Variable attenuator
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsMoritoshi Nakamura, Ichiro Mutoh, Tetsuhiro Kiyono
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Abstract
A variable attenuator comprises a generally horseshoe-shaped main resistance element, a sliding member movable thereover, and a bypass provided around that portion of the main resistance element adjacent the end portion of the path of said sliding member. The bypass is made of a conductive element or conductive element and a resistance element, the amount of current flowing through said bypass being thereby increased to enable a maximum attenuation.
Claims7
A variable attenuator including a resistance element, first and second conductive members each electrically connected to a respective end portion of said resistance element and having respective first and second terminals connected thereto, a sliding member slidingly movable along said resistance element between a first position on said first conductive member and a second position on said second conductive member, and means associated with said first conductive member for reducing the voltage drop between said sliding member and said first terminal when said sliding member is in said first position, said reducing means including a conductive bypass for electric current extending from said first conductive member to a part of said resistance element spaced therefrom to provide a path shunting current away from the current path including said sliding member and first terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.