Variable resistor having clutch mechanism

A variable resistor having a clutch mechanism, comprising:

• a rotor mounted to be rotatable about an axis;
• a driver for rotating said rotor;
• a resistance substrate including a resistor film and a collector;
• a slider body mounted to be rotatable through a rotation range about said axis;
• limiting means for limiting the rotation range of said slider body;
• and
• a clutch arm having ends connected to said slider,
• said clutch arm extending from said slider body in a first direction substantially parallel to said resistance substrate and defining an internal space between said clutch arm and said slider body;
• wherein
• said rotor includes a rotor side engaging portion,
• said clutch arm includes an engaging portion for engaging with said rotor side engaging portion,
• contact arm coming into contact with said resistor film and said collector of said resistance substrate, said contact arm having a first part extending from said slider body in a second direction opposite to said first direction and having a second part folded back over the first part to extend in said first direction, said second part including a plurality of individually deflectable contact fingers defined by a plurality of parallel slits in said second part,
• said rotor is rotated by said rotation means,
• said limiting means includes first and second stoppers, said first stopper being disposed within said internal space and extending from said slider body in a direction transverse to said first direction such as to engage said second stopper when said slide exceeds said limited rotation range,
• said slider body is rotated following rotation of said rotor in said limited rotation range due to engagement between said engaging portion included in said rotor and said engaging portion included in said clutch arm, and
• only said rotor is rotated when said slider body is rotated beyond said limited rotation range following said rotation of said rotor, due to cancellation of said engagement between said engaging portion included in said rotor and said engaging portion included in said clutch arm.