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US 6,661,354 B2Granted
Potentiometer with embedded signal circuitry
AssigneeBourns, Inc.
InventorsDavid B. Johnson, Dean B. Childs, James A. Elzey, Timothy A. Tabor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A potentiometer and logic circuitry attached to a common substrate. In one aspect the potentiometer and logic circuitry is an integrated potentiometer mounted on an upper surface of a circuit board with circuitry on a lower surface of the circuit board. The circuitry conducts the position and movement of the potentiometer into potentiometer output signals.
Claims25
An electronic device comprising:
- a substrate having opposed first and second major surfaces;
- a potentiometer coupled to the first major surface of the substrate, the potentiometer having an output terminal on which an electrical signal is produced;
- and
- a programmable electronic device coupled to the second major surface of the substrate, the programmable electronic device having an input receiving an indication of the electrical signal.
1 more element
An integrated potentiometer comprising:
- a substrate having first and second substantially opposed major surfaces;
- a potentiometer formed on the first major surface of the substrate, the potentiometer comprising an actuation shaft, the potentiometer varying at least one electrical signal based on movement of the actuation shaft;
- and
- programmable electronic circuitry attached to the second major surface of the substrate, the programmable electronic circuitry electrically coupled to the first major surface.
1 more element
An integrated potentiometer comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposed major surfaces;
- a potentiometer formed on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the potentiometer is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to movement of an input device;
- and
- electronic circuitry attached to the substrate, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises supervisory power processing circuitry, and a logic device for processing the electrical signals generated by the potentiometer, and wherein at least some of the electronic circuitry is attached to the second surface of the substrate.
1 more element
An electronic device comprising:
- a printed circuit board having first and second substantially opposed major surfaces;
- a potentiometer formed on the first major surface of the substrate, the digital potentiometer comprising:
- an actuation shaft having rotational and axial movement;
- at least one resistive element formed on the first major surface of the printed circuit board for converting rotational and axial movement of the actuation shaft into electrical signals;
- a programmable logic device surface mounted on the second major surface of the printed circuit board, wherein:
- the programmable logic device is connected through the printed circuit board to the potentiometer to receive the electrical signal generated by the potentiometer;
- the programmable logic device is programmed to process the electrical signal generated by the digital potentiometer;
- and
- supervisory power processing circuitry attached to the second major surface of the printed circuit board for conditioning power applied to the programmable logic device;
- and
- a communication interface circuit attached to the second major surface of the printed circuit board for receiving from the programmable logic device processed signals.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.