Potentiometric position sensors
AssigneeAB Electronic Limited
InventorFrank Hermann Dietrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
By using a two-part assembly of a rotary member (10) bearing one or more wipers (14) clipped on to a substrate member (1) bearing one or more tracks (3), subassemblies may be supplied which can be used by manufacturers of articles (20,21,22) in which it is desired to sense the angular position of one member (20) relative to another (22), but which are easy to install and reliable in use. The assembly provides substantial savings in terms of the number of individual components used, thus reducing manufacturing and assembly costs. Manufacturing costs may also be reduced by using track material as a bearing material, as both track and bearing may be applied simultaneously, e.g. by screen printing.
Claims10
A potentiometric position sensor subassembly comprising an electrically insulating substrate, at least one arcuate resistive track formed thereon, a rotary member, at least one wiper member attached to the rotary member, and mutually engageable clip means formed on the substrate and the rotary member, the clip means being configured in such a way that when clipped together the wiper member contacts the track and the rotary member can be rotated about an axis substantially coincident with a center about which the arcuate track extends, wherein the clip means includes a circular resilient skirt which extends around at least part of a circle substantially centered on the axis about which the arcuate track extends, and the substrate includes a circular formation formed on or in a cylindrical surface thereof, the skirt including a series of individually resilient elongate fingers, each having at or near its free end a bead or groove, and the cylindrical surface having a corresponding groove or bead formed thereon into which the bead or groove on the fingers may resiliently engage.
A potentiometric position sensor subassembly comprising an electrically insulating substrate, at least one arcuate resistive track formed thereon, a rotary member, at least one wiper member attached to the rotary member, and mutually engageable clip means formed on the substrate and the rotary member, the clip means being configured in such a way that when clipped together the wiper member contacts the track and the rotary member can be rotated about an axis substantially coincident with a center about which the arcuate track extends, wherein the clip means includes a resilient skirt which extends around at least part of a circle substantially centered on the axis about which the arcuate track extends, and the Substrate includes an arcuate formation formed on or in a part cylindrical surface thereof, the skirt including a series of individually resilient enlongate fingers, each having at or near its free end a bead or groove, and the part cylindrical surface having a corresponding groove or bead formed thereon into which the bead or groove on the fingers may resiliently engage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.