads of the cylinder protruding from the electronic unit panel. A small tube communicates with the closed end of the housing and with a pressurized container of contact cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A positioning cylinder assembly for subterranean mining applications has a rotary potentiometer connected through a friction wheel transmission with the spindle of the cylinder which is rotated when the piston is axially displaced therein. The friction wheel assembly comprises a pinion wheel connected to the spindle and a hollow wheel connected to the rotary potentiometer, that not only matches the pitch of the spindle to the rotary spring of the potentiometer but also functions as a slip clutch for zero setting of the potentionmeter and the piston.

Abstract: A control device has a fixedly mountable frame which has recesses and a fixed shaft extending across the recesses. Flat sided spherical elements having manual levers extending from them are rotatable on the shaft and each element has a sector gear fastened to one of its flat sides. Flat springs extend from the frame and press on the spherical elements to develop friction. Potentiometer support brackets are pivotally mounted to shoulders on the flat springs. Each potentiometer shaft has a spur gear which meshes with a sector gear. The spur gears and sector gears are biased into meshing relation with coil springs that span between brackets. A lip seal is provided between the spherical elements and their housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a service reminder when a vehicle has accumulated a predetermined mileage comprises a potentiometer operated by the highest order number wheel of the vehicle odometer to provide an output voltage which changes incrementally with each indexing motion of that number wheel. An electrical detector responsive to the potentiometer output energizes a signal lamp when the output reaches a voltage in a predetermined range representing a desired service interval. An electrical connector in circuit with the potentiometer can be disconnected to change the potentiometer voltage to a value outside the predetermined range to allow the service reminder circuit to turn off the indicator lamp when the indicated service has been performed. The apparatus is adapted to operate in conjunction with an electronic engine control module which can be programmed to detect the predetermined value of the potentiometer output and to operate a signal lamp.

Abstract: A handle (12) is pivotally mounted on a support (11) and is connected to a potentiometer (21) by a linkage (24) for selectively varying the resistance of the potentiometer upon manipulation of the handle. The linkage includes a link (25) adjustably connected to the handle for varying the degree of relative movement between a housing (22) and rotary adjustment shaft (23) of the potentiometer to thus vary the range of resistance thereof in response to a same increment of movement of the handle. The linkage may include a hinge assembly (34) and a biasing spring (31) or the link may be connected to the adjustment shaft (23b) of the potentiometer directly.

Abstract: A grinding wheel is provided around the inside of its hole with a plurality of turns of an electrical conductor weaker in tension than the material of the wheel, the ends of which are brought out to terminals on the surface of the wheel. Incipient cracks in the wheel rupture the conductor, which is checked as desired with a continuity testing device.

Abstract: An apparatus having an accelerator element has a potentiometer including an inner portion movable relative to an outer portion thereof in response to movement of the accelerator element. Adjusting and support members are interconnected for adjusting the outer potentiometer portion relative to the inner portion.

Abstract: An apparatus having an electrical power source and an accelerating element has pivotally actuated control means connected to the accelerating element.