# US 7,746,214 B2 · Rotary variable resistor

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- Number: US 7,746,214 B2
- Document ID: US7746214B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/328,452
- Filed: 2006-01-10
- Published: 2006-08-10
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-09
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hideyuki Sakamoto; Mitsuyoshi Kanai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746214B2

## CPC

- G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
- A61B 5/0006: {ECG or EEG signals}
- A61B 5/0008: {Temperature signals}
- A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability}
- A61B 5/259: using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
- G05G 5/04: Stops for limiting movement of members, e.g. adjustable stop (G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence)
- H01C 10/32: the contact moving in an arcuate path
- A61B 5/08: Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs
- A61B 5/7232: {involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period}
- A61B 2560/0412: Low-profile patch shaped housings
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- H01C: RESISTORS

## Abstract

A rotary variable resistor includes a variable resistor body mounted to a console panel, a rotor shaft protruding outward from the variable resistor body, and a control knob coupled to an outer end of the rotor shaft. A single plate-shaped stopper is projectingly provided, along a rotational direction of the rotor shaft, on a front face of the variable resistor body from which the rotor shaft protrudes. First and second restricting portions are provided on the control knob side-by-side along the rotational direction of the rotor shaft to alternately abut against the stopper in defining an actual rotational angle of the rotor shaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rotary variable resistor comprising:
a support member;
a variable resistor body having a front face mounted directly to a rear face of the support member;
a bearing tube extending through a first aperture defined in the support member and away from a front face of the support member;
a rotor shaft rotatably supported on the bearing tube and protruding away from the front face of the variable resistor body;
a control knob coupled to an outer end of the rotor shaft, wherein the support member is disposed entirely between the variable resistor body and the control knob;
a plate-shaped stopper extending through a second aperture defined in the support member and projectingly provided, along a rotational direction of the rotor shaft, on the front face of the variable resistor body from which the rotor shaft protrudes; and
first and second restricting portions provided on the control knob in a side-by-side arrangement relative to each other and along the rotational direction of the rotor shaft,
wherein the first and second restricting portions alternately abut against the stopper and define an actual rotational angle (β) of the rotor shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rotary variable resistor according to claim 1,
further comprising a connecting boss fitted around the rotor shaft and an arcuate recess formed radially adjacent to the connecting boss to receive the stopper, wherein the connecting boss and arcuate recess are formed on an inner end face of the control knob which opposes the variable resistor body, wherein the arcuate recess has opposite inner end walls which define the first and second restricting portions, and wherein the control knob includes a tab having a base end integrally connected to the first and second restricting portions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rotary variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein the stopper covers the rotor shaft from above;
the rotary variable resistor further comprising a connecting boss fitted around the rotor shaft and an arcuate recess formed radially adjacent to the connecting boss to receive the stopper, wherein the connecting boss and arcuate recess are formed on an inner end face of the control knob which opposes the variable resistor body; and a labyrinth formed by an inner peripheral wall of the arcuate recess and the stopper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The rotary variable resistor according to claim 2, wherein the stopper covers the rotor shaft from above.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The rotary variable resistor according to claim 2, further comprising a labyrinth formed by an inner peripheral wall of the arcuate recess and the stopper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The rotary variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein the support member is plate shaped.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The rotary variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein the rotor shaft extends completely through the support member.