# US 2018/0323735 A1 · Variable-speed controller for use with an electric device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323735 A1 - Document ID: US20180323735A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/803,235 - Filed: 2017-11-03 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05 - Assignees: Defond Components Limited; Dongguan Chen Da Appliance Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Defond Components Limited; Dongguan Chen Da Appliance Co. Ltd - Inventors: Ming Leong Kong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323735A1 ## CPC - H02P 7/063: {using centrifugal devices, e.g. switch, resistor} - H01C 10/30: the contact sliding along resistive element - H01C 10/38: the contact moving along a straight path - H02P 6/06: Arrangements for speed regulation of a single motor wherein the motor speed is measured and compared with a given physical value so as to adjust the motor speed - H02P 7/29: using pulse modulation - H02P 9/14: by variation of field (H02P9/08, H02P9/10 take precedence) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - H01C: RESISTORS ## Abstract A variable-speed controller for use with an electric device including: a variable resistor element having a variable resistor element contact surface; a membrane including a first membrane contact surface spaced-apart from the variable resistor element contact surface by a spacer element, and, a second membrane contact surface; a slider configured for slidable movement along the second membrane contact surface wherein responsive to the slider slidably moving along the second membrane contact surface, the first membrane contact surface is able to be urged into contact with the variable resistor element contact surface in a plurality of contact point configurations whereby the effective resistance of the variable resistor element is configured to change in response to the first membrane contact surface being urged into contact with the variable resistor element contact surface in each of the plurality of contact point configurations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable-speed controller for use with an electric device including: a variable resistor element having a variable resistor element contact surface; a membrane including a first membrane contact surface spaced-apart from the variable resistor element contact surface by a spacer element, and, a second membrane contact surface; a slider configured for slidable movement along the second membrane contact surface wherein responsive to the slider slidably moving along the second membrane contact surface, the first membrane contact surface is able to be urged into contact with the variable resistor element contact surface in a plurality of contact point configurations whereby effective resistance of the variable resistor element is configured to change in response to the first membrane contact surface being urged into contact with the variable resistor element contact surface in each of the plurality of contact point configurations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, further comprising: a variable-speed trigger assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The variable-speed controller of claim 2, wherein the variable-speed trigger assembly includes an actuator operably connected with the slider whereby the slider is slidably moved relative to the second membrane contact surface responsive to movement of the actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the variable resistor element is disposed on a circuit board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the first membrane contact surface is biased into a spaced-apart position relative to the variable resistor element contact surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the first membrane contact surface and the variable resistor element contact surface include conductive materials. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first membrane contact surface and the variable resistor element contact surface include printed layers of conductive material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the spacer element is integrally formed with a structure of the membrane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the membrane includes at least one of a polymeric, a co-polymeric, and a polymeric composite material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the variable resistor element contact surface includes a first region comprising a plurality of conductive tracks extending from junctions of a plurality of resistors in series, and, a second region comprising an electrically conductive surface configured for fixed electrical connection with an input pin of an integrated circuit chip of the variable-speed controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The variable-speed controller of claim 10, wherein the first and second regions of the variable resistor element contact surface are arranged in at least one of a series and a parallel configuration relative to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The variable-speed controller of claim 10, wherein the slider includes first and second protruding portions configured for urging the first membrane contact surface into contact with the first and second regions, respectively, of the variable resistor element contact surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The variable-speed controller of claim 12, wherein the first and second protruding portions are configured for arrangement in at least one of a series and a parallel configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The variable-speed controller of claim 1, wherein the electric device includes at least one of an electric power tool and an electric gardening tool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electric device including the variable-speed controller as claimed in accordance with claim 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electric device of claim 15, wherein the electric device includes at least one of an electric power tool and an electric gardening tool.