Dual track resistor element having nonlinear output

A potentiometer comprising two resistance layers electrically insulated one from another on a substrate, each layer comprising a resistance composition of uniform thickness, at least one terminal associated with each layer, and a movable contact engageable with the surface of each resistance layer to establish an electrical circuit through said layers with the electrical characteristics of said circuit dependent upon the operative position of said movable contact, said resistance layers having different resistivities whereby the output of the potentiometer is a predetermined nonlinear voltage characteristic.

A potentiometer comprising two resistance layers electrically insulated one from another to form a dual track on a substrate, each layer comprising a resistance composition of uniform thickness, at least one terminal associated with each layer, and a movable contact engagable with the surface of each resistance layer of the dual track and selectively positionable thereon to establish an electrical circuit through said layers with the electrical characteristics of said circuit dependent upon the operative position of said movable contact, the dual track providing a cumulative resistance in accordance with the operative position of the movable contact, said resistance layers having different width dimensions whereby the output of the potentiometer is a predetermined nonlinear voltage characteristic.

A potentiometer comprising two thick film resistance laminations electrically insulated one from another to form a dual track on a substrate, each lamination comprising a uniformly thick film of resistance lamination, terminal means for said laminations, and a movable contact engaging the surfaces of said laminations and selectively positionable thereon, said movable contact being movable to effect a cumulative resistance in accordance with the operative position of the movable contact whereby the cumulative resistance of said dual track develops a nonlinear voltage characteristic.

A potentiometer comprising two thick film resistance laminations electrically insulated one from another on a substrate, each lamination comprising a uniformly thick film of resistance lamination, terminal means for said laminations, and a movable contact engaging the surfaces of said laminations, said movable contact being movable to effect a series of resistance values developing a nonlinear voltage characteristic comprising a logarithmic curve in accordance with the movement of the contact on the surfaces of the thick film resistance laminations.

A potentiometer comprising two thick film resistance laminations electrically insulated one from another on a substrate, each lamination comprising a uniformly thick film of resistance lamination with the resistivity of each of the thick film resistance laminations identical and uniform throughout the length of the respective lamination, the laminations having different width dimensions, terminal means for said laminations, and a movable contact engaging the surfaces of said laminations, said movable contact being movable to effect a series of resistance values developing a nonlinear voltage characteristic comprising a logarithmic curve in accordance with the movement of the contact on the surfaces of the thick film resistance laminations.

A potentiometer comprising two thick film resistance laminations electrically insulated one from another on a substrate, each lamination comprising a uniformly thick film of resistance lamination with the resistivity of each of the thick film resistance laminations identical and uniform throughout the length of the respective lamination, the laminations having different width dimensions, terminal means for said laminations, and an electrically conductive slideable contact engaging the surfaces of said laminations and selectively positionable thereon, said movable contact being movable to effect a cumulative resistance in accordance with the operative position of the movable contact whereby the cumulative resistance of said dual track develops a nonlinear voltage characteristic that is unaffected by wear of said laminations.

A process for effecting a preselected nonlinear voltage characteristic comprising the steps of mounting a slideable contactor for slideable engagement with each track of a dual track resistance member, each track comprising a uniformly thick resistance film electrically insulated from the other track and having at least one termination, the dual track resistance member providing a cumulative resistance in accordance with the operative position of the movable contact, and selectively positioning said slideable contactor along said dual track resistance member whereby the cumulative resistance of said dual track develops a nonlinear voltage characteristic.

A process for effecting a preselected nonlinear voltage characteristic comprising the steps of mounting a slideble contact for slideable engagement with each track of a dual track resistance member, each track comprising a uniformly thick resistance film electrically insulated from the other track and having a different resistivity whereby each track develops a different rate of change of resistance for effective length of track engaged by said slideable contactor, and selectively positioning said slideable contactor to develop a nonlinear voltage characteristic which is a combination of the resistances of the respective tracks and in accordance with the location and movement of said slideable contactor.