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US 4,878,040 AGranted
Variable resistor
AssigneeFostex Corporation of Japan
InventorShigeki Tamura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable resistor includes strip-shaped conductive and resistive elements on an insulator plate. A cylindrical-shaped, conductive roller element can be rolled over the conductive and resistive elements to vary resistance. Thereby, substantially all sliding movement or contact is eliminated, which eliminates noise and prevents excessive wear.
Claims18
A method for varying electrical resistance, comprising the steps of:
- providing an insulator base plate;
- placing a strip-shaped conductive element on the base plate such that said conductive element extends along a longitudinal length of said base plate;
- placing a strip-shaped resistive element on the base plate and parallel to the conductive element such that said resistive element extends along said longitudinal length;
- enclosing a contact surface by a bracket that can be manipulated by a user;
- rolling said contact surface around a shaft and, without sliding, over the conductive element and the resistive element, the step of rolling a contact surface including the step of applying a biasing pressure directly on the shaft as the contact surface rolls.
2 more elements
An improved variable, electrical resistor, comprising:
- a strip-shaped conductive element;
- a strip-shaped resistive element;
- a strip-shaped support means for supporting the conductive element and the resistive element, said support means extending along a longitudinal length of said resistive and conductive elements;
- a contact means for conductivity contacting the conductive element with the resistive element, the contact means, upon activation, remaining in rolling contact with the conductive element and the resistive element while eliminating substantially all sliding contact;
- a bracket that surrounds said contact means;
- and
- pressure means for applying a biasing pressure on the contact means, said pressure means fixed between and on said bracket and a shaft of said contact means.
4 more elements
An improved variable, electrical resistor, comprising:
- an insulative base plate;
- a conductive element on said base plate;
- an insulative element on said base plate;
- a roller element supported on a shaft, said roller element in contact with said conductive and insulative elements;
- a bracket that encloses said roller element and supports said shaft, said bracket having a handle that extends outside of a housing of said resistor;
- and
- a spring element on an exterior side of said bracket and engaged to said shaft such that said shaft is biased towards said conductive and resistive elements and said bracket is biased away from said conductive and resistive elements.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.